Not Your Grandfather's Democratic Party

 

The Democratic Party of today bears little or no resemblance to the party as it was just a couple of generations ago. Contrary to popular belief, the establishment of both major U.S. parties have moved to the left over the years, but the Democratic Party has traversed the most ground. It is no exaggeration to say that there is a greater difference between the modern-day Democratic Party and the party as it stood in, say, 1961, then there was between the Democratic Party pre-Obama and the Republican Party of the same time. The Democratic Party is now essentially a Socialist-Marxist pastiche of special interest groups, the aggrieved, and the coastal, big-city elites-- all cheered on, aided and abetted by their mainstream media collaborators. The party’s views and platforms haven’t just evolved or been fine-tuned over time, the old ones have been tossed out, expunged, and excommunicated, replaced by radical new ones that in some cases are literally the antithesis of the old.

 

Not convinced? Let’s revisit John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address of 1960 and compare his remarks then to those of today’s Democratic leaders. If we pay close attention, we might discern some subtle differences in values, policies, and outlook. He opens:

 

“Vice President Johnson, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, President Truman, reverend clergy, fellow citizens:

 

 “We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom -- symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning -- signifying renewal, as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago.”

(Almighty God? The same solemn oath our forebears prescribed? This Christian nut-bag is mixing church and state! And we must distance ourselves from what the old, white “fathers” believed!)

 

 “The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe -- the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.”

(Natural rights?! Seriously?! The God thing again? The state gives us our benefits! Ever tried to get “God” to pay for anything?!)

 

 “We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans -- born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.”

(Proud of our ancient heritage?! Like slavery, for example?)

 “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty. This much we pledge -- and more.”

(That doesn’t sound very inclusive and hospitable! This guy is a xenophobic, nationalistic warmonger! He is reckless and racist, intolerant and unstable! He’ll say anything. Who knows what he is capable of?)

 

“We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.”

(He wants to pay for tons of weapons so that we never have to use them? Couldn’t we spend that money on something more important, like making sure all bathrooms are transgender-friendly, Muslim outreach, or making sure that preschoolers have adequate access to free contraception? And isn’t showing your weakness and vulnerability a good thing? I mean it opens you up to more real and raw relationships, right? I mean, we’re all the same at heart. Let’s just talk to our “enemies” and we can meet in the middle, right? Right?)

 

“In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.”

(National loyalty? What about appeasing Iran, China and Russia? God Damn America!)

 

 “In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility -- I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it. And the glow from that fire can truly light the world.”

(This clown thinks that the U.S is exceptional. Obama was right when he said that all nations believe they are exceptional.)

“And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

 (What? How would I know who to vote for? Who would pay for my college tuition? How could this guy ever have been elected President?)

 

 Camelot? The notion itself evokes images of royalty and privilege. JFK would literally be considered a “right-wing extremist” by most in the mainstream of his party today. His frequent references to Christianity and respect and reverence for the Founders would have troubled many modern “Democrats.” His belief in a massive, unconquerable defense and the principles and values that founded this nation, his fondness for freedom and America’s “mission,” natural rights and the rule of law would have marked him as a xenophobic, intolerant “Alt-right” threat to progressivism. Throw in a massive tax cut and belief in American exceptionalism and he would have been anathema to the Democrats core constituency/special interest groups of today.

 

JFK, Truman—hell even Adlai Stevenson and Hubert Humphrey—were more classical liberal than today’s “liberal.” Compare, for example, Sam Nunn and Daniel Patrick Moynihan to Cori Bush, Rashida Tlaib-- and most other members of today’s “Democratic” party, inside The Squad, or out. The difference is the former were patriots who had policy disagreements with Republicans…or at least conservative ones, while the latter openly hate them… and the nation they were sworn to serve. And anyone who supports or thinks like them. Such as most of the readers of American Thinker. Back then it was liberal versus conservative. Today it is them versus us, Marxists versus those who believe in free markets and personal freedoms, the arrogant elite versus the rest of us. This dichotomy is simply and sadly unbridgeable.

 

And so we have Occupy Wall Street, Bernie Sanders, Antifa, BLM, revisionist history, The 1619 Project, vast restrictions on speech, assembly, and religion, gun control, and transgender rights superseding parental ones.

 

Barack Obama succeeded in “fundamentally transforming” the United States. And, as I’ve stated before, one doesn’t fundamentally transform anything that one loves, likes, or even respects.

 

Americans, we are living through trying times, in part because we have forgotten or eschewed history. Perhaps more correctly put, the progressive elites that control academia and government refuse to teach our young people the truth. If we don’t learn the lessons of ancient Rome and other once great societies, we will soon face the same tragic outcome. 

 

We don’t want to repeat the French Revolution that led to bloodletting and chaos. Nor do we want a repeat of the Second October Revolution, in which Marxists took power from nobles. Rather, we need a Restorative Revolution, a Second American Revolution, a conservative one which will re-enshrine our God given rights and lead us back to greatness.