http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/6590364.html
Democrats now seek to exploit Ted Kennedy’s death
By JONAH GOLDBERG
Aug. 27, 2009, 8:03PM
If you read the newspapers or watch the news, you will encounter a long list of accomplishments by the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. One thing you’re less likely to hear, however, is that in his death, Kennedy proved Rush Limbaugh right.
In March, the talk-show host and bete noir of progressives everywhere said that the health care bill wending its way through Congress would eventually be dubbed the “Ted Kennedy Memorial Health Care Bill.” At the time, the official position of the Democratic Party was outrage and disgust.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee initiated a petition drive demanding that the Republican Party formally denounce Limbaugh for his “reprehensible” and “truly outrageous” comments.
Fast-forward to a few hours after the announcement of Kennedy’s death. Suddenly, naming the bill after Kennedy would be a moving tribute. ABC News reports that “the idea of naming the legislation for Kennedy has been quietly circulating for months” but was kicked into overdrive by Sen. Robert Byrd, the Democratic Party’s eldest statesman. Intriguingly, this suggests that either Democrats already had the idea when Limbaugh floated it, which would mean their protests were just so much cynical posturing, or they actually got the idea from Limbaugh himself, which would be too ironic for a Tom Wolfe novel.
But that Kennedy’s death should be marked by cynicism, opportunism and irony is not shocking, given that these qualities are now the hallmarks of the party he largely defined.
The determination of the Democratic Party to exploit Kennedy’s death for political gain puts the political commentator who doesn’t wish to speak ill of the dead in something of a bind. So let us be clear that there is no evidence whatsoever that Kennedy himself — or any Kennedy — would object to such a ploy.
Whether one calls it exploitation or heroic perseverance, the Kennedy dynasty’s longevity is best understood as a response to fatal tragedies. When Jacqueline Kennedy learned of her husband’s murder, she lamented Lee Harvey Oswald’s inconvenient political views. “It had to be some silly little Communist.”
Fortunately, her husband’s handlers had things well in hand, orchestrating with a compliant media the grand fiction that Kennedy had somehow been a martyr to civil rights, taken out by right-wing “hate.” The real JFK, who cut capital gains taxes and only reluctantly supported Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington, had never been nearly as liberal as the posthumous legend created to give new life to liberalism — and the Kennedy name.
According to the mythmakers, JFK would have pulled us out of Vietnam (and the Oliver Stones say that’s why he was killed). Meanwhile, the real JFK boasted — mere hours before his murder — that he’d massively boosted defense spending and ordered a 600 percent increase on counterinsurgency special forces in Vietnam. The prior March he’d asked Congress to spend 50 cents out of every dollar on defense.
Hence one of the great ironies of Ted Kennedy’s career. He was the chief beneficiary of an inheritance from a brother whose views he didn’t share.
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Originally posted by zeeblebotBut just like Nixon and Clinton, once one attains a certain level in government or a certain level of power and prestige they become untouchable. Of course, the same could be said in the private sector such as OJ or Michael Jackson.
someone who survived an accident like the one at Chappaquiddick should be placed in jail, not permitted to remain in the Senate.
Originally posted by whodeyJust like Reagan, once one attains a certain level in government or a certain level of power and prestige they become untouchable. Of course, the same could be said in the private sector such as Union Carbide.
But just like Nixon and Clinton, once one attains a certain level in government or a certain level of power and prestige they become untouchable. Of course, the same could be said in the private sector such as OJ or Michael Jackson.
Originally posted by zeeblebotI think it safe to say that the JFK of old would have been to the right of the modern Republican party of today. I think it also safe to say that Teddy attained his "greatness" specifically on the back of the Kennedy name and connections.
Hence one of the great ironies of Ted Kennedy’s career. He was the chief beneficiary of an inheritance from a brother whose views he didn’t share.
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Originally posted by FMFI thought I just said that, or did you percieve my comment as a partisan cheap shot....which it was not?
Just like Reagan, once one attains a certain level in government or a certain level of power and prestige they become untouchable. Of course, the same could be said in the private sector such as Union Carbide.
Originally posted by badmoonTed Kennedy was a scum bag,plain and simple. His brothers JFK and RFK were scum bags as well. They had a good teacher. Their father Joe.
Are you so perfect that you can cast stones like that? On the day of his funeral nonetheless? I pity you if such disrespect is pointed at you the day of your passing.
It is so easy and cowardly to be so stupidly brazen when you can hide behind an avatar.
People die, I am sorry. But,to sit here and act like he was some great man is a crock. The Kennedys were dirty from the ground up.
Originally posted by utherpendragonI think the tendency is for people to glorify anyone and everyone who attains a level of fame. After all, to attain a level of fame one more or less has already concluded that they are "great" in some way or another in order to be worthy of that fame. Then when they die it simply turns into a love fest. As for people like yourself, however, you never bought into the notion that he was "great". Therefore, it seems absurd to you that he should be considered great now merely because he died.
Ted Kennedy was a scum bag,plain and simple. His brothers JFK and RFK were scum bags as well. They had a good teacher. Their father Joe.
People die, I am sorry. But,to sit here and act like he was some great man is a crock. The Kennedys were dirty from the ground up.
Originally posted by whodeyYou believe that it's impossible for anyone to keep from committing sin?
I think the tendency is for people to glorify anyone and everyone who attains a level of fame. After all, to attain a level of fame one more or less has already concluded that they are "great" in some way or another in order to be worthy of that fame. Then when they die it simply turns into a love fest. As for people like yourself, however, you never bough ...[text shortened]... efore, it seems absurd to you that he should be considered great now merely because he died.
Originally posted by utherpendragonWell, that was profound. You sound like some kid in a sandbox that those adroit remarks.
Ted Kennedy was a scum bag,plain and simple. His brothers JFK and RFK were scum bags as well. They had a good teacher. Their father Joe.
People die, I am sorry. But,to sit here and act like he was some great man is a crock. The Kennedys were dirty from the ground up.