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An honest politician

March 25, 2006 04:14 PM / America .

When we look at the failures and moral corruption of modern politicians, the question that most often arises is "has there ever been an honest president beyond corruption?"

Yes, according to historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. His name was Abraham Lincoln.

In her new, 750-page tome, The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, Goodwin portrays an honest, moral man caught up in dishonest, immoral times.

Writes Martha D. Bone in Kentucky's The Ledger Independent:

Abraham Lincoln, of all our presidents, is the one most worthy of our respect and most worthy as a role model. His life has been researched and dug into more than perhaps any person in our history, but there are no stories of adultery or cooking the books or lying or even unkindness. I’m sure he wasn’t perfect, but he comes closer than even a Roosevelt or a Kennedy or a Jefferson. And he was opposed to slavery from the very beginning of his political career. He was even, as I discovered, opposed to the Mexican War.

President James K. Polk asked Congress to declare war, insisting that Mexico had fired on U.S. soldiers on American soil. Lincoln, in his first term as a representative, asked President Polk just where that first spot of blood was shed, on U.S. or Mexican soil. This request, implying that the U.S. had invaded Mexican soil prior to any blood being shed, earned for Lincoln the derisive nickname “spotty Lincoln.” All of Lincoln’s friends begged him to stop opposing the war, fearing that he would never be elected to another office if he persevered. As Goodwin writes, “his prospects rapidly evaporated in the fever of war.”

Sound familiar? Justin Butterfield was a prominent Chicago politician of the time. He was asked if he opposed the Mexican War, and he replied: “No. I opposed one War (the War of 1812). That was enough for me. I am now perpetually in favor of war, pestilence, and famine.” Whenever this country is at war, our reason seems to go out the window. People who are horrified about our treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II see nothing wrong with imprisonment without trial and secret torture today. Those who stand up and say no to war have their lives threatened and their characters blackened. To paraphrase Goodwin, our reason evaporates in the fever of war.

Comments

The author and anyone else who believes Abraham Lincoln was honest utterly and completely mistaken!

Abraham Lincoln was a curse upon the U.S. and one of the most dishonest President's ever. He despised the Constitution (his own words), violated it and his oath to protect it. He knew of and allowed the murders of Americans, took part in the destruction of hundreds of Northern newspapers during the illegal War which was started by him, he rejected proposals to get Union prisoners of War home safely, cared nothing about eliminating slavery, and made a fortune before and the result of his Presidency (check out Lincoln's property purchase-- now called Lincoln's Hill) which 'became' the hub for East-West railraods which he promoted--I guess he was just "lucky" on his selection of land in the wilderness. He destroyed States Rights, Freedom of Speech, illegally suspended habeas corpus, opposed the Judicial system to the point of issuing a warrant for the arrest of the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, he had legislatures arrested, and was the leader that oversaw the unwarranted deaths of thousands of Americans. If he hadn't been pre-maturely killed, he should have been impeached and tried for his crimes--- doubtful though because of the crimes he committed to 'pack' the government with his cronies.

It's a shame that his real story is not taught! But, his published story is evidence that "the Victors Write the History Books".

Sincerely,

Joseph H. Santina

Posted by Joseph Santina at March 26, 2006 06:31 PM

To Mr Santina

Your history lesson on President Lincoln is replete with half truths and lies. You never mention who fired the first shot.
Thank God the victors, in this case wrote the history books and not you!!

Posted by Peter at March 27, 2006 06:41 AM

This origional question seems to be "the question" of all political questions. Even if we got a heavily supported third party to be taken seriously by the people, would that elected official be able to withstand the pressure of the corrupt politions and special interest groups? My feeling is that it's probably humanly impossible. Sad but true. I think it's going to take a revolt by the people to get all present government out! And with that would come the horrific war within America by Americans, would leave us open to terrorism, and occupation by other countries and this is something we are not willing to do. So what we do is try our best by exposing these frauds one at a time and hope that the Rep. and Dem. leadership erodes enough to get a third party elected.

Posted by Deborah at March 27, 2006 11:50 AM

Eternal "truths" are hard to come by. "Honest" Abe was probably more honest than most. Few truth tellers get re-elected. They are usually referred to as "Statesmen"; who can forgit Walter Mondale's promise to raise taxes.

Mr. Santina's screed against Lincoln reminds me of my favorate "what if" day-dream: maybe if Mr. Lincoln had not been killed then "Reconstrution" might have lasted long enough to be successful.

Posted by Gerald Sutliff at March 27, 2006 12:47 PM

An honest politician

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