It's Already Started: The Party of Wellstone Uses Kennedy's Death for Political Opportunism [UPDATED]
The body's not even cold yet, and the Wellstoning has already begun:
ABC makes pitch for ObamaCare in Kennedy obituary
Kennedy’s Death Spurs Calls to Pass Health Legislation
Byrd wants health bill renamed for Kennedy
Kennedy health reform 'dream' will be real this year: Pelosi
Dems’ new rallying cry: Let’s pass this trillion-dollar travesty for Teddy
UPDATE
Michael at For the Greater Glory notes the irony of Kennedy's own political machinations making the prospects for passing ObamaCare less likely:
... The Democrats have been counting on having the 60 votes necessary in the Senate to block a GOp filibuster. With Kennedy's death and his replacement a while off from what I understand of Massachusetts procedure, that means if they go strictly by party, they don't pass the filibuster...
Of course, this special election was b/c of Kennedy's desire to prevent a republican governor from picking his successor. The irony of it all that by this move and Kennedy's death, Kennedy himself may have doomed the health care reform he desired so much.
UPDATE #2
Opinionated Catholic makes a fair point: in many (if not most) parts of the country, a health care reform bill named after Sen. Kennedy would be an even tougher sell. The folks who are having a hard time swallowing the pill of ObamaCare aren't going to suddenly find the pill less bitter and easier to swallow because it is redubbed "KennedyCare".
UPDATE #3 (27 August)
Brian Williams: In Lieu of Flowers for Ted, Pass Health Care Reform
Previous Pro Ecclesia posts on this subject:
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (1932-2009)
Ted Kennedy is Fortunate the Government Isn't Deciding for Him What He Wants It to Decide for Us
Labels: Death and Taxes, Democrats, Health Care, Hypocrites, Obama
posted by Pro Ecclesia 10:23 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
how low can they go? the bar is being lowered every time.
It's crude and will likely backfire.
In 2009, the Kennedy mojo/allure is mostly a New England phenomenon.
Well, credit the Republicans for being smart on this one. They've been using Kennedy (even before his death) to rail Democrats for not being more bipartisan in their approach.
Indeed, I can imagine Republicans, Blue Dogs, moderately liberal Democrats, and liberal Democrats all using Kennedy to justify their own passions/frustrations with the current bill, depending on what bill is current at the time (which appears to change with every sentence uttered by anyone connected with the White House, much less Congress). Liberal ones will demand a public option in his name, Blue dogs will want more concessions, and moderate ones will say he just wanted something passed.
Whatever happens, I think this health care mess just got a whole lot messier.
Perhaps Senator Byrd will propose The Mary Jo Kopechne Health Bill.
Nothing is beneath those that have no faith.
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