Evidently Not A Lincoln Fan

[AussieMick]

My understanding is that ...
Jefferson wrote the Declaration before becoming President (and would have done so in consultation with others).
The Declaration , proud and concise and beautiful though it is, failed to address or even mention the issue of slavery. Sure it would have been difficult and messy ... it would certainly have taken courage to at least refer to it.
What Jefferson did as President ... well, I'm sure the Louisiana Purchase was beneficial.

As for Lincoln, I point out that (as President) he wrote (alone) the greatest speech known to mankind.
He had the courage and ability to face down enemies, internal and external.
He was responsible for giving freedom to 4 million people.
Because of him, the soul of the US was saved from eternal shame and damnation.

If the people of the USA want to choose Jefferson ahead of Lincoln, thats their choice.
(IMO) the people of the world would place Lincoln ahead of any individual regardless of nationality. To paraphrase Edwin Stanton, now he belongs to us as much as to the USA.