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The Assassination of JFK, RFK, MLK and the election of Barack Obama


John Simkin

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John wrote of MLK and RFK "Both men were probably assassinated as part of a right-wing racist conspiracy. "

I have to disagree with this as it is here expressed. I think John perhaps meant to refer to the race aspect because it dealt with the topic of this thread and not necessarily meaning to imply that there were no other aspects besides race in the two assassinations.

Still there is a problem in isolating race as the cause of these two.

In my opinion race was only one factor in a complex gordian knot of race, class, foreign policy and the question of whether or not the us would have a more social democratic form of capitalism than we currently have.

RFK was doing well among BOTH working class whites and blacks. Maybe not in the same time and place but nevertheless, THAT IS WHAT REALLY MADE HIM dangerous. That and combinging it with a strong anti-war message.

Yes I have read the foundation funded left attacks on RFK (see the excellent article posted by Paul Rigby on the Foundation Funded Left and how it keeps the US right)

Yes I am well aware of RFKs very relevent Cold Warrior past.

But one sided attacks by the likes of Chomsky and Amy Goodman, are a clear sign in their very misleading one-sidedness: especially Amy Goodmans hatchet job on the 40th aniverasary of the RFK hit is a great example of how left APPEARING criticism are used for rightist ends a la Encounter Magazine, the CIA controlled and funded faux left magazine of the Cold War era.

RFK, metaphorically speaking, can be seen as a candidate with one foot inside the convention and one foot in the streets of Chicago, had he survived. Paradoxically it was his very Cold War dues that he had paid to the party that enabled the one foot inside the convention.

He would not have been another MUCH MORE EASILY maginalizeable protester with two feet on the streets yelling at those inside.

It was precisely this stance-- one foot inside and one foot outside-- that created the fluidity and unpredictability that made it necessary for intelligence agencies of the US government to kill him, if they wanted to continue in their oil and military spending and unilateral ways that they had set on to the excusion of the domestic economy when the bullets flew in Dallas in 1963.

I realize that John was probably only dealing with race rhetorically, and not implying it was the sole cause. However it bears emphasis that race was not the sole cause with either. If it were both would not have represented a threat that required assassination.

Edited by Nathaniel Heidenheimer
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John wrote of MLK and RFK "Both men were probably assassinated as part of a right-wing racist conspiracy. "

I have to disagree with this as it is here expressed. I think John perhaps meant to refer to the race aspect because it dealt with the topic of this thread and not necessarily meaning to imply that there were no other aspects besides race in the two assassinations.

I agree that the race issue was only part of the reason for the deaths of the three men. For example, MLK became a far more dangerous leader when he began to oppose the Vietnam War and he embraced the whole of the trade union movement in his poverty campaign. I also accept it was only a minor factor in the deaths of JFK and RFK. The main point was that they were all seen as a threat to the status quo. The election of a black man to the White House does not in itself pose a threat to the ruling elite. But then again, JFK was not seen as a threat when he was elected in 1960.

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John

I don't think that American politics are as shallow as you seem to suggest.

If you look at the election returns carefully you will find that the results are similiar to the arguments that the framers of the Constitution had to deal with ..... rural States vs urban States. When you check....almost accross the board ... Obama won in the population centers of each State (accross the board) and McCain won in the rural areas, nationwide with a few exceptions.

I do not believe it would be safe to suggest that the rural areas of Oregon, for instance, which voted overwelmingly for McCain did so because they are filled with either white racist or Christian fundamentalists. The common bond, one that was the reason for our bi-cameral legislature is rural vs urban.

This election seems to reflect ecconomic conditions in the United States rather than racial reactions to whom was running.

Jim Root

There is no doubt many factors in determining the result. However, it is surely no coincidence that McCain won the former Confederate states of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, South Carolina and Tennessee. These were all states that were held by the Democrats before the passing of the 1965 Voting Act.

On the other hand, those states that supported Abraham Lincoln in the struggle against slavery voted overwhelmingly for Obama.

According to exit polls conducted on behalf of a group of major US news organizations, the one group that bucked the national trend was white male voters (55% for McCain).

One of the most interesting aspects of the polling concerns the views of Hispanics. In the 2004 election 56% of this group voted for Bush. Early surveys suggested that they were unhappy voting for a black man. This is not surprising as recent immigrants often display racist views as they wish to believe that one group is below them on the social ladder. (It is also the reason why the middle-class and the upward socially mobile are usually less racist than the white unskilled working-class.) However, exit polls show that 57% of Hispanics voted for Obama. They clearly saw Obama as someone on their side.

It seems to me that the Republicans have similar problems to that encountered by the Conservative Party in 1997. Like the Republicans, they lost the middle-ground. The problem was that those left tended to hold right-wing views. They therefore elected a right-wing leader and developed policies that were unappealing to the middle-ground. After being beaten in three national elections they accepted their mistake and elected a moderate, David Cameron, as leader. He is now leading the polls and is expected to win the next general election.

It will be interesting to see if the Republicans learn from what happened in the UK.

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It will be interesting to see if the Republicans learn from what happened in the UK.

It's my understanding that the religious right is the "base" of the Republican party. It was this base that was "energized" by Sarah Palin, and continued to support her when she turned out to be as dumb as a box of rocks.

The religious right does not change, it does not "learn" anything. If it's true that no national Republican candidate can succeed without this base, then there may be no hope for the Republican party. Moderate Republicans will have to go form a new party, like a lot of Southern Baptists left the fundamentalist-controlled South Baptist Convention several years ago and formed their own little rival denomination.

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Ron is correct that the base of the Republican Party as it now stands is rock-dumb and rock-fast. They learn not and move not - all answers are known from their interpretation of their bible and their god. End of matter. They are prisoners of their closed minds. I hope both (more) progressive Republicans, Independants and Democrats start new parties. It is our ONLY hope. Both parties have failed us miserably and continuously.

A very good, very sane and I think very balanced realistic/skeptical/hopefull international view of Obama here [after the headlines]. Well worth a watch (or listen) and thought. http://www.democracynow.org/2008/11/6/stream

I posted details of Hamid Karzai speech here:

http://educationforum.ipbhost.com/index.ph...30&start=30

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The President-elect is strongly considering Robert F. Kennedy to be the head of the Environmental Protection Agency and is weighing Kennedy's cousin, Caroline, for the position of U.S. ambassador to the United Nations -- a move that would please Sens. Hillary Clinton and Ted Kennedy, Politico reported.

Good or bad?

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Some people believe that JFK was killed by white racists who were opposed to civil rights legislation. When LBJ signed the 1965 Civil Rights Act he made a prophecy that he was “signing away the south for 50 years”. This proved accurate. In fact, the Democrats have never recovered the vote of the white racists in the Deep South. This is the electorate that now gives its support to the Republican Party. A new alliance has therefore taken place between the white racists, right-wing conservatives and Christian fundamentalists.

RFK and MLK called for further civil rights legislation before their deaths in 1968. Both men were probably assassinated as part of a right-wing racist conspiracy.

LBJ was right in his prediction. However, so was RFK when he said in 1968 that the US would have a “Negro president” in 40 years.

It is ironic that the Republican Party is now only really strong in the Deep South. LBJ was right in the short-term about how the passing of Civil Rights legislation in the 1960s would hurt the Democratic Party. However, in the long-term, it hurt the Republican Party.

If Barack Obama now orders the release of CIA and FBI files on the three assassinations, we might well be in a good position to have a fuller understanding of US history since the election of JFK in 1960.

John,

Here is a current update from the far right regarding the election outcome.

(I do not hold all the beliefs in the following post but I think it is very eye opening for educators and students of history. I was encouraged to pass it on.)

Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2008 12:12 AM

Subject: My Predictions for the New Obama "Presidency"

Now that America has shown us all that affirmative action even works in politics, I've compiled a list of things that you can probably expect to happen. These predictions are 80% gleaned from information all of us have access to, and 15% gut instinct based on many years of research, historical study, and being glued to current affairs. The other 5% is just anger at my countrymen's stupidity--I admit it.

-----

- Websites and mass emails offering "free grants," courtesy of the government and "Obama's wealth redistribution." Actually, this one's a freebie, because I have an email with a date and timestamp of literally minutes after Obama was declared the winner, offering exactly that.

- Israel will understand this election was the end of any type of assistance, military or otherwise, from the U.S., and will stop holding back their defense at the request of the American administration. Look for a first strike on Iran soon, as well as increased activity by the Israeli military in general. Israel is on her own now, and God help us all because of it.

- Look for Iranian retaliation--against American targets. That goes doubly for other terrorist organizations. We just elected a man with the full endorsement of every major terrorist group in the world as leader of the free world. It's the political equivalent of hiring a child molester to babysit your kids while you leave for the weekend. Not only is HE going to have fun with your child, but he'll probably sit and watch while his friends come over and do it too.

- Look for far-left justices appointed to the Supreme Court, effectively tying up the entire government in a trifecta of liberal humanism, the buzzwords of which remain empty platitudes like "hope and change," and the ultimate goal of which is socialism--and soon, sharia law.

- Military cases of troops being tried and convicted for killing the enemy in combat will continue to rise--and the conviction/plea-bargain rate will stay at nearly 100%, as the government seeks to use the best men and women this country has to offer as sacrificial lambs on the altar of global appeasement. Those brave and honorable men who currently reside in prison cells across the country, stripped of their rank, their careers, families, and their good name, will not taste free air again for many years. Their sacrifices and their stories will be forgotten by the general public, remembered only by those of us who continue to fight for them.

- Look for the slow but steady erosion of rights you have enjoyed for your entire lives--all the while being told it's "for your own good." Restrictions on gun ownership, home schooling, encouraged dependence on the ever-growing federal government. More nanny-state provisions will be put into place to protect the "disadvantaged" and the "poor," (read: lazy, uneducated, unwilling to better themselves) even while groups like the unborn, the mentally handicapped, elderly, and terminally ill are slowly pushed toward euthanasia. Of course, this will be done with feel-good phrases like "death with dignity," "not wanting to be a burden," and "merciful release from suffering," all of which ignore the basic fact that we are killing people without their consent for the "good of the people." Before you tell me I'm crazy, let's just remember that Barack Obama was the ONLY senator in the Illinois state senate to vote against providing medical care for babies who were inconsiderate enough to survive an abortion. Also, look for taxes to go up. Yes, they'll go up.

- You think the economy is bad now? Just wait. You'll have the most expensive "free" health care ever. Bread lines aren't just for Russians anymore.

We have traded experience for color, freedom for slavery--and the irony is that the average American sheeple thinks their vote somehow righted an ancient wrong, somehow ENDED the spectre of slavery and ushered in some beautiful era of liberty. In reality, we are about to be less free than you ever thought possible.

I watched the faces of those crowded into the mob (excuse the pun) in Chicago. They stared at Obama like he was a god, an idol, a panacea to their every want and need. We have truly failed as a nation if we are at the point where we feel we must look to one man to take care of us all, to be our father figure and our sugar daddy. We have lost not only the "can-do" attitude of past generations, but the "MUST-do" attitude of our forefathers. We have allowed ourselves to become reduced from Patrick Henry's proud cry of "liberty or death" to the sniveling, whining idea that we are owed something. We have gone from being the honorable defenders of freedom, to being told we are the problem.

The eyes of Obama and McCain were also telling. McCain acted with class and grace in his concession speech, offering the most honorable response I've seen yet. I don't agree with all of McCain's positions, but it cannot be denied that the man has served his nation--at permanent and severe detriment to himself--for half a century. His eyes were clear and sincere, honest. His speech underlined the very reasons why, of the two men offered, he was hands down the best choice.

On the other hand, Obama's eyes were cold, calculating. His manner was smug and still carried the arrogance he has always had. His facial expression was one of barely disguised disdain for everything people like me believe in. His body language was smooth, polished--too much so. He talked of patriotism as though it is a value he is familiar with--and yet, his horrifying attitude toward the country he now leads is as well-documented as his friendships with those who seek its demise. He is charismatic to those who don't know what to look for, and he is inspiring to those who cannot or will not think for themselves. However, too many who voted for him are guilty of the most dangerous kind of hypocrisy. You see, we are told daily that we must not see color, just mankind. (We are all family, you know--or so we're told.) And yet Barack Obama was handed the White House on a silver platter by a fawning media, a bevy of foreign donors (who, to this day and in violation of U.S. election laws, remain nameless and unaccounted for), and a populace who voted based on color instead of right and wrong--even in the face of the most damning evidence against a Presidential candidate in many years, perhaps ever.

It is said that the people receive the government they deserve. Sadly, I fear that's correct. We have become complacent, unwilling to see the writing on the wall, content to frolic in the warm water without bothering to notice that it's been getting hotter by the minute. We are two seconds from a rolling boil--and perhaps it is already too late.

So, liberals, enjoy your victory. Jump around. Have a party, file for your free grants. Scream "Gimme my handout!" and make fun of those of us who fought to make sure your "messiah" didn't get access to the most powerful position in the world. Just remember when it all comes crashing down: You own the White House, the Congress, and soon the Supreme Court. You have no one to blame but yourselves for the mess you just created.

As for me, I'm buying my handguns this week so I have an answer for those who will come try to take them.

Kit

"This is the best read on the situation you'll get today. Pass it along! I agree 100% with what Kit Lange wrote. She is a radio talk show host."

Knowing James Files as well as I do, I know he would agree with this post whole-heartedly. As a matter of fact, I will send his comments on Barack Obama he has been sending all through the election cycle.

The other person who sent this to me, and agrees with it, is a former military /law enforcement man. Remember, these are just friendly PREDICTIONS from someone who supports Zionist Israel and believes the Christian-conservative (run by the JESUITS) propaganda machine.

Pamela

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My Friendly Predictions for the Bush era:

Despite his hard line rhetoric, he will let his guard down and allow us to be attacked by radical terrorists, and his reactionary response will get us into wars on different fronts that will lead to thousands of unneccessary American casualities and hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths.

He will use the terror to increase fear and doubt and tripple the cost of local security and the military budget, while decreasing the budget for health, education and the welfare of the citizens.

His redneck, right wing fear of immigrants will result in an attempt to build a wall to keep out Mexicans and South Americans who want to become a part of the American dream and economy.

He will recklessly encourage the banks to bankroll the home market boom that for decades lent more than it had and gave to those unable to pay it off, without checking their income or collateral, raking in millions in fees that go to final payouts of CEOS and bankers, while the government has to bail out their companies and banks. He will take the world's economy to the brink of disaster.

He will tirelessly represent those who put him in power, especially the big oil interests that will earn more money in profits than ever before, especially Exon/Mobil that will make more profits than any company ever in the history of the world.

Suspicious of everyone, the Bush administration will try to secure the records and documents of not only his own bankrupt administration but will try to classify all the presidential records going back to the Kennedy assassination, and make sure they are never released in his lifetime.

He will try to appoint his own personal attorney to the Supreme Court and then will appoint those who share his reactionary personal view of the world.

Bush will antagonize the peoples of the world to such an extent that it will not be safe to be an American to travel abroad, and will place the lives of all of our military men in jeopardy.

Unwilling to allow the amassed power to slip out of their hands, another terrorist attack will be allowed to take place before the change in administrations, marshall law will be declared and the miltiary will be given the reigns of government until the nation can be fully secured.

I wish I could bet this will happen, but if I said it eight years ago, I would be considered a radical nut case by radio talk show hosts.

BK -

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Over the last few weeks I have heard from various people, mostly of conservative bent, that consistantly declare 'Obama will not survive the first year in office.....he will be killed'

The same forces and attitudes that induced the assassinations of the 60's, is alive and well, and lurking just below the surface.

Recall the very same rhetoric about those slain previously..

I fear for his life, let's hope he has more loyal and dedicated protection than JFK did.

-Bill

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Over the last few weeks I have heard from various people, mostly of conservative bent, that consistantly declare 'Obama will not survive the first year in office.....he will be killed'

The same forces and attitudes that induced the assassinations of the 60's, is alive and well, and lurking just below the surface.

Recall the very same rhetoric about those slain previously..

-Bill

Was not the last American President to be shot dear old Ronald Reagan? :rolleyes:

Was it a lone gunman or something more sinister I wonder?

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Over the last few weeks I have heard from various people, mostly of conservative bent, that consistantly declare 'Obama will not survive the first year in office.....he will be killed'

The same forces and attitudes that induced the assassinations of the 60's, is alive and well, and lurking just below the surface.

Recall the very same rhetoric about those slain previously..

-Bill

Was not the last American President to be shot dear old Ronald Reagan? :rolleyes:

Was it a lone gunman or something more sinister I wonder?

Wallace and Reagan were shot for different reasons, more likely internal party wars... IMO.

Peter, The folks I'm talking about, don't give a damn who Obama's staff or cabnet consists of. They don't want a Ni**er in the White House! Period!

There blinded by their hatred, which is why they consistantly vote against their own self interest, and are consumed by backwards notions.

-Bill

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Over the last few weeks I have heard from various people, mostly of conservative bent, that consistantly declare 'Obama will not survive the first year in office.....he will be killed'

The same forces and attitudes that induced the assassinations of the 60's, is alive and well, and lurking just below the surface.

Recall the very same rhetoric about those slain previously..

-Bill

Was not the last American President to be shot dear old Ronald Reagan? :lol:

Was it a lone gunman or something more sinister I wonder?

Wallace and Reagan were shot for different reasons, more likely internal party wars... IMO.

Peter, The folks I'm talking about, don't give a damn who Obama's staff or cabnet consists of. They don't want a Ni**er in the White House! Period!

There blinded by their hatred, which is why they consistantly vote against their own self interest, and are consumed by backwards notions.

-Bill

Just to clarify :rolleyes: , the phrase 'Ni**er in the White House' should be in quotations above, as this was something I heard another declare.

-Bill

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At least Obama was not elected in a zero year. Ironically, W was, and is still here. But then, he is a Bush, and if 41 had anything to do with what happened to JFK, RFK or MLK, then his own family would not be affected. No matter how angry he became at W...

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I think to compare the assassinations with the position of OBama right now is fruitless unless we take into consideration just how far down the path of

of Full Garrison State the US had become.

In 1960 it was still possible to AT LEAST immagine the US maintaining an industrial base and moving in the direction of an "Industrial Policy" akin to Western European nations.

But is it possible to even imagine this in 2008, when the US spends 50% of all military spending in the world and the arms and oil and health sectors enjoy prosperits to the clear detriment of virtually all other industry?

I dont see how ANYBODY can get elected in 2008 and imagine that as president he or she has the lattitude that JFK imagined the presdent had in 1960. By this logic, there is no NEED to assassinate anyone. It is very easy to read the electoral process that brought us Obama as a carefully managed media experiment in strategic amgiguity that is meant to divide opponents to US militarism. If some are seeing anything else in Obamas words or actions please enlighten.

Yes there's always the unexpected, but some courses of action can be more ossified than at earlier stages in history.

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