There is nothing improper about speaking of the need for universal health care coverage at Ted Kennedy's funeral.
And yet the Republican Party will insist that there is.
It's a shame that our political exchange has come to this, but the GOP is preparing to pigeonhole any reference to health care at the Senator's upcoming funeral as playing politics.... That's right: they're going to play politics with a funeral by accusing others of playing politics with a funeral.
It's similar to the McCain campaign accusing Obama of playing the race card over an innocent comment about not looking like other presidents. Rick Davis' surprise tirade against "[playing] the race card" tried to heighten the issue of race in the 2008 campaign -- also known as 'playing the race card.'
The Republicans' exploitation of Kennedy's funeral is already underway.
Let's give Orrin Hatch and John McCain the benefit of the doubt and assume that their comments from this past weekend -- suggesting that Kennedy would disapprove of the way Senate Democrats are handling health care reform negotiations -- was a partisan attempt at flattering their beloved colleague. (Very much to the contrary of what Hatch and McCain said, Chris Dodd had been keeping Kennedy up to date on the markup.)
Nevertheless, early Wednesday morning, conservatives were already crying 'Wellstone!' You'll remember that Senator Paul Wellstone died in a plane crash just as his 2002 reelection campaign was winding down. Conservatives insisted that a memorial service for him was in bad taste -- that it was more of a campaign rally for his replacement, Walter Mondale.
"A Wellstone Memorial on steroids?" Glenn Reynolds sleazily suggested of Democrats mourning Kennedy, adding, "And how did that work out?" As Ben Smith noted, the Wellstone meme is picking up steam in the conservative blogosphere. In no time at all, cable news and mainline political pundits will be tut-tutting the supporters of universal health care for exploiting Ted Kennedy.
This is a stick-up, plain and simple. It's mugging the cause of health care reform of its greatest champion. We've seen it before -- in the same family, no less. How many times have you heard a Republican assailing "big government" trot out the old talking point that JFK was actually a supply-sider?
In the last few weeks, Republican activists have shown that by bullying, by shouting and ranting and carrying on, they can change the subject. Don't let them do it. Not this time.
If someone says that it is inappropriate to speak of Ted Kennedy when advocating for real health care reform, that person ought to be told, 'You must not know much about Ted Kennedy, because affordable universal health care was the cause of his life.'
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Taylor Marsh: Ted Kennedy's Foreign Policy Idealism
Domestic issues pervaded Teddy's mission, but also his image at home. However, he was intensely interested and engaged in world matters.
He should have asked her, what do you think about the reform debate where the gop is arguing that insurance companies should, in effect be allowed to continue to make massive profits while people who get sick are being dropped by them. For instance people with Alzheimers needing long term care are being dropped because it is eating into the profit margin. THAT would have been the question to ask, and if she feels half as passionate about that as she did about the stem cell research, the dems would have the perfect poster child to argue their side!
That dum @$ $
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.
It would be a terrible shame if the procedings degenerated into the hackneyed farce that was the Sen. Wellstone event.
Senator Kennedy, his family and the Commonwealth deserve some dignity, finally.
And think how much more effective it might be if the Republicans used the occasion to spell out their thoughtful alternative to Democratic plans and indicate a willingness to get together and reach some sort of compromise etc. Well, when your position is "no" and every other word out of your mouth is "government takeover" and "death panel" you have sort of tipped your hand and lost any credibility etc. So let them bitch. It will finish an already ugly protrait with a perfect flourish.
The masses respond to mythology and symbols better than facts, data or reasoning. I hope Obama exploits the drama and emotion to create something Ted would appreciate.
We need to go on the assault. Everyone in the GOP should feel guilty for every single thing their party has tried to do both during Obama's presidency and well before it too.
GOP. Defend yourselves.
Conservatives should abandon the GOP and start from scratch on the platform that they know deep in their hearts they have lost sight of for far too long.
Well, they had their chance. Teddy was OUR lion, and national health care was HIS passion.
By sidelining Health Care, the Republicans sideline Ted Kennedy.