Ted Kennedy Rescues Us from Michael Jackson Media Orgy

The revelation that Michael Jackson's death was ruled a homicide threatened to derail media attention on the vitally important health care debate. One could almost hear the cogs begin to turn at CNN/Fox/MSNBC as they geared up for a media love fest that would have them pour millions of dollars into covering MJ's still unburied body.

And then, as if by divine intervention, a man intimately intertwined in America's deeply divisive health care debate, swooped in and rescued the country from hours of relentless speculation by 'experts' on celebrity deaths.

Sadly, Senator Ted Kennedy rescued the debate by dying, but he saved it nevertheless, and the country owes him a debt of gratitude for his final act of public service.

In America, the media can usually focus on one thing, and one thing only. When a D-List celebrity with large breasts dies, you can forget foreign wars, poverty or political corruption. The public's insatiable curiosity with everything celebrity is fed, nurtured, and exploited by a media system interested only in profit. But sometimes, and it really is only sometimes, the media's relentless focus on a single, personality based issue can reap unintentional rewards.

The 24/7 coverage of Senator Kennedy's death will swing debate back to health care, because that was the main focus of his life. And because Kennedy was so adamant that there should be a public option, it may actually inspire the chronically cowardly Democrats to fight for it.

"His death absolutely will stiffen the spine of the Democrats to get something this year for this extraordinary giant in Senate history," said Howard Dean.

And he may well be right.

The prospect of a half-assed bill without a public option passing after the death of Senator Kennedy would be too much for the Democrats to withstand politically, and the progressive wing would never forgive the Centrists, making future collaboration virtually impossible.

So Ted Kennedy's final act may be the very thing the Democrats need to unify themselves, stop debating with the Republicans, and pass a meaningful bill that would bring affordable health care to the public.

And if they do, we'll have Senator Kennedy to thank for it.

Ben Cohen is the Editor of TheDailyBanter.com and founder of BanterMediaGroup.com

Follow Ben Cohen on Twitter: www.twitter.com/thedailybanter

Comments

[Wildweezle]

In addition;
If his complaint is that we as a society seem to be more interested in MJ's death than healthcare reform then his argument is with the citizens not the media. It would be stupid and negligent of anyone charged with running a media outlet to ignore consumer demands for information. This leads me to believe that this person simply doesn’t have a basic understanding of how our market economy works. BTW, will someone please inform him that we went from a health insurance reform information orgy to a Ted Kennedy one?
Maybe he shoud consider expanding his array of information sources because quite frankly I have no problems what-so-ever finding TOO much information on anything that I consider of interest to me especially the on-going health insurance reform CIRCUS.

[Wildweezle]

Amazing that he doesn’t know where to find wall-to-wall coverage of the health insurance reform activities and the debate surrounding it. People in the media including bloggers remind me of those politicians who always complain about how government is a failure when they are a part of government and in some cases are career politician­s...
Does this person realize that the media he is complaining about is about making a profit and that it tends to do that by providing a service demanded by consumers. He fails to accept the fact that Michael Jackson continues to be FAMOUS which means there will be considerable demand for information about him (good or bad) for quite a while whether he as an individual feels it is a priority or not. He needs to understand that he doesn't set the priorities for the rest of us in this society.

[db08]

I also saw your headline as unnecessary and tasteless. Your premise for why MJ's death, a man who promoted peace, global unity and supported serious issues, is faulty. He was considered more than just celebrity by many. At the same time, as someone who watches the news everyday, I did not see the 24/7 news cycle beyond his immediate death.

Your premise is also faulty in that it suggests that we can only focus on one thing at a time and that we should have ignored his passing until all was right with the world. The focus on MJ's death and work reminded many of the message of "The Man in the Mirror," a message that perhaps you forgot. If you are, indeed, someone who valued his work, then write about the messages of his songs that are battle cry to do what is right in the world to address the issues of war, poverty, hate, and our common humanity.

Using Kennedy's death as an opportunity to miss these points is simply, well, thoughtless.

[psychmaj323]

yet, you're talking about MJ, umm ok...

[situationcritical]

"We can bring the world together with music - even politicians can't do that." -- Michael Jackson.

[rsaillant1]

Please....­.Let's get one thing straight, we should be talking about reform
of that particular branch of the insurance industry that issues payment for
costs as they relate to fees from Doctors, Hospitals, Clinics, Pharmacies,
and the like.

Blue Cross-Blue Shield, United Healthcare, et al; do not provide you with
health care, they pay for it, after you've signed on and prepaid for it.

Just like State Farm, as the insurer for your automaobile, doesn't install
the new fender and paint the new fender, they pay for it as they have agreed to do,
via contract.

These health care insurance companies are blending themselves in with
the actual care provided by medical people and facilities. They are insurance companies
only, and must be regulated as such. That is the real isssue.

[Deni]

I hope we get real health care reform. I'm one of the uninsured in this country. It would be a fitting memorial to the Lion of the Senate to get REAL reform in this country. But as I was reading this I could help thinking that our 2-party system might become a 4-party system in the near future: The Rabid Right, the Corporate Republicans, the Blue Dogs and the Progressive Democrats. Maybe a 6-party system if you add in the Libertarians and the Greens.

The next few years will be an interesting time in America and I think we have a lot of growing pains coming our way.

[Mij13]

I second your post, Deni. When I was reading this I couldn't help but think how lame this post is. When there are so many more important things to write about. God be with you.

[creolechild]

If you are concerned about receiving "real" health care reform in this country, please take the time to watch a video on our current system. The video was created by Oregon physicians who are advocating for the single-payer option. The video is very informative and helped me to gain a better understanding of various aspect of health care, as we know now it.

https://www.madashelldoctorstour.com/Mad_as_Hell_Video.html

These Oregon physicians are in the process of organizing a caravan designed to inform the public about the benefits of the single-payer option. At last count they will be stopping in approximately 23 states, on their way to demonstrate in Washington. They need volunteers and our support. Please spread the word.

[mishte]

I'm sorry, but this headline, premise, message... everything about it is beyond poor taste and demeaning to both lives, legacies and genuine sorrow in their deaths.

As far as the article is concerned - I didn't read it. The headline is enough to be a massive turn off, and one worth (to me) speaking against.

Whether anything has been over-reported or not is irrelevant. Putting it in these terms is just ugly.

I'm sure the author will enjoy a stream of comments that share this callous view, and wouldn't be surprised to be pummeled for this comment, but that's cool. (Maybe there'll be a few who have views similar to mine, I don't know. I didn't write this to be validated, I wrote this because I felt strongly enough to voice my opposition).

I'm just glad I don't understand this way of thinking.

Or lack thereof.

[Ben Cohen - Huffpost Blogger]

Hey Mishte, I totally respect your view, and the title wasn't meant to offend anyone. I just find the incessant media coverage of celebrities extremely troubling, particularly when there are so many serious issues going on. No disrespect to MJ either, I was a big fan and very saddened when he died. I just don't think his death was worthy of 24/7 coverage while we're at war with two countries, the economy is falling apart, and 46 million Americans can't get healthcare. And if Kennedy's death helps bring attention back to it, then I feel it's worth writing about.

[Deni]

Well said. Thank you.

[Marrymeplease]

I'm glad to see you meant no disrespect to Michael because I was just about to put my religion on the self and tell you a thing or two. You can't blame Michael for this. It's the media fault. I bet you Ben if they cover these things you're talking about 24/7, you would be talking about how you are tired of that. That's how you people are,you have to fine something to complain about. I'm a fan of Michael too, and yes I think they need to lay off of him. They bash him enough while he was alive, now let him rest in peace. But they won't. I saw today where TMZ were talking about Michael's credit score. WHY? He can't use it anymore. Leave the guy alone. My deepest sympathy to the Kennedy Family.

[nisha]

Don't bank on it.

[sixyfivepercentwater]

Ted Kennedy is certainly more worthy of a media orgy, if a media orgy is ever justified.

The problem with any death story is that after recapping the life of the man (which most of us already know about) there's absolutely nothing more to say.

I'd like to see more news about other subjects.

[Marrymeplease]

No disrepect to Ted Kennedy, but that's your opinion .