Abraham Lincoln "evolved" on the issue of slavery

[AnotherMcIntosh]

3. Tom Asbrook is wrong.

The fact that he hosts an On Point program which gives him an electronic speaking platform doesn't inherently make him right.

There are those who would like to denigrate or minimize the contributions of the two presidents who were primarily responsible for (1) actions that freed the slaves and (2) actions that resulted in the enactment of modern civil rights legislation. Tom Asbrook is not denigrating them as some have, but he is making an equivalency with a modern president.

On what factual basis can it be said that "In 1860 [Lincoln] did not support ending slavery"? Did not support? There were those in the North who believed that slavery would fall under its own weight. During his debates, Lincoln unquestionably and clearly opposed slavery. At best, it can be said that "In 1860 Lincoln did not openly support the ending of slavery with immediate violence and war with the South." It's true that Lincoln was not a firebrand John Brown, but that did not mean that "he did not support ending slavery."

On what factual basis can it be said that "in the first two years of [JFK's] presidency he refused to put a comprehensive civil rights bill in front of the Congress"? Refused to put ...? Refused to who? Did someone prepare and place a comprehensive civil rights bill in front of him which he then refused to put in front of Congress?