The Myth of Camelot: A Democratic Fairy Tale

Recently Senator Edward Kennedy and his niece Caroline Kennedy came out in support for Barack Obama in his run for the Presidency. Edward Kennedy described Obama as “ a man with extraordinary gifts of leadership and character,” claiming “I feel a change in the air.” But all I could think of, that with this endorsement, it was inevitable that we would hear about the return of Camelot.

The tale of King Arthur and the Kingdom of Camelot is a tale of morality. The story is about a just and noble king and the Knights of the Round Table, who united their people in common focus for the good of the “kingdom.” It is a story of valor, honor, and truth. But it is also a story that descends into greed, lust, disgrace and betrayal. And like the Kennedy Presidency, the ending to Camelot was tragic.

Barack Obama is no John F. Kennedy, but indeed Obama is his own man, and should not have to live up to an expectation that is a fallacy. The truth is that the Democratic Party of Senator Obama is not the same Democratic Party of John F. Kennedy. The only similarities between Obama and Kennedy is that both graduated from Harvard, were young when they ran for President, were visionary speakers, and had the ability to attract young voters. That is where the similarities end. John F. Kennedy had more in common with Ronald Reagan than with Obama, or for that matter, any modern Democrat.

The Democrats are obsessed with the Kennedy Presidency, and love to label their presidential hopefuls as the “next JFK.” Dukakis, Clinton, Kerry, and now Obama, have all been branded as the “heirs of Camelot.” Enough is enough! The Democratic Party needs to let go of something that never was, because no candidate can stand up to a fairy tale.

President Kennedy believed in a “muscular” foreign policy (“walk softly, carry a big stick”), a minimal tax burden on the people, and was pro-life. Senator Obama believes in a restricted role of the military, in a “Robin Hood" mentality when it comes to welfare programs (take from the rich (as defined by the Democrats), and give to the poor), and is most assuredly pro-abortion.

Kennedy served in the US Navy, and believed that the American Military was a tool to ensure not only our security, but to be used to stop the spread of tyranny. People remember that President Kennedy created the Peace Corp, but he also created the elite military unit known as the Special Forces (Green Berets). President Kennedy drew a line in the sand against communism, which was evident during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam, and his defiant speech at the Berlin Wall (which would serve as the foundation for Ronald Reagan’s speech 25 years later). President Kennedy believed that in the modern age, given the ability for our enemies to rapidly deploy their military anywhere in the world, that the Monroe Doctrine should be expanded to protect America’s interest, even beyond our own hemisphere. Given President Kennedy's history, how do you think he would have responded to the terrorist attacks on America?

Obama never served in the military, but worked as a community organizer and civil attorney after leaving Harvard. Obama served as an Illinois State Senator for 6 years prior to being elected to the US Senate in 2004. As a State Senator and US Senator Obama advocated for social issues such as welfare reform, increased childcare services for single-mothers, stricter mandates regarding criminal interrogations and the alleged use of racial profiling, and unrestricted access to abortions. Obama believes that the US Constitution is a “living document,” subject to alteration as the times change. Obama’s policies towards Iraq and Afghanistan, and his belief that we have lost our place in the world, are counter to a JFK mindset. In fact, Senator Obama and President Kennedy would most likely disagree on how to handle many of the issues facing America today.

Kennedy believed in social justice and equality. But Kennedy’s actions were erratic at best, due in great measure because he believed that you must first exhaust all Constitutional avenues before creating new policies and laws. President Kennedy did not believe that the Constitution was a “living, breathing document,” because Kennedy was a "strict constitutionalist." That fact is supported by the reality that no major civil rights legislation was offered by John Kennedy. As a senator he voted against the 1956 Civil Rights Act authored by the President Eisenhower. Kennedy was slow to react regarding the issue of Civil Rights because he feared the reaction from the Southern Democrats who supported segregation. He did federalize the National Guard in Mississippi to ensure order (since previous attempts to admit Blacks in Southern colleges resulted in violence), but stood by while Sheriff “Bull” Conner, of Birmingham, Alabama, used fire hoses and attack dogs against Civil Rights protesters in the Summer of 1963.

Obama’s legacy as a State Senator in Illinois, and to a lesser degree in the US Senate, is one of expanding laws and policies such as Affirmative Action and Abortion to match his own social contract; yet Senator Obama is on record as either abstaining or voting “present” on key votes related to possible tax increases, partial birth abortion, and the Iraq War. Hardly the actions of a "leader."

President Kennedy felt that we should help those in need, especially the handicap and elderly. His Welfare Amendment Bill of 1962 embodied his belief that we should help those in need by helping them to stand on their own:

“This measure embodies a new approach-stressing services in addition to support, rehabilitation instead of relief, and training for useful work instead of prolonged dependency.”

“Prolong dependency” is now the party policy of the Democrats, including Obama, and it has chained several generations to failure, depriving them of a sense of dignity that comes from ones own achievements. President Kennedy would not have approved of many of the policies Obama has supported over the years because they are built on the false premise that money can solve anything, and the human spirit can be appeased through bribes in the form of welfare programs.

John F. Kennedy was a political being, reluctant to buck his own party’s direction. And although John F. Kennedy was a good President, he is not considered by many to be one of our best Presidents. President Kennedy very seldom took up a cause that was controversial, and lacked the leadership quality demonstrated by President Lincoln and President Reagan. Much like Obama, whose absences and/or abstentions during key (but controversial) votes, shows a lack of leadership and character, regardless of what Ted Kennedy believes. Obama lacks the courage to be a person of substance, preferring more to being a blank canvas. He is charismatic, but his campaign is one of rhetoric only, and not of action.

The media needs to let go of the past and let Senator Obama be defined by who “he” is now, and not by a false comparison to President Kennedy. Senator Obama has more in common with the King of the Liberals, Edward Kennedy, than with Teddy’s brother. President Kennedy’s tragic death ensured his legacy in American history, but it is time to move beyond the kingdom that never was. Camelot was just a play and John F. Kennedy was no King Arthur.

“ Don’t let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment, that was known as Camelot.” - from the play Camelot.