Ted Kennedy Speaks Out On Health Care Reform: "The Cause Of My Life"

Newsweek:

In 1964, I was flying with several companions to the Massachusetts Democratic Convention when our small plane crashed and burned short of the runway. My friend and colleague in the Senate, Birch Bayh, risked his life to pull me from the wreckage. Our pilot, Edwin Zimny, and my administrative assistant, Ed Moss, didn't survive. With crushed vertebrae, broken ribs, and a collapsed lung, I spent months in New England Baptist Hospital in Boston. To prevent paralysis, I was strapped into a special bed that immobilizes a patient between two canvas slings. Nurses would regularly turn me over so my lungs didn't fill with fluid. I knew the care was expensive, but I didn't have to worry about that. I needed the care and I got it.

Read the whole story: Newsweek

Comments

[glomtt]

Welcome all, wish their was someone out there of the opposing view to debate with. Like cowards, they all tucked their tails and ran away.

[seanseamour]

I hope the Lion and his President can win the day as it will be arduous, If you wish to to understand what is motivating the opposition, get an inside view of how our elected politicians are manipulated and see where the real powers are look at the Bill Moyers interview of Wendell Potter, a insider who found his conscience: http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07102009/watch2.html This battle is one of the most difficult President Obama has to face, not only does he have the different industry players fighting tooth and nail, but the conservatives feel they can both handicap the rest of his presidency as well as demonstrate to the moneybag holders from Wall street on down that they are credible recipients of their "largesses".
If you are shocked by this then I enjoin all to view Robert Reich' interview by Bill Moyers in which he coined "capitalism has swamped democracy" http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/06122009/watch.html

[glomtt]

It doesn't shock me at all. I have a lot of common sense and quite a bit of book sense. I can glean from you comments you are describing something that I am already aware of . I wish that everyone could be so intuitive. Thanks for posting the information, I hope that the less intuitive will check out your links. I am already sick with politicians and they way some of them handle business. I don't want to get sicker.

[Samalabear]

President Obama is one who took single-payer off the table, along with Congress. Anybody watching this interview, who had a heart and a soul, would understand that the system is so bad that drastic action must be taken, i.e. a single payer system and let the private system do their thing as they do in other countries. President Obama has never come up with a plan, he only talks about single-payer to say it's not feasible, which is total bull. He got most of the worst ideas from the Kennedy bill -- mandates, taxes on benefits, fines, subsidies to buy health insurance. This is the Massachusetts' plan and it is a disaster. I don't know why people like Nelson are fighting this. It's a totally giveaway to the private insurance industry.

I hope people will take the time to check ot some of the blogs that have been written about this plan by people who are reading it. This bill is a mess and wait until it starts getting watered down even more. The only good thing that has been passed is Dennis Kucinich's amendment to allow states to create a true single payer system by getting rid of the ERISA roadblock. But that's only passed one committee. It started with one province in Canada.

[mountclemens]

Excellent comment, bear.

Here's Obama saying single-payer is the best and that he wants it -- 6 years ago -- back when he would tell the truth on this topic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpAyan1fXCE

[Chaimirija]

please list blogs for me? I have read the bills and usually get slammed on here when I point something out....get­ting sick of it as I AM QUITE PASSIONATE ABOUT REFORM

[Emerald1943]

The Lion of the Senate! I have been hoping that Senator Kennedy can hang on long enough to see the health care reform that he has fought for all his public life! He is a rare human being...he could have retired to Martha's Vineyard at an early age, but he chose to remain in service to us all.

We applaud your efforts, Senator...­.and we all wish you well!

[IssuesInFocus]

To the esteemed Senator, May I also add my vote of "Thanks."
Senator Kennedy: We need your passion and commitment on health care reform, now more than ever...may your efforts be crowned with success. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S8tQEvRKzM

[glockman]

Passion? Are you kidding? Kennedy is the prime example of a self serving person.

[PhilipTaylor]

Teeddy says, "But quality care shouldn't depend on your financial resources, or the type of job you have, or the medical condition you face. Every American should be able to get the same treatment that U.S. senators are entitled to."

Yes it is that easy Senators! And House Members!

[pk4obama]

Teddy Kennedy has worked on Healthcare reform for years and years and years.....­.he's a huge advocate. I commend him for his continuation of that support even with his current health problems. He will not give us and neither should we.

[glomtt]

The topic of this blog is heath care reform via Ted Kennedy. Does anyone have anything to say relative to the topic or is it all going to be about how vile Kennedy is in your eyes? Are you going to point out relative issues in the bill, or points of concern? I guess most of the people villifying him have health care. This is not about politics to most americans, this is about quality of life.

[glockman]

Kennedy has no moral ground to speak about anything. He hasn't since 1969.

[justobserve]

It still doesn't make what he advocates in heath care reform immoral!

[flapjack]

Not only that but the disaster that is the HMO systems is Teddy's. He authored the HMO act. Yes, that very thing that most on this board rail against.

[t iessa]

If they'd listened to Teddy decades ago we wouldn't be where we are today with healthcare. Of course, if they'd listened to HIllary in1993 we wouldn't be where we are today.

[Cunningham]

And if we'd listened to Jimmy Carter, we wouldn't be waging wars for oil and gas.

[tomasedison]

A 50c a gallon tax on a gal of gas back in the Carter days would have changed the future for the USA

[FredDobbs]

and if a frog had wings, it wouldn't bump its a$$ when it hopped

[glomtt]

If there is a constitutional ammendment regarding health care and health care reform is wrong according to it. There should be another amendment written in support of universal health care. The situation in America regarding health care is wrong. There have been other things in the Constitution that needed amending because times change or various other reasons. Society changes on a daily basis ergo amendments to the constitution to accomodate the changes. This issue is really important to a lot of americans, and I know that you don't like Ted, I get that. Just don't let that poison your concern for the rest of America. He wasn't the only one on this bill. Don't kill the Messenger!!!!

[FredDobbs]

The more you write the more it shows that you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

[glomtt]

The more you write the more it shows that you have absolutely no concern for your fellow man, and how much of a centrist you are. So There!!! Discuss the issue at hand and stop insulting people!!!!

[Cunningham]

"But quality care shouldn't depend on your financial resources, or the type of job you have, or the medical condition you face. Every American should be able to get the same treatment that U.S. senators are entitled to."

YES, we should get the same treatment that U.S. Senators are entitled to. Thanks for saying so.

[glomtt]

Teddy being devoid of character is not the issue. Regarding Constitutional Authority, when the constitution was written people could afford to pay the doctor for medical care or maybe they bartered. Medical care was not beyond an individual's mean to pay. Let's debate this rationally.

[FredDobbs]

You are putting the health care cart before the horse. First we should be focusing on a Constitutional amendment giving the Federal Government the authority, then we can devise a system. Until then we are discussing an illegitimate health care plan

[betty22]

a leopard never changes its spots and ted kennedy is the proof it is so

[xargaw]

I hope the centrist six (Senators), read this. They are the cretins of obstruction. A bunch of self serving selfish Senators feigning phony concern in order to raise more cash from the health care industry. They are fooling no one and are beyond contemp.

[glomtt]

Fred Dobbs, you are definitely representing your profile picture tonight. Let's discuss the issues and not the character of Ted Kennedy. Point out something or tell us something specifically about the bill that you are in oposition to. Let's discuss it!!!

[glomtt]

I really wish that we would not resort to name calling and character assasination, but sometimes it may be necessary. I really thought that the reason most of us were here is to have a healthy informative debate or q and a about health care reform. My main concern is ensuring health care for everyone, not any political platform. I think that we should leave that to the politicians.

[1dogs2]

What a sad lot of trolls the name Ted Kennedy brings out from under their rocks.