Getting Close, And Comparing

Here's another photo of JFK from that event in Camden nearly 50 years ago.

And the incredible thing is that we can still get as close to presidential candidates in 2008 as I got in 1960.

But now we have to arrive at the candidate's event hours beforehand and pass through tight security and then stand or sit and wait and wait and wait before we actually get to meet the candidate.

Still, that's exactly what I did the other day when I went to see John McCain in Philadelphia. As you can see, I managed to get very close to JFK in 1960 and I was equally as close to John McCain on Wednesday.

Is McCain another Kennedy? Well, like Kennedy McCain is a war hero. But no, McCain is not another Kennedy and neither is the other guy who's running.

But I'll leave that to Fran Coombs writing at Human Events:

For months now it seems everywhere you turn someone has been making comparisons between the senator from Illinois and John F. Kennedy. . . . Of course, Mr. Obama demurs if the comparison to Kennedy is raised, while his campaign milks it whenever possible. He’s even enlisted JFK’s premier wordsmith Ted Sorensen to work on his speeches.Here’s the catch: The late President Kennedy was far more conservative than the political party he represented is today. Just a look at the hawkish Cold War tone of his national security speeches during the 1960 campaign would cause a building-wide fainting spell at the Democratic Party’s national headquarters. So, like many historical figures, he has been twisted Gumby-like into an all-purpose, one-size-fits-all caricature to meet the needs of whoever is quoting him on a given day. Including his own family.

JFK’s most famous quotation, except perhaps his declaration at the then newly-built Berlin Wall that he was a jelly doughnut (“Ich bin ein Berliner”), came at the close of his inaugural address on Jan. 20, 1961. “Ask not what your country can do for you,” he told his fellow Americans that bitterly cold day. “Ask what you can do for your country.”

Now flash forward nearly 50 years from that historic date to the presidential campaign of 2008. The new Kennedy, Barack Obama -- and only to a slightly lesser degree his Republican rival, Sen. John McCain -- are already turning JFK’s inspiring quotation upside down, offering every kind of government prescription possible.

Photo of JFK copyright 2008 by Dan Cirucci

Another JFK?

The photo that you see here of John F. Kennedy is one of several that I took in June, 1960 at a Democrat Party dinner in Camden, New Jersey.

I've never shown any of these photos publicly before.

This is Kennedy much as we remember him, striking a contemplative pose that makes us wonder: Who is he, really? Why are we so drawn to him?

When I met him, I knew there was something different.

He didn’t seem full of himself like so many public figures. In fact, he seemed shy and awkward in the public spotlight. He’d lower his shoulders a bit and thrust his hands into the pockets of his suit jacket. He’d look away for a moment and appeared lost or detached, almost to the point where you wanted to help him.
And then he’d look your way and start to speak. The eyes, the hair, that smile, those teeth, the voice with its distinctive accent – in no time at all you found yourself cheering for him. This man seemed to be completely without hubris.

On that June evening 48 years ago all eyes were on Kennedy. I found many, including my father, referring to him as "another Roosevelt."

Now some people feel that the Democrat Party has found itself another Kennedy.

But I was there. I was with Kennedy. I heard him. I met him. I saw him.

And I can tell you this: In terms of charisma and stature and leadership the only man who came close to Kennedy in my lifetime has been Ronald Reagan.

Another JFK? I don't think so. Not now. Not this time around.

Photo: copyright 2008 Dan Cirucci

We Did It Again!

Yesterday, our op-ed entitled "What (really) happened" was the most-viewed piece in the Philadelphia Daily News opinion section. And this morning it remains the most viewed piece in that section. More people have read "What (really) happened" online than any other editorial, signed opinion or letter in the newspaper.
Thank you for making us Number One again!

Tout Le Monde!

Welcome to visitors from Elmhut, Sweden; Driffiled, York, UK; Bangkok, Thailand; Makatii, Rizal, Philippines and Vancouver, Toronto, Kitchener and Port Coquitlam, Canada. These are just a few of the visitors from all over the world who've logged in during the past few days.
And hello to our friends on every continent who have visited our site along with visitors from coast to coast and border to border in the United States. In fact, a special hello to the folks who have visited from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina (one of our adopted "home states") and a big Shout Out to our old friends Ed and Merle Lundy who are once again perched in Jackson, Wyoming this summer!
Welcome, and keep visiting!

Big Mac In Philly

Yes, we were at the McCain Town Hall Meeting at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. And yes, we had a great time.
We sat in the fourth row center so we were up-front view for the proceedings. Let's face it: McCain is a master of the Town Hall format and this is why the OH!man had been dragging his feet on the invitation to join McCain at Town Hall sessions across the country.
From the start we were impressed with the fact that there was no big buildup or fanfare for The Candidate Himself.
Instead, precisely at 11:30 AM McCain & Co. were announced and John and Cindy McCain walked right into the Town Hall "circle" with their guests and the session began.
Big Mac made news from the start when he said he doesn't agree that voters in Pennsylvania "cling to their religion and the Constitution because they are bitter. I am going to tell them that they have faith and they have trust and support the Constitution of the United States because they have optimism and hope and that is the strength of America."
And then McCain shifted to the economy. "Why in the world would anyone consider raising your taxes in difficult economic times? Sen. Obama wants to raise capital gains tax. My friends, there's a hundred million people who have some kind of investment that is affected by capital gains," he said. "Why would we want to take more of the people's money and send it to Washington to spend on a bridge in Alaska to an island with 50 people on it?"
McCain was quick, crisp, human and engaging. He seems to thrive on the interaction with his audience.
Of course, I wish he had hit harder at Obama. But McCain & Co. have their own pace and their own plan and I'm reasonably confident they will know when and how to move against their locquacious opponent.
BTW: We saw lots of friends at the NCC including Joe Torcella, Laura Linton and Wally Zimolong, among others.

What Happened?

'What Happened."
When I hear the title of ex-White House press secretary Scott McClellan's book and think about the hypocritical behavior of people like McClellan and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, I want to ask, "What happened?"
What happened to loyalty?
What happened to any sense of traditional, ethical judgment?
What happened to the concept of serving others instead of serving yourself?
To read my entire column from today's Philadelphia Daily News click here.

Dress Lightly

I hate talking about the weather.

It's really a stupid, boring topic. And there's not much we can do about it anyway.

Plus, you've probably already figured out that I pretty much don't believe in either global warming or climate change Phooey!

But yesterday in Philly the temperature hit 97 and it tied a record, hon! Cheez, it was hot! Felt more like Vegas than Pil'elphia. Know what I mean?

We're expected to get some relief today but it's still hot.

Well, the local TV weathercasters (and Philly has about 357 of 'em) have been yappin and squawkin 'bout the weather like a buncha tropical birds.

Hey, it's not like there aren't places to cool off. For example, I escaped it all by taking a brisk midday walk through the Mall - very comfortable and refreshing, thank you.

And on Monday, a group of us known as the Anne Klein Senior [PR] Counselors Alliance enjoyed a wonderful luncheon/discussion program within the very cool confines of Maggiano's Little Italy. No, I'm not talkin bout that Anne Klein. I'm talking about the legendary PR guru Anne Sceia Klein who founded the Anne Klein Communications Group which is part of Pinnacle worldwide, an international corporation of independent public relations firms with offices in more than 60 major cities throughout the world. Gerry Klein, John Moscatelli and Mike Gross (all of Anne Klein Group) presided over the discussion. Participants included seasoned PR experts (and trusted friends) Susan Baltake and Shirley Bonnem, among others. The temperature was right, the food was good and the compnay was right.

Besides, I learn so much from my colleagues in the profession that no matter how hot the weather, an afternoon with them is always kewel.

An Original

This year will mark the 45th anniversary of the death of John F. Kennedy.

While doing a bit of spring cleaning in my attic I found this pennant from the 1961 Inauguration of JFK.

It's a bit faded but it is an authentic original. Look at those red felt streamers on the end.

I checked with an appraiser and found that it is worth about $12.

That seems to be what it will garner on the open market.

Obviously, I have no intention of selling it.

It takes up very little room and I continue to treasure it.

Blood In The Water

I'm always amazed at how the media participate in the destruction of one or another public figure and then ask: "What happened?" or "What went wrong?" - as if they had no part in it.
They love to see the mighty fall. And they certainly do play a role.
And this is what happened with Hillary Clinton. Once her enemies saw that she was vulnerable, that was the beginning of the end. As soon as they saw an opening, they began to move in for the kill.
Yes, she and her husband made their share of enemies over the years. But most of those enemies were cowards. They didn't have the guts to confront Bubba & Co. They patiently waited until their prey was weakened. Then, they began to set the stage for the destruction.
It was sad and pitiful to watch.
But now, what's even sadder - and sicker - is the hypocritical postmortem: Watching these same people pick at the corpse and ask "My, my, what happened here?"
They rise only to fall. Sadly, it sometimes seems that this is the one and only certainty of our media-saturated age.
Bravo to those who take a stand one way or another and fight the good fight.
Shame on those who lurk in the shadows, pretending to be friends or disinterested bystanders while at the same time participating in the kill.

Hollywood Meets Woodstock

Politicao says it's being billed as a sort of "Woodstock for rich people." It's the big Hollywood/Obama gala scheduled for the Disney Concert Hall in LA.
So call it Woodstock meets Hollywood meets Disney. Here's the deal:
Barack Obama will be welcomed back to Hollywood on June 24 for his first fundraiser in L.A. since becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee for president. The event is likely to draw the largest congregation of celebrities and local heavy-hitters attending a political event since late January, when Obama met with Sen. Hillary Clinton at their initial one-on-one debate at the Kodak Theatre.
That televised confrontation, which launched the final stretch of the long-fought Democratic nominating race, drew showbiz notables including Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino, Leonardo DiCaprio, Pierce Brosnan, Stevie Wonder as well as a who's who of state and local representatives.
The upcoming fundraiser, held in downtown Los Angeles at the Music Center complex area, is expected to draw a crowd of more than a thousand well-wishers. Organized as a fete for the Democratic National Committee, the party designation means participants can contribute up to $28,500 as opposed to the $2,300 that donors are allowed to contribute to a specific candidate in the general election. Four years ago, then-candidate John Kerry held a similar event at the Music Center's Walt Disney Concert Hall that brought in $5 million, making it rank among the most successful political fundraisers in city history.