Jeff Jacoby on the Obama Che Flag

11Hungrybb · 02-18-2008, 10:47 AM

He asks a pointed question. Obama is often compared to JFK, so how would JFK reacted to this incident?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/16/wo...in&oref=slogin

IN 1963, John F. Kennedy was murdered in Texas by a fervent admirer of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. In 2008, a large Cuban flag emblazoned with the image of Che Guevara, Castro's brutal henchman, is prominently displayed in a Barack Obama campaign volunteer office in Houston.

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Obama has been widely compared to JFK, most notably by the late president's brother and daughter. President Kennedy, a stalwart anticommunist, despised Castro and his gang of totalitarian thugs. But when word broke last week that Obama's supporters in Houston work under a banner glorifying Che, the campaign's reaction was to brush it off as an issue involving volunteers, not the official campaign. After two days of controversy, the campaign issued a statement calling the flag "inappropriate" and saying its display "does not reflect Senator Obama's views." Would JFK have reacted so mildly?

In December 1962, Kennedy offered a blunt summary of the Castro/Che record. "The Cuban people were promised by the revolution political liberty, social justice, intellectual freedom, land for the campesinos, and an end to economic exploitation," he said. "They have received a police state, the elimination of the dignity of land ownership, the destruction of free speech and a free press, and the complete subjugation of individual human welfare." Eleven months later, in a speech intended for delivery on the day he was assassinated, Kennedy regretted that Castro's "Communist foothold" in Latin America had "not yet been eliminated."

Were he alive today, it's hard to imagine JFK feeling anything but contempt for those who extol a dictatorship that has been crushing freedom and human beings for nearly 50 years. And it would surely pain him that so many of the cheerleaders are members of his own party.

The lionizing of Che, a sociopath who relished killing and acclaimed "the pedagogy of the firing squad," is not just "inappropriate." It is vile. No American in his right mind would be caught dead wearing a David Duke T-shirt or displaying a poster of Pol Pot. A celebrity who was spotted with a swastika-festooned cap or an actress who revealed that she had gotten a tattoo depicting Timothy McVeigh would inspire only repugnance. No presidential campaign would need more than 30 seconds to sever its ties to anyone, paid staffer or volunteer, whose office was adorned with a Ku Klux Klan banner. Yet Che's likeness, which ought to be as loathed as any of those, is instead a trendy bestseller and a cult favorite.

A few years ago the New York Public Library gift shop sold Che wristwatches. These it described as "featuring the classic romantic image of Che Guevara, around which the word 'revolution' revolves." But Che's idea of revolution was anything but romantic. What he cherished was hatred and murder: "Hatred as an element of struggle," he wrote in 1967, "unbending hatred for the enemy, which pushes a human being beyond his natural limitations, making him into an effective, violent, selective, and cold-blooded killing machine." It was a sentiment he expressed repeatedly - and lived up to.

With Che at his side, Castro toppled Fulgencio Batista in January 1959. "As soon as they had seized power," notes "The Black Book of Communism," a magisterial survey of communist crime in the 20th century, "they began to conduct mass executions inside the two main prisons, La Cabana and Santa Clara." As chief prosecutor of the new regime, Che oversaw the bloodbath, ordering hundreds of executions in the first months of 1959. Those he killed, "The Black Book" records, included "former comrades-in-arms who refused to abandon their democratic beliefs."

Like totalitarians of every stripe, Che didn't scruple at the death of innocents. "Quit the dallying!" he ordered Jose Vilasuso, a conscientious government lawyer who was seeking evidence against several prisoners. "Your job is a very simple one. Judicial evidence is an archaic and secondary bourgeois detail. This is a revolution! We execute from revolutionary conviction."

Time magazine once called Che the "brain” of the Cuban Revolution, and saluted his "icy calculation, vast competence, high intelligence, and . . . perceptive sense of humor." A better description comes from journalist Humberto Fontova, who observes in "Exposing The Real Che Guevara" that Che was for Castro what Heinrich Himmer was for Hitler and Lavrenty Beria for Stalin - "the snarling enforcer." Fittingly, a massive drawing of Che adorns the headquarters of Cuba's secret police in Havana.

That this sadistic thug's face also adorns the office of a US presidential candidate's supporters is appalling and disgraceful. That the candidate couldn't bring himself to say so is even worse.

Jeff Jacoby's e-mail address is jacoby@globe.com.

TheSuaveOne · 02-18-2008, 10:49 AM

The Clinton camp had eased of this one, they are pushing Obama's little plagerism incident. LOL.

BigJimCalhoun · 02-18-2008, 05:30 PM

I'm gonna get me one of these flags

Anya · 02-21-2008, 11:44 AM

Good to see an article accurately characterizing Guevara. He was a vicious bastard that somehow came "cool" amongst a subset of Americans because of a single photograph.

midlifecrisis · 02-21-2008, 12:28 PM

Why are we acting surprised? This is a man who wouldnt face the American flag and place his hand over his heart during the anthem nor would he wear an American flag lapel pin. Couple that with his wifes remarks of disdain about thsi country and its a little bit scary really. What are we doing here with this guy. Has it become so trendy to hate America that we want a President who hates what we stand for? Scary.

Ulter · 02-21-2008, 01:55 PM

Now Obama hates what America stands for? Because he didn't know which way the flag was? Is that yours or Noise Machine?
Incredible.

I don't see people comparing Obama to JFK as much as they do Bobby. I think that's a better comparison.

Bjaarki · 02-21-2008, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midlifecrisis

Why are we acting surprised? This is a man who wouldnt face the American flag and place his hand over his heart during the anthem nor would he wear an American flag lapel pin. Couple that with his wifes remarks of disdain about thsi country and its a little bit scary really. What are we doing here with this guy. Has it become so trendy to hate America that we want a President who hates what we stand for? Scary.

I thought you were considering voting for Obama. Man, you sure blow hot and cold. I guess it all depends on what O'Reilly is ranting about that day, hunh?

Barack Obama will make a fine president. You'd better get used to the idea.

Bjaarki

TheSuaveOne · 02-21-2008, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ulter

Now Obama hates what America stands for?

No, I think that is his wife that feels that way.

midlifecrisis · 02-25-2008, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bjaarki

I thought you were considering voting for Obama. Man, you sure blow hot and cold. I guess it all depends on what O'Reilly is ranting about that day, hunh?

Barack Obama will make a fine president. You'd better get used to the idea.

Bjaarki

I see that you are still wrapped up in the delusion that the democrats, regardless of what or who they nominate, are going to just walk off with this thing? The polls would disagree, and most of the dem pundits seem to think it will be a very close race. You are one of the few that continues to act like this is going to be a cakewalk. And its guys like you who will be the most saddened and defeated and claim fraud when you lose, again.

And perhaps you can tell us WHY you think Barack would make a fine president. Becuase he is black? Becuause of his years of experience?

The only reason I made the comment that I may actaully vote for him, was because I was and still am disgusted with my party that the best we can do is John McCain. I have two key issues that I will vote and decide on, and sadly McCain and Obama are in agreement on both of them. So for me, I almost considered punishing my party and either not voting or voting Obama. In later posts I actaully stated that when it came down to it, 82% percent conservative is better than none so I wouldnt ever be able to pull the lever for Obama.

I still say Obama is going to get eaten alive in the debates with McCain and its there, when the substance has to come out, that everyone will see thta this guy Obama is all smoke and mirrors and very little substance.

solidspine · 03-23-2008, 10:17 PM

If Kennedy were alive today he would be scorned as a conservative republican,

His bother is a nice guy just a drunk, and not very smart.

and I am saying he is a drunk and I am a drunk and he just wants to be drunk. Be cause he is a drunk.

solidspine · 03-25-2008, 06:36 AM

In my opinion, the change from the early 60’s to the early 2008 election in specifically politics, is not unlike the change in the country.

The Kennedy boys did speak from the heart and did believe what they were saying. They did not rely upon focus groups or polls for there beliefs

Their values were there objectives and obtainable.

solidspine · 03-26-2008, 10:06 AM

Much more important did you see the flick about Che driving his Motor cycle from where ever he was Argentina to some where north, maybe Columbia,

It was titled Diarios de motocicleta

You need to see it, it was wonderful, and full of Fina.

solidspine · 03-26-2008, 10:06 AM

For a crazy he was a great guy.

And think about the positive outcome,

I know everyone thinks the best cars from the 60’s are here in California,
well I concede and they are

But please, please, please do not sacrifice your goals in life and

don’t forget about the 50’s

How about a 52 Chevy convertible, in el perfecto condition, where, where are you going to fine this work of art,

Havana. That is it my friend!

Castro knew nothing about politics or life, but he knew his cars.

American thorough breads from the 50’s & than you Mister Castro, and Mr. Che.

solidspine · 03-26-2008, 10:15 AM

I offer them the Nobel prize, not for the stupid things the Swedish think are important, like, medicine, physics, art & peace,

for Gods sake why do Swedes take them selves so seriously. How about art and cars from the 50’s, in perfect condition,

Cuba deserves it’s day in recognition.

And a lot of the cigars’ from Cuba are still excellent, I just like Dominican Republic with Cuban seeds and a Connecticut wrapper. Like an AVO

02-18-2008, 10:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
11Hungrybb Ezekiel 4:9! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Orygun Posts: 520 Rep Power: 45325	Jeff Jacoby on the Obama Che Flag He asks a pointed question. Obama is often compared to JFK, so how would JFK reacted to this incident? http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/16/wo...in&oref=slogin IN 1963, John F. Kennedy was murdered in Texas by a fervent admirer of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. In 2008, a large Cuban flag emblazoned with the image of Che Guevara, Castro's brutal henchman, is prominently displayed in a Barack Obama campaign volunteer office in Houston. MORE POLITICAL COVERAGE '80s rules reform skews Democrats' nominee process Campaign Notebook McCain gains Mich., La. delegates Obama touts his electability graphic Democratic voters POLITICAL OPINION Jeff Jacoby What would JFK do? Alexandra Marshall Singing the same optimistic tune Campaign '08 coverage more stories like this Clinton again alls on Obama to debate JFK's torch for Obama Kennedy touts Obama's 'inspirational difference' Shades of 1960 Patrick Kennedy to join father in endorsing Obama for president Obama has been widely compared to JFK, most notably by the late president's brother and daughter. President Kennedy, a stalwart anticommunist, despised Castro and his gang of totalitarian thugs. But when word broke last week that Obama's supporters in Houston work under a banner glorifying Che, the campaign's reaction was to brush it off as an issue involving volunteers, not the official campaign. After two days of controversy, the campaign issued a statement calling the flag "inappropriate" and saying its display "does not reflect Senator Obama's views." Would JFK have reacted so mildly? In December 1962, Kennedy offered a blunt summary of the Castro/Che record. "The Cuban people were promised by the revolution political liberty, social justice, intellectual freedom, land for the campesinos, and an end to economic exploitation," he said. "They have received a police state, the elimination of the dignity of land ownership, the destruction of free speech and a free press, and the complete subjugation of individual human welfare." Eleven months later, in a speech intended for delivery on the day he was assassinated, Kennedy regretted that Castro's "Communist foothold" in Latin America had "not yet been eliminated." Were he alive today, it's hard to imagine JFK feeling anything but contempt for those who extol a dictatorship that has been crushing freedom and human beings for nearly 50 years. And it would surely pain him that so many of the cheerleaders are members of his own party. The lionizing of Che, a sociopath who relished killing and acclaimed "the pedagogy of the firing squad," is not just "inappropriate." It is vile. No American in his right mind would be caught dead wearing a David Duke T-shirt or displaying a poster of Pol Pot. A celebrity who was spotted with a swastika-festooned cap or an actress who revealed that she had gotten a tattoo depicting Timothy McVeigh would inspire only repugnance. No presidential campaign would need more than 30 seconds to sever its ties to anyone, paid staffer or volunteer, whose office was adorned with a Ku Klux Klan banner. Yet Che's likeness, which ought to be as loathed as any of those, is instead a trendy bestseller and a cult favorite. A few years ago the New York Public Library gift shop sold Che wristwatches. These it described as "featuring the classic romantic image of Che Guevara, around which the word 'revolution' revolves." But Che's idea of revolution was anything but romantic. What he cherished was hatred and murder: "Hatred as an element of struggle," he wrote in 1967, "unbending hatred for the enemy, which pushes a human being beyond his natural limitations, making him into an effective, violent, selective, and cold-blooded killing machine." It was a sentiment he expressed repeatedly - and lived up to. With Che at his side, Castro toppled Fulgencio Batista in January 1959. "As soon as they had seized power," notes "The Black Book of Communism," a magisterial survey of communist crime in the 20th century, "they began to conduct mass executions inside the two main prisons, La Cabana and Santa Clara." As chief prosecutor of the new regime, Che oversaw the bloodbath, ordering hundreds of executions in the first months of 1959. Those he killed, "The Black Book" records, included "former comrades-in-arms who refused to abandon their democratic beliefs." Like totalitarians of every stripe, Che didn't scruple at the death of innocents. "Quit the dallying!" he ordered Jose Vilasuso, a conscientious government lawyer who was seeking evidence against several prisoners. "Your job is a very simple one. Judicial evidence is an archaic and secondary bourgeois detail. This is a revolution! We execute from revolutionary conviction." Time magazine once called Che the "brain” of the Cuban Revolution, and saluted his "icy calculation, vast competence, high intelligence, and . . . perceptive sense of humor." A better description comes from journalist Humberto Fontova, who observes in "Exposing The Real Che Guevara" that Che was for Castro what Heinrich Himmer was for Hitler and Lavrenty Beria for Stalin - "the snarling enforcer." Fittingly, a massive drawing of Che adorns the headquarters of Cuba's secret police in Havana. That this sadistic thug's face also adorns the office of a US presidential candidate's supporters is appalling and disgraceful. That the candidate couldn't bring himself to say so is even worse. Jeff Jacoby's e-mail address is jacoby@globe.com.

02-21-2008, 12:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
midlifecrisis ROLL TIDE ! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: #1 IN THE NATION Posts: 3,731 Rep Power: 177735	Why are we acting surprised? This is a man who wouldnt face the American flag and place his hand over his heart during the anthem nor would he wear an American flag lapel pin. Couple that with his wifes remarks of disdain about thsi country and its a little bit scary really. What are we doing here with this guy. Has it become so trendy to hate America that we want a President who hates what we stand for? Scary. __________________ "It's awfully important to win with humility. It's also important to lose with it. I hate to lose worse than anyone, but if you never lose you won't know how to act. If you lose with humility, then you can come back better the next time." - Paul "Bear" Bryant

02-21-2008, 01:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ulter Chairman of the board Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Orlando Posts: 27,646 Rep Power: 303051	Now Obama hates what America stands for? Because he didn't know which way the flag was? Is that yours or Noise Machine? Incredible. I don't see people comparing Obama to JFK as much as they do Bobby. I think that's a better comparison. __________________ > . . When you register at www.theafstore.com make sure you register as an AF Board Member to get the discounted pricing.

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02-18-2008, 10:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
TheSuaveOne Gold Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,133 Rep Power: 9528	The Clinton camp had eased of this one, they are pushing Obama's little plagerism incident. LOL.

02-18-2008, 05:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
BigJimCalhoun Gold Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,333 Rep Power: 17774	I'm gonna get me one of these flags

02-21-2008, 11:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
Anya Gold Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 115 Rep Power: 2132	Good to see an article accurately characterizing Guevara. He was a vicious bastard that somehow came "cool" amongst a subset of Americans because of a single photograph.

03-23-2008, 10:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
solidspine Retired Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 6,622 Rep Power: 0	If Kennedy were alive today he would be scorned as a conservative republican, His bother is a nice guy just a drunk, and not very smart. and I am saying he is a drunk and I am a drunk and he just wants to be drunk. Be cause he is a drunk.

03-25-2008, 06:36 AM	#11 (permalink)
solidspine Retired Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 6,622 Rep Power: 0	In my opinion, the change from the early 60’s to the early 2008 election in specifically politics, is not unlike the change in the country. The Kennedy boys did speak from the heart and did believe what they were saying. They did not rely upon focus groups or polls for there beliefs Their values were there objectives and obtainable.

03-26-2008, 10:06 AM	#12 (permalink)
solidspine Retired Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 6,622 Rep Power: 0	Much more important did you see the flick about Che driving his Motor cycle from where ever he was Argentina to some where north, maybe Columbia, It was titled Diarios de motocicleta You need to see it, it was wonderful, and full of Fina.

03-26-2008, 10:06 AM	#13 (permalink)
solidspine Retired Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 6,622 Rep Power: 0	For a crazy he was a great guy. And think about the positive outcome, I know everyone thinks the best cars from the 60’s are here in California, well I concede and they are But please, please, please do not sacrifice your goals in life and don’t forget about the 50’s How about a 52 Chevy convertible, in el perfecto condition, where, where are you going to fine this work of art, Havana. That is it my friend! Castro knew nothing about politics or life, but he knew his cars. American thorough breads from the 50’s & than you Mister Castro, and Mr. Che.

03-26-2008, 10:15 AM	#14 (permalink)
solidspine Retired Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 6,622 Rep Power: 0	I offer them the Nobel prize, not for the stupid things the Swedish think are important, like, medicine, physics, art & peace, for Gods sake why do Swedes take them selves so seriously. How about art and cars from the 50’s, in perfect condition, Cuba deserves it’s day in recognition. And a lot of the cigars’ from Cuba are still excellent, I just like Dominican Republic with Cuban seeds and a Connecticut wrapper. Like an AVO