Terry

Gary Pearce posted on September 08, 2012 12:12

After Governor Hunt’s speech to the Democratic convention Wednesday night, a Facebook friend said it was “classy” for him to start by talking about Terry Sanford.

I’m glad Hunt did it. What a shame it would have been if Terry Sanford hadn’t been honored at a Democratic convention in North Carolina.

So pardon some history, youngsters: In 1960, Sanford risked his race for governor by endorsing John F. Kennedy for the Democratic nomination. Everybody else from the South, including the North Carolina delegation and then-Governor Luther Hodges, were for Lyndon Johnson.

Sanford didn’t just endorse JFK, he gave a seconding speech for him at the convention in Los Angeles. Sanford sent an important message: JFK can win in the South.

Later that decade, Presidents Kennedy and Johnson took up the cause of civil rights. That took away the South fromk the Democratic Party for a long time. Jimmy Carter took it back briefly in 1976. Bill Clinton made a strong run in 1992.

It was a long road – a 52-year-road – from a North Carolina governor endorsing JFK to North Carolina hosting a national Democratic convention, for an African-American President, no less.

Democrats, remember how you got here.

Posted in: General, North Carolina - Democrats , National Democrats

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# dap916

Saturday, September 08, 2012 3:17 PM

Yes, of course, JFK was one of our premier presidents...mostly because of his efforts with regard to civil rights and because of his steadfastness with regard to Russia and their efforts to put missiles into Cuba pointed at the United States. Very few folks take that away from him. Most democrats and republicans see JFK as an excellent president.

Lyndon Johnson? Um, this guy cost our country more American lives in Vietnam than could ever be counted. He continued the Vietnam war for the specific purpose of making sure the American economy stayed vibrant. Just so many of our troops in Vietnam lost their lives BECAUSE of Lyndon Johnson's policies. And, being a Vietnam vet, I know this and will never, ever forget that. Anyone that presents him as some kind of good president or any kind of good American needs a severe ass-whooping. It's just my belief. And, go to your local VFW and ask about Lyndon B. Johnson. You won't get much of a positive response....at least from the Vietnam Vets there.

So, Gary, even though Johnson did supposedly great things for civil rights...he was responsible for just so many deaths of our citizens and THAT should be how Johnson is remembered.

Terry

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