Obama claims Thomas Jefferson was a Democrat?

Question

Is he right to say that? Do you think Thomas Jefferson's beliefs would make him a democrat if he were alive today? Personally, I think he would be the opposite, more of a libertarian. I can't imagine the Founding Fathers endorsing Obama's policies.

Answer 1

The parties have changed a great deal since Jefferson's day. After all, the Republican party did not emerge until the 1850's. Ideologically, he was an advocate of Enlightment ideas and is generally considered a classical liberal by historians. I think it is likely that Jefferson would not have sanctioned Obama's policies, but I highly doubt that he would recognize today's political system as the one which he helped to establish.

Answer 2

Thomas Jefferson was a Democrat it's all right there so please, stop judgeing Obama  and look it up  also it's sounds like you are not so smart .so my advice to you  is for you to start reading the history books again  who knows maybe you will learn something new

No party for you go study your history

Thankyou

Answer 3

Obama is a person that can take the mind of people that cannot think for them self  and twist it to his own satisfaction. Since our Founding Fathers are all dead now,  it is up to us as a people of integrity, to use our common sense and see through all Obama's lies .  I imagine that all Founding Fathers of the past , would be embarrassed and disgusted with people like Obama, who is going to try and turn this country into socialism and communism.  Especially a black man, since they are suppose to be the victims of such horrible rights's violations.  Obama is not what he claims to be, he is using his black card to lead this country down the road to dictatorship and total government control.  There are good and bad in all race's,  and Obama is the bad in his race.  Martin Luther King was a good  person, and I am sure if he knew the real agenda of Obama, he would have protested against him too.

Answer 4

Times have changed over the last 212 years, and the founders of this country didn't agree on very much at all.  Politics have changed, and American values (whatever the heck THEY are) have changed, too.  You cannot compare apples with peaches or pears, so your question really does not have a relative context.

You must understand, politics is politics, and people have been complaining about politics and politicians since before Sumerian times.  Obama represents much desired (and much needed) change.

The Republican party has become the party of BIG SPENDING and letting others fix their messes.  Look at what Republican presidents have done since 1968.

The Democratic party has become obsessed with trying to do everything for everyone.  The U.S. has become a nation of sheep thinking they are ENTITLED to everything.  It's sickening.

Looking at the past 28 years, you must agree that Democrats have helped out the American people MUCH more than Republicans.  History has shown that very clearly.

Answer 5

Historically speaking, Jefferson was a Democratic-Republican.  The party no longer exists.  Democrats like to claim that they are his party but not so.  The party grew from a split between the ideologies of Jefferson and Hamilton who was a member of the Federalist party that favored a stronger central government.The Democratic-Republicans were a party based on the belief of limited government.  Jefferson said himself, "the government that governs best, governs least".  

We're he alive today, he would no doubt be a Libertarian.

btw, the Republican party, although technically closer to Jefferson than the Democrats of today, is also not derived from the Democratic-Republicans.  It was a new party started in 1858, offering up Lincoln as it's first presidential candidate in 1860.

Answer 6

"The government should only do for the people what the people can not do for themselves" Thomas Jefferson

Some how I don't think Obama would agree!

Answer 7

Obama is making what he thinks is a safe claim, since jefferson isn't around to tell anyone otherwise. I would tend to disagree, since Thomas Jefferson had a similar problem with Muslim terrorism as we do now. He chose to act against them, not justify their attacks.

Answer 8

Technically he's right.  Thomas Jefferson and James Madison co founded the Democratic-Republican party, which over the years became the Democrat party.  The party, today bears no resemblance to the party of Jefferson and Madison, nor do its policies.   Jefferson, even with the size of government in his day, took steps to reduce the size of government and eliminate as much spending as possible.  Can't see either candidate in this election doing so, if elected.

Answer 9

According to his biography, he is known as a Democrat/Republican!  That does not really help but I think he felt both parties (At that time) had their strong points.  He stated ""In every free and deliberating society, there must, from the nature of man, be opposite parties, and violent dissensions and discords; and one of these, for the most part, must prevail over the other for a longer or shorter time." --Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 1798. ME 10:45"

He felt if either party became too powerful, it would be bad for the people of the United States.  See:  "Warring against [the principles] of the people,... there is no length to which [the delusion of the people] may not be pushed by a party in possession of the revenues and the legal authorities of the United States, for a short time indeed, but yet long enough to admit much particular mischief. There is no event, therefore, however atrocious which may not be expected." --Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Smith, 1798. (*) ME 10:56

"It is the steady abuse of power in other governments which renders that of opposition always the popular party." --Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 1818. FE 10:106

"Men by their constitutions are naturally divided into two parties: 1. Those who fear and distrust the people, and wish to draw all powers from them into the hands of the higher classes. 2. Those who identify themselves with the people, have confidence in them, cherish and consider them as the most honest and safe, although not the most wise depositary of the public interests. In every country these two parties exist, and in every one where they are free to think, speak, and write, they will declare themselves. Call them, therefore, Liberals and Serviles, Jacobins and Ultras, Whigs and Tories, Republicans and Federalists, Aristocrats and Democrats, or by whatever name you please, they are the same parties still and pursue the same object. The last one of Aristocrats and Democrats is the true one expressing the essence of all." --Thomas Jefferson to Henry Lee, 1824. ME 16:73

I find it funny how both parties try to claim ownership of Jefferson.  Although I may be a bit biased ;), I see the Republican party has become exactly what he warned us about.  The abuse of power which stifled dissent and the voice of the opposing party is why he felt the multi-party system an absolute necessity, to protect the people.

So he is both parties, and neither party.  If either party becomes too powerful and tries to silence the other party, he would be against that party, whoever that party may be.  Right now, he would be more of a Democrat until there is a balance in the distribution of power.

If you read history, the discussions between John Adams and Jefferson are quite illuminating as to both of their views of the party system.

Hope this helps!

Answer 10

I heard th GOP claim Kennedy was a Republican.  It's all party politics and manipulation.

Answer 11

Jefferson was anti-tax and anti-central banks(FED). His opposition to big government and privately owned central banks(which have now been in effect since 1913) were central to the creation of the first two party system in American politics. This created the Jeffersonians party. Jefferson was certain that allowing private bankers to collect and hold federal governments taxes(which is the system we now have in place) would inevitably lead to severe corruption(which we have as well: see unauthorized by Congress $30 billion to Bear Stearns who was in trouble primarily because upper management were getting $100 million salaries that cleaned out the company and is being put on taxpayers backs.)

Of course the split was with Alexander Hamilton and his private banking interests that came over from the corrupt European system.

Now lets look at Obama. Obama wants to raise EVERYONE'S taxes. Yes that means you too $20,000 a year wage earner. Don't believe his empty lies. Read his policy.  He also wants universal health care which will take even more money from you and put it in the hands of the private for-profit FED banks. So in fact his politics are 100% in opposition to Jefferson and Jefferson is rolling over in his grave at the comparison.