The leftists obviously believe the average citizen still worships JFK, like Chris Matthews. I don’t think so.
Sadly, there are a sizable number of freepers who believe that as well. They heap praise on JFK routinely whenever there's a JFK thread and say ridiculous stuff like "Kennedy was more conservative than today's Republicans". When you call them out and present the facts that JFK's "New Frontier" program was NOT conservative and that JFK was a loyal follower of Wilson, FDR, etc., they'll balk and tell you we have to PRETEND that JFK was conservative because it will show "today's Democrats their party has left them"
The media using the image of saintly JFK to bash Santorum for his criticism is proof this doesn't work. Joining the left in idolizing JFK hurts our side instead of helps. Sleazy JFK was no role model and he got in office through crooked means and accomplished virtually nothing. But thanks to "conservatives" helping the mainstream media and the left pushing the Kennedy Camelot myth, it's now become taboo to bash JFK publicly.
As the Santorum/Kennedy divide proves, Kennedy wasn't even a "social conservative". But again, the revisionists will say otherwise and even claim JFK was "pro-life" in 1960 (abortion was not a federal issue in 1960, thus Kennedy took no stance on abortion) Like today's Democrats (NOT "today's Republicans"), Kennedy very strongly opposed the Catholic Church's policies on birth control, and parochial schools. Kennedy even attacked the American Legion, saying they the "American Legion has not had a constructive thought for the benefit of this country since 1918." when they opposed a House bill to provide federal funds for slum clearance and low income public housing. Yep, some "conservative"
Overall, I'd say the "JFK was a conservative" talking point has converted as many of "today's Dems" to the GOP side as the left converts when they cite Eisenhower's "millitary-industrial complex" line and pretend Ike was one of their own when they despised him at the time. Nobody falls for that, the only people who go with conspiracy theories about the "millitary-industrial complex" were rabid anti-war loons to begin wtih.
Still, you have a number of useful idiots here who will join the left in mocking Rick Santorum as "Saint Rick" for his social values, while actually hailing the empty-suit pretty boy Massachusetts liberal as saintly. That just shows you what bad shape America is when liberals have people on "our side" doing their dirty work for them.