Check Out Teddy Roosevelt’s Amazing 1912 Speech That Proves Nothing Ever Changes In Politics
Zeke Miller
Business Insider
12/4/2011
President Barack Obama travels to Osawatomie, Kansas on Tuesday to channel President Theodore Roosevelt’s famous “New Nationalism” speech.
Roosevelt’s 6500-word speech served as the cornerstone of his bid for the presidency in 1912 on the Bull Moose Party ticket — but could just as easily been given today.
His remarks came at the John Brown celebration, billed as an “Old Soldiers Reunion.” He called out the children of industrialists, and others in an entrenched upper class who didn’t work to be there — reminiscent of Obama’s recent forays into class warfare, calling on the wealthy to pay their fair share and promoting more employment programs for veterans.
Roosevelt also called for some of the first campaign finance legislation, and targeted the influence of special interests — an ongoing argument (cough, Grover Norquist, cough).
Obama is expected to invoke the Republican president’s legacy repeatedly on Tuesday, and like Roosevelt, will make class warfare a central component of his reelection campaign.
Check out Obama’s reelection strategy from 100 years ago.
CAJ note: Though our 26th President indulged himself in class warfare and challenged millionaires like banker and tycoon J. P. Morgan, Theodore Roosevelt was born into a prestigious and wealthy family. During his career “he attempted to move the Republican Party towards Progressivism, including trust busting and increased regulation of businesses…” * He lost the election of 1912 to Woodrow Wilson.
Like the election of 2008, the victory of the Republican/Bull Moose candidate in 1912 would have only slowed the country’s suicidal race towards Progressivism. Rather than channeling Theodore Roosevelt, Mr. Obama–along with Mrs. Clinton and most of the political class from both parties– has been channeling President Woodrow Wilson, in our very humble opinion.
*Wikipedia has a brief and fairly accurate profile of TR.
