Rick Santorum

Santorum: JFK Was 'Radical' For Believing In Separation Of Church & State

Jillian Rayfield | March 15, 2011, 3:48PM

Rick Santorum told about 50 members of the group Catholic Citizenship that he was "frankly appalled" that America's first Catholic president, John F. Kennedy, once said "I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute."

"That was a radical statement," Santorum said, and did "great damage."

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CT-SEN

Linda McMahon Ad Featuring JFK Draws Kennedy Family Ire (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 23, 2010, 2:48PM

Linda McMahon (R) and President John F. Kennedy

Linda McMahon has a new ad in the Connecticut Senate race, invoking none other than the late Democratic President John F. Kennedy in support of her proposals for extending tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. And in response, Kennedy's nephew Ted Kennedy Jr. is calling foul.

The ad uses footage of Kennedy from 1963, touting the benefits of tax cuts to consumer spending, investment, job creation and preventing a recession. The ad's text then says, "A Good Idea Then. A Better Idea Now."

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Bringing The Smackdown: Linda McMahon's Campaign For Senate, And Her Colorful Pro-Wrestling Past]

Ted Kennedy Jr. has sent out a letter calling on McMahon to stop airing the ad, and stating his firm belief that John F. Kennedy would not support McMahon's position."Your ad falsely implies that President Kennedy would support tax cuts for the same reasons that you do," Kennedy wrote, also explaining that there are some key historical differences in the actual facts of the tax cuts: "In 1963 there was virtually no deficit and the top tax rate was 91% percent for income over $400,000. Today, the annual U.S. deficit is nearly $1.5 trillion and the top tax rate is 35% for income over $372,500."

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