Ted Kennedy was a morally flawed individual on a lot of things. He was a womanizer, an abortion right supporter, dishonest at times, and much much more I'm sure. To those sins, like all others, Ted will answer to a Holy God.
With all of the bad things, he also stood up for some very worthy causes for average people who didn't have a voice in the U.S. Senate. He played a major role in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which paved the way for people, regardless of economic status or race, to cast their ballot. In 1990, he helped pass the American with Disablities Act and then Family Medical Leave in 1993.
To be fair his legislative record, like most, contains both good and bad.
It was good that some Democrats finally gave in to the Republican minority and passed the Act. And that Johnson who had opposed it when it came up as a Senator signed it into law as President.
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"Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow." ~Aesop
It was good that some Democrats finally gave in to the Republican minority and passed the Act. And that Johnson who had opposed it when it came up as a Senator signed it into law as President.
Barry Goldwater, the GOP nominee for President opposed the Civil Rights act- he is generally considered to be the forerunner of Ronald Reagan and the modern conservative movement. Most of the Democratic opposition to the act came from the segregated south, many of these folks subsequently became Republicans after its passage (e.g. Strom Thurmond). LBJ predicted that he had given the Republicans the South for the next hundred years for his work on Civil Rights-- his prophecy has proved to be largely right.
There where still many moderate Republicans in those days of the Eastern Liberal, Nelson Rockefeller variety and Midwesterners like Everett Dirksen and Gerald Ford. I doubt very seriously they would feel at home with the culture warriors, birthers and other fringe elements that consititute a large segment of the current Republican party.
Would he have been elected if just a local lawyer interested in politics?
The same question could be asked of George W. Bush, Al Gore and scores of others who are apart of American political dynasties. Nepotism runs through all sorts of strains in our society. I heard T.F. Tenney make an argument that it was a good and postive thing. In some cases thats true, but in others clearly not.
Ted Kennedy was a morally flawed individual on a lot of things. He was a womanizer, an abortion right supporter, dishonest at times, and much much more I'm sure. To those sins, like all others, Ted will answer to a Holy God.
With all of the bad things, he also stood up for some very worthy causes for average people who didn't have a voice in the U.S. Senate. He played a major role in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which paved the way for people, regardless of economic status or race, to cast their ballot. In 1990, he helped pass the American with Disablities Act and then Family Medical Leave in 1993.
To be fair his legislative record, like most, contains both good and bad.
Thanks for this post. I remember when Richard Nixon died, President Clinton speaking at his funeral said that he hoped that liberals wouldn't focus exclusively on the negative aspects of Nixon's career but on his many accomplishments. As far as I'm concerned Nixon was a very competent and often brilliant leader who had some serious complexes. Kennedy should be afforded the same sort of balanced evaluation.
Last edited by RunningOnFaith; 08-27-2009 at 04:25 AM.
I think he was the worst senator we ever had in the American congress.
You think he was worse then John C. Calhoun that said that slavery wasn't just an evil to be tolerated but an absolutely moral and positive virtue? How about Joseph McCarthy and his inquistion?
Barry Goldwater, the GOP nominee for President opposed the Civil Rights act- he is generally considered to be the forerunner of Ronald Reagan and the modern conservative movement. Most of the Democratic opposition to the act came from the segregated south, many of these folks subsequently became Republicans after its passage (e.g. Strom Thurmond). LBJ predicted that he had given the Republicans the South for the next hundred years for his work on Civil Rights-- his prophecy has proved to be largely right.
There where still many moderate Republicans in those days of the Eastern Liberal, Nelson Rockefeller variety and Midwesterners like Everett Dirksen and Gerald Ford. I doubt very seriously they would feel at home with the culture warriors, birthers and other fringe elements that consititute a large segment of the current Republican party.
Very accurate summation.
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In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity. Augustine
Thanks for this post. I remember when Richard Nixon died, President Clinton speaking at his funeral said that he hoped that liberals wouldn't focus exclusively on the negative aspects of Nixon's career but on his many accomplishments. As far as I'm concerned Nixon was a very competent and often brilliant leader who had some serious complexes. Kennedy should be afforded the same sort of balanced evaluation.
Ted Kennedy was a morally flawed individual on a lot of things. He was a womanizer, an abortion right supporter, dishonest at times, and much much more I'm sure. To those sins, like all others, Ted will answer to a Holy God.
With all of the bad things, he also stood up for some very worthy causes for average people who didn't have a voice in the U.S. Senate. He played a major role in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which paved the way for people, regardless of economic status or race, to cast their ballot. In 1990, he helped pass the American with Disablities Act and then Family Medical Leave in 1993.
To be fair his legislative record, like most, contains both good and bad.
I was thinking about some of this yesterday while on my way home from work. I was listening to the radio and the guys on there were talking about the "good and bad" of the man. They talked about meals on wheels and ADA and such.
Then I remembered that Hezbullah provides healthcare and food to tens of thousands of poverty stricken people in places like the Gaza strip and Lebonon.
Mike, are you willing to balance the fact that they are terrorists who dont have a problem in the world killing women and children?
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
Thanks for this post. I remember when Richard Nixon died, President Clinton speaking at his funeral said that he hoped that liberals wouldn't focus exclusively on the negative aspects of Nixon's career but on his many accomplishments. As far as I'm concerned Nixon was a very competent and often brilliant leader who had some serious complexes. Kennedy should be afforded the same sort of balanced evaluation.
What balance? we dont have to look at his moral failures....like KILLING a woman... to find the things that Made Kennedy a miserable human being. what he did as a senator is enough.
ADA? really? Take a look at the state of Healthcare in this country. by and large Mr. Kennedy led the charge to make it the mess that it is today.
Mr. Kennedy was a leader in insuring America LOST in vietnam and he tried the same junk with Iraq. Untold American service men have DIED because of the "moral support" that man has given our enemies!
Do you know how Mr. Kennedy got the nickname "Red Ted"? IT was because as a senator he advocated making "nice" with the SOVIET UNION!
Mr. Kennedy didnt meet a communist he didnt admire or an enemy he wasnt willing to surrender to.
we dont have to talk about Mary Jo, or the rape he covered up, or the womanizing or the drinking to talk about how the man hurt America. We can stick to what he did as a senator.
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
Matthew 25 through 35.” The Gospel of Matthew actually only has 28 chapters. He likely meant Matthew, chapter 25, verse 35, as that was verse that he subsequently quoted.
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