Reply #38: Every analogy falls apart at some point... [View All]

[sakura]

When people compare Obama to JFK, they are comparing the optimism of both campaigns, and the ability to inspire change. They aren't comparing a future presidency to a past one-- what they are comparing is the mythology and rose-colored memories of a past, "better" time, before people sold out their dreams. Kennedy's campaign inspired people to "do for their country." I wasn't alive then, as I am a gen X'er (like you, I believe), but my dad told me many times about Kennedy's words and how they inspired him to take the career path he did. (Sadly, my dad is a latter-born conservative, but that has to do with his Catholicism, I think, and a focus on one or two very divisive issues. He's not a baby boomer, though-- he wasn't part of the generation you described in your later post.)