I was a high school student when John F. Kennedy ran for the office of president. I was too young to vote but my interest in politics was peaked due to his charismatic persona. I lived in the state of Massachusetts and he being its junior senator perhaps played a major part in my interest. I liked how he talked and what he had to say and in the manner he said it. He had debating skills and a command of any topic he spoke on. Even to this day I can see and hear him in my mind. I do not know if I had grown cynical over the years but there is no one that has come close to him far as demonstration of mass appeal and leadership.

This is no slam against Hillary Clinton. I know she is a very capable woman and I am sure she would be far superior in office than the current administration. I think she is capable of being elected but it will not be any sort of cake walk even in the primaries. She currently has many detractors as JFK had for his religion although hers are for differing reasons. So she very well can be the JFK candidate of 2008 if she can get elected.

So comparing her to JFK far as the ability of being elected with the polarization her candidacy is creating is not any sort of blasphemy. I think to compare anyone to JFK on a personal level is unfair and narrow minded. Plus we are discussing personalities and not sainthood so I think the word blasphemy is inappropriate in comparing Hillary to Jack.

There will be many voting in this election who have no idea who JFK the man was. Hillary need not be compared with any other leader from days gone by. Whoever is elected to the office of president has problems facing them far different from those of JFK. So our interest in Hillary should only be if we believe she is able to deal with the current world crisis and other broad issues facing whoever is to sit in that oval office.

The popularity of a presidential candidate should rest solely on their past record and their philosophies on leadership and what needs to be done to rectify the problems this nation faces today. Comparisons on a personal level have no value other than the likeability of the person themselves. The electorate needs to decide if they want to have someone they would like for their president or to elect someone they know is capable of doing the job and will fix today's issues. My personal preference is to vote for the person most capable for doing the job that has to be done over any other trait that they may possess.

Learn more about this author, Richard Bramante.
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