"played very well".

The parallel is in fact not there.

Obama is seen as the stupid sabre-rattler--even by some of his supporters.    Kennedy was not seen that way at the time.

It is quite unlikely that this incident will strengthen Obama in the least politically.   It was a waste of political capital-- and time--for a president who only has a prayer of being effective for about the first two years of his second term.

Could it have been worse?   Sure, if there had been an actual vote by Congress it would have been a disaster for Obama---and a huge waste of political capital and time.

But he has not precisely covered himself in glory on this one.