Vicki Kennedy Visited Ted's Grave On Day Of Health Care Passage (VIDEO)

Reflecting on the legislative achievement her late husband had spent his career pursuing, Vicki Kennedy on Monday expressed gratitude and paid tribute to the work of House Democrats in getting long-elusive health care reform legislation finally passed.

Appearing on CNN's 'John King, USA' (full interview tonight at 7PM ET), the widow of former Sen. Ted Kennedy pointed to the commitment made by President Barack Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi as particularly critical for reform's passage.

"I think that President Obama showed incredible determination and courage and focus when he continued this battle; and Speaker Pelosi to continue to rally the troops and the leaders in the House of Representatives showed incredible determination and focus and courage," Kennedy said. "And I think it is a real tribute to all the members of the House of Representatives as well. I think it is a real tribute to all of them and I am deeply, deeply, grateful, as I think are the American people."

Kennedy echoed a common refrain from her late husband -- a longtime health care reform champion -- in arguing that the public will fully embrace the legislation's passage.

"You know Teddy always said that when we finally pass health care reform and when people understand what's in the bill and what benefits there are for them, they are going to say 'What took you so long?' And I think that's going to happen here," Kennedy said.

CNN's report also notes:

As the House was debating the controversial health care bill Sunday, Vicki Kennedy visited Arlington National Cemetery where she said she "spent some time" with her husband. Arlington is the final resting place for Sen. Edward Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat who made health care reform his passion and lifelong goal.

"I thought yesterday was an important day to be there, because I had hope and confidence and certainly, you know, wish that the bill would pass," she said in an exclusive interview with CNN's John King.

Kennedy also explained what she told members of Congress who were making up their minds about how to vote on the bill. "You know no piece of legislation is perfect. But it's so important to make the progress, get -- get the ball rolling. Teddy always talked about not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. And those are the kind of conversations I had."

Here are two clips from the interview airing tonight at 7PM ET:

Comments

[StupidPeopleSuck]

04:21 PM on 03/24/2010

This is the same as mandatory auto insurance. The only difference is that you can sell your car, but you'll always have a body that has the potential to be sick, infected, or damaged; and a health hazard to others.

[softvoice]

01:52 PM on 03/24/2010

Mrs. Kennedy is a class act. Her love and devotion to her late husband is to be admired. I was so pleased to see her and Patrick Kennedy and of course Caroline and her very handsome son Jack Kennedy at the signing. It was historic and nostalgic all at once. It is sad indeed that Ted did not live to see this happen.

[TomJoad1965]

10:35 AM on 03/24/2010

The depravity of the right was spoke to me one day when I was told, "someone should shoot (Ted) Kennedy". What a heartless b@sterd. they're (republicans) are all like this where I'm from.

[drlouise]

10:23 PM on 03/23/2010

I couldn't believe how insensitive King was as an interviewer. As a recent widow, I cried when I heard him ask her questions that were completely insensitive and intrusive. No empathy, respect or insight. What a shame that this wonderful woman was put through that.

[PollyTics]

09:34 AM on 03/23/2010

While I'm glad that John King is no longer the anchor for CNN's Sunday morning show, I just wish they would relegate him back to being a reporter. He had zero personality and yet he seems to always end up showing a bias in his interviews.

I wish Rachel Maddow could clone herself and send one around to each and every network .

[FR]

06:19 AM on 03/23/2010

Ted Kennedy, my Senator. Thank you Ted.

[InquiringMind1]

01:40 AM on 03/23/2010

Love her - She's an absolute Class-Act!!

[Mithrandir Greyholm]

01:26 AM on 03/23/2010

We need to be vigilant on this issue. The fight is far from over.

Unfortunately, unlike every other industrialized nations like Israel, Germany, France, Holland, Canada, etc... we don't have Universal Health Care yet. Except for our politicians. Every elected official in America gets free health care for themselves and their families for life. And not Medicare / Medicaid type of insurance. They get the best. Including elective procedures. 237 members of Congress are millionaires. These people who can afford the best insurance, or simply pay out of pocket. Instead we pay for it and then are denied the same benefits. We don't even have a public option!

In some parts of this country, people in need are routinely turned away from hospitals because they don't have insurance and can't pay for it. I don't know one Canadian or Israeli who would give up their national health care for the nightmare we face in this country of escalating insurance premiums, inflated drug prices, large co-payments, all for the benefit of having insurance companies cancel your policy when you become too sick, or deny you care because of pre-existing conditions!

[xlntcat]

03:35 AM on 03/23/2010

Well, they don't get free healthcare, they pick up about 20% of the cost of their insurance premium. The president remained on Michelle polidy when he was in the Senate. But congress does have a clinic and staff on the Hill and no one has ever explained who pays for it.

[Tkevan]

09:05 AM on 03/23/2010

House members pay an extra $300 and the Senate an extra $600 per month to use the Congressional medical staff. But the rest of the cost is picked up by the taxpayer.

[Tkevan]

09:03 AM on 03/23/2010

Again with this??? Congress gets the same FEHB plan as EVERY OTHER FEDERAL EMPLOYEE!!!!!' It's not free, but it is cheap. The government pays up to 75% of the premium, depending on the plan chosen.

A hospital cannot 'turn away' any patient who arrives at the ED without treatment. To say that it happens is just false.

When you have two large mistatements in your post, you lose any impact.

[1liberalconspirator]

01:19 AM on 03/23/2010

Thanks Ted.

[JFaye]

11:37 PM on 03/22/2010

The more I think about this, how appropriate to have both Mrs. Kennedy as well Secretary of State Clinton witness the signing of this bill. Both families invested themselves in this tumultuous health care reform battle.

[CTtransplant]

11:58 PM on 03/22/2010

And John Dingle....let's not leave him out!

[goodmorningsunshine]

11:17 PM on 03/22/2010

Salute to you Mr. Kennedy. Thank you for reminding us to fight for our right to health care, now a right no longer a privilege.

[BIG JOHN]

11:00 PM on 03/22/2010

Atheist, foot washer, snake charmer, whatever, and what does that have to do with this.....?

T.K. we will never forget you. This one's for you.

[harriettubman]

10:59 PM on 03/22/2010

She truly loved Teddy. I read his book. Glad he found someone later in life. Although he and Joan stayed legally married too long, which i believed caused her alcoholism, it would've been nice to see him making the rounds discussing his memoirs.

[annieR]

10:55 PM on 03/22/2010

This health care bill will actually reduce the number of abortions. A pregnant woman who discovers her child will be born with disabilities will be more likely to give birth to that child if she assured of health care rather than being refused insurance because of a pre-existing condition. Only the stupid or willfully ignorant could fail to come to this conclusion.

[rambot02]

10:45 PM on 03/22/2010

I am an atheist; I'm not trying to convince anyone of my view, that's just a statement of fact.

When Pat Robertson says something hateful and moronic like the Haitian earthquake was the deity's wrath visited on desperately poor people in the here and now for something that happened centuries ago, I'm GLAD I'm an atheist. But I have to admit that today, there is a small sliver of my brain that hopes I'm wrong. Teddy Kennedy's soul deserves to know that HCR, passed, even in this imperfect form. I don't think he's "up there" grinning because, to co-opt Gertrude Stein's famous observation about Oakland, I'm convinced there is no there there. But today I kinda, sorta hope there is an afterlife, even if my beliefs put me eternally in the Hereafter's equivalent of the hockey penalty box, so that Teddy can savor this moment. Rest in peace, Edward Moore Kennedy, rest in peace.

[BIG JOHN]

10:55 PM on 03/22/2010

WHAT?

[turkeyhead]

11:06 PM on 03/22/2010

as a fellow atheist, i hear ya.