Over the weekend, Texas senator and potential 2016 Republican presidential nominee, Ted Cruz, made a campaign stop in Massachusetts, where he decided to make the following comments about one of the Bay State's own, former President John F. Kennedy:
"I would point out that in the 1960s, one of the most powerful, eloquent defenders of tax cuts was John F. Kennedy. As JFK said, 'Some men see things as they are and ask why; I see things that never were and ask why not.'
JFK would be a Republican today. There is no room for John F. Kennedy in the modern Democratic Party."
I've always thought Ted Cruz to be egotistical, crazy, and full of crap, but this quote just makes him sound stupid. Allow me to provide him with another quote, uttered by one John F. Kennedy:
"If by a 'liberal' they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people - their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties - someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a 'liberal,' then I'm proud to say I'm a 'liberal.'"
Looking ahead and not behind? That's pretty much the definition of progressive, not regressive, like Ted Cruz and his party represent. Welcoming new ideas? Once again, that's progressive. Caring about people's health, housing, schools, jobs, civil rights, and civil liberties? You mean, as opposed to trying to block a bill which provides more people access to health insurance as Senator Cruz tried to do, temporarily shutting the government down in the process? That's the antithesis of Ted Cruz and his party.
Also, the quote Cruz recited, claiming it originated with John F. Kennedy, actually originated with playwright George Bernard Shaw and had absolutely nothing to do with tax cuts.
Not only that, but the Texas senator may want to read a little history on Kennedy's presidency before making such a ridiculous statement again. He can start with this:
- Under Kennedy, the top marginal tax right decreased from 91% to 65% (still 25.4% more than today's rate of 39.6%)
- Also under Kennedy, the bottom 85% received 59% of his tax cut benefits; the top 2.4% received 17.4%; and the top 0.4% received 6%.
Provided Cruz's moronic statement, Kennedy's quote, and the numbers I provided, I can just envision the Texas senator engaging in the following discussion with a reporter:
Reporter Yoko Fukyu: "So, you recently stated that if John F. Kennedy were alive today, he'd be a Republican; is that correct?"
Ted Cruz: "Yes, that's correct."
Fukyu: "...and why is that again?"
Cruz: "Well, it's like Kennedy said, 'Some men see things as they are and ask why; I see things that never were and ask why not.' So, it seems pretty obvious he'd be fully on board with our party's vision for this country, especially when it comes to tax cuts."
Fukyu: "That quote didn't originate with Kennedy, though. Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw was the one who initially made that statement, and it had nothing to do with tax cuts."
Cruz: "You have your facts and I have mine, and even though your facts may be more accurate than mine when it comes to that quote, it doesn't detract from the fact taxes went down when Kennedy was president."
Fukyu: "That's correct."
Cruz: "You see? He'd be a Republican."
Fukyu: "What is the top marginal tax rate right now?"
Cruz: "Too much"
Fukyu: "39.6%"
Cruz: "Like I said, too much"
Fukyu: "What was the top marginal tax rate under Kennedy, after the decrease?"
Cruz: "Still probably too much"
Fukyu: "65%, which is 25.4% more than the rate today"
Cruz: "So?"
Fukyu: "So, you're saying that even though your party continually tries to decrease the top marginal tax rate down from 39.6%, John F. Kennedy, whom had a top marginal tax rate of 65%, would be a Republican today?"
Cruz: "That's correct."
Fukyu: "Also, what are your thoughts on trickle-down economics and who should be the biggest beneficiaries of tax cuts?"
Cruz: "The wealthiest among us are the job creators. Without them, the system would crash. So, of course, they should be the biggest beneficiaries and not those moochers dependent on government."
Fukyu: "Interesting... Well, under Kennedy's tax plan, the bottom 85% received 59% of the benefits, while the top 2.4% and 0.4% received just 17.4% and 6% of the benefits, respectively."
Cruz: "Well, it's no wonder we had the recession then!"
Fukyu: "The recession occurred long after Kennedy's tenure, not nearly as long after President Reagan's trickle-down plan and Republicans continually cutting the top marginal tax rate, and providing the richest with the most benefits."
Cruz: "Whatever..."
Fukyu: "So, do you still believe John F. Kennedy would be a Republican today?"
Cruz: "Yes!"
Fukyu: "Okay, the next time someone in your party says we should raise the top marginal tax rate to 65% and that a majority of the benefits should go to the bottom 85%, let me know..."
Cruz: "I... I..."
Fukyu: "You're apparently either a really bad comedian or an idiot. In either case, good day..."
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/ted-cruz-believes-jfk-would-be-republican-today
http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/90682-if-by-a-liberal-they-mean-someone-who-looks-ahead
"I would point out that in the 1960s, one of the most powerful, eloquent defenders of tax cuts was John F. Kennedy. As JFK said, 'Some men see things as they are and ask why; I see things that never were and ask why not.'
JFK would be a Republican today. There is no room for John F. Kennedy in the modern Democratic Party."
I've always thought Ted Cruz to be egotistical, crazy, and full of crap, but this quote just makes him sound stupid. Allow me to provide him with another quote, uttered by one John F. Kennedy:
"If by a 'liberal' they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people - their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties - someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a 'liberal,' then I'm proud to say I'm a 'liberal.'"
Looking ahead and not behind? That's pretty much the definition of progressive, not regressive, like Ted Cruz and his party represent. Welcoming new ideas? Once again, that's progressive. Caring about people's health, housing, schools, jobs, civil rights, and civil liberties? You mean, as opposed to trying to block a bill which provides more people access to health insurance as Senator Cruz tried to do, temporarily shutting the government down in the process? That's the antithesis of Ted Cruz and his party.
Also, the quote Cruz recited, claiming it originated with John F. Kennedy, actually originated with playwright George Bernard Shaw and had absolutely nothing to do with tax cuts.
Not only that, but the Texas senator may want to read a little history on Kennedy's presidency before making such a ridiculous statement again. He can start with this:
- Under Kennedy, the top marginal tax right decreased from 91% to 65% (still 25.4% more than today's rate of 39.6%)
- Also under Kennedy, the bottom 85% received 59% of his tax cut benefits; the top 2.4% received 17.4%; and the top 0.4% received 6%.
Provided Cruz's moronic statement, Kennedy's quote, and the numbers I provided, I can just envision the Texas senator engaging in the following discussion with a reporter:
Reporter Yoko Fukyu: "So, you recently stated that if John F. Kennedy were alive today, he'd be a Republican; is that correct?"
Ted Cruz: "Yes, that's correct."
Fukyu: "...and why is that again?"
Cruz: "Well, it's like Kennedy said, 'Some men see things as they are and ask why; I see things that never were and ask why not.' So, it seems pretty obvious he'd be fully on board with our party's vision for this country, especially when it comes to tax cuts."
Fukyu: "That quote didn't originate with Kennedy, though. Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw was the one who initially made that statement, and it had nothing to do with tax cuts."
Cruz: "You have your facts and I have mine, and even though your facts may be more accurate than mine when it comes to that quote, it doesn't detract from the fact taxes went down when Kennedy was president."
Fukyu: "That's correct."
Cruz: "You see? He'd be a Republican."
Fukyu: "What is the top marginal tax rate right now?"
Cruz: "Too much"
Fukyu: "39.6%"
Cruz: "Like I said, too much"
Fukyu: "What was the top marginal tax rate under Kennedy, after the decrease?"
Cruz: "Still probably too much"
Fukyu: "65%, which is 25.4% more than the rate today"
Cruz: "So?"
Fukyu: "So, you're saying that even though your party continually tries to decrease the top marginal tax rate down from 39.6%, John F. Kennedy, whom had a top marginal tax rate of 65%, would be a Republican today?"
Cruz: "That's correct."
Fukyu: "Also, what are your thoughts on trickle-down economics and who should be the biggest beneficiaries of tax cuts?"
Cruz: "The wealthiest among us are the job creators. Without them, the system would crash. So, of course, they should be the biggest beneficiaries and not those moochers dependent on government."
Fukyu: "Interesting... Well, under Kennedy's tax plan, the bottom 85% received 59% of the benefits, while the top 2.4% and 0.4% received just 17.4% and 6% of the benefits, respectively."
Cruz: "Well, it's no wonder we had the recession then!"
Fukyu: "The recession occurred long after Kennedy's tenure, not nearly as long after President Reagan's trickle-down plan and Republicans continually cutting the top marginal tax rate, and providing the richest with the most benefits."
Cruz: "Whatever..."
Fukyu: "So, do you still believe John F. Kennedy would be a Republican today?"
Cruz: "Yes!"
Fukyu: "Okay, the next time someone in your party says we should raise the top marginal tax rate to 65% and that a majority of the benefits should go to the bottom 85%, let me know..."
Cruz: "I... I..."
Fukyu: "You're apparently either a really bad comedian or an idiot. In either case, good day..."
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/ted-cruz-believes-jfk-would-be-republican-today
http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/90682-if-by-a-liberal-they-mean-someone-who-looks-ahead
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