ABC displayed “Battle Cry” on screen, beneath HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, as anchor Charles Gibson teased Thursday's World News: “Health care reformers hope to win one for Teddy, but the opposition is largely unmoved.” Gibson introduced the story by asserting “some of his allies in Congress harbor hopes that his death might generate a change of heart among opponents,” but it may not come to be: “If that is to be the case, there are few signs of it yet.”
Reporter Jonathan Karl noted continued opposition amongst those at town hall meetings, yet ran soundbites from three Democrats who demonstrated how “many prominent Democrats are hoping to turn an outpouring of goodwill into political magic.” For instance, “the most senior Senator, Robert Byrd, said yesterday, 'my heart and soul weeps' at the loss of the Senator Kennedy and called for naming the health care bill after him, a view wildly held b by Democrats.”
Karl recalled “the tactic has worked before. After the assassination of John Kennedy, President Johnson invoked his memory to revive the long-stalled civil rights bill.” This year, however, while “win one for Teddy” is “already becoming a rallying cry here on Capitol Hill, Karl concluded, “the divisions run deep and will not be easily overcome, even with all that obvious good will for Senator Ted Kennedy.”
ABC's piece matched what NBC aired on Wednesday night, complete with the same recollection of how President Johnson used President Kennedy's memory to push legislation. “NBC Exploits Kennedy to Push ObamaCare: 'National Sorrow Has Created Political Momentum Before,'” recounted:
Proffering how “national sorrow has created political momentum before,” Wednesday's NBC Nightly News devoted a story to the hope of Democrats that Senator Ted Kennedy's passing will propel ObamaCare to victory. Noting how Kennedy was “passionate” about more government in health care, from Hyannis anchor Brian Williams proposed “ironically, the fact that he did not live long enough to see a possible overhaul of the system” raises the question: “Will this be the very thing that might break the log jam over getting it done? Or not?”
With “final Fight” as the on-screen heading, reporter Kelly O'Donnell asserted that “looking forward, the emotional impact of Kennedy's passing could become a factor now” as “Democrats are saying respect for Kennedy could change minds now.” Leading into a clip of President Lyndon Johnson using President John Kennedy's assassination to push for civil rights legislation, O'Donnell delivered the “national sorrow has created political momentum before” formulation, recalling:
Within months the Civil Rights Act passed with young Senator Kennedy's help. Today, a similar suggestion from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: “Ted Kennedy's dream of quality health care for all Americans will be made real this year because of his leadership and his inspiration.” And outside groups were even more direct. The seniors lobby, AARP, wrote: “As Congress seems poised to act this fall, Senator Kennedy will no doubt be watching.” And the service workers union said: “Let us continue his cause. Let us take action this year to pass health care reform.”
From the Thursday, August 27 World News on ABC:
CHARLES GIBSON, IN BOSTON: Even though he was away from the Senate for much of the last year, until just days ago the Senator was actively involved in the health care reform debate, on the phone with colleagues. Some of his allies in Congress harbor hopes that his death might generate a change of heart among opponents. If that is to be the case, there are few signs of it yet. Here's Jon Karl.
JONATHAN KARL: Could Senator Kennedy's death inspire newfound unity on health care reform? If last night's town hall meeting in Phoenix is any indication-
WOMAN TO JOHN McCAIN: No compromises, Senator. Nuke it now.
KARL: -the answer seems to be no. But many prominent Democrats are hoping to turn an outpouring of goodwill into political magic.
SECRETARY OF HHS KATHLEEN SEBELIUS: They'll ask themselves, what would Teddy do?
KARL: Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius made the pitch today in Washington.
SEBELIUS: If people are truly inspired in honoring his legacy, the best possible legacy is to pass health reform this year.
KARL: The most senior Senator, Robert Byrd, said yesterday, "my heart and soul weeps” at the loss of the Senator Kennedy and called for naming the health care bill after him, a view wildly held b by Democrats.
CONGRESSMAN ED MARKEY: Senator Kennedy's spirit will infuse the Congress towards the goal of providing coverage for all those people who he cared for.
KARL: The tactic has worked before. After the assassination of John Kennedy, President Johnson invoked his memory to revive the long-stalled civil rights bill.
TAD DEVINE, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: What President Johnson did ten, by telling the Congress and the people of America, that it was time to finish an unfinished agenda, was exactly the right thing to do. And I think it's the right thing to do again.
KARL: But Republicans, even those close to Senator Kennedy, are not buying it.
SENATOR ORRIN HATCH: Frankly, I'm getting a little bit upset at some of these people trying to take advantage of this and saying we now have to pass health care reform because of Ted. Well, Ted wouldn't want it passed if it wasn't good.
KARL: And as for the most vocal opponents, they are unlikely to be swayed by naming a bill after a great liberal stalwart. "Win one for Teddy" is already becoming a rallying cry here on Capitol Hill. But, Charlie, the divisions run deep and will not be easily overcome, even with all that obvious good will for Senator Ted Kennedy.
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Battle cry, or "waving the bloody shirt".......
August 27, 2009 - 20:20 ET by BEGRUNTor Ted Kennedy memorial health bill.........in it's current form it is DEAD!!!!
"A nation can suffer it's fool's, but cannot survive the traitor"
Cicero
Hmmmm.... A liberal battle
August 28, 2009 - 08:05 ET by BDHmmmm.... A liberal battle cry "Win One for Teddy" should immediately cause the liberal side to drink heavily, abuse women, throw bales of money about with pitchfork to to people who have not earned it while boarding a bus destined to drive off a bridge.
Yep, that is a recipe for success..... Wellstone Part II.
Perfectly Stated!!
August 28, 2009 - 10:08 ET by mjfitchCouldn't have said it better!!...but maybe.... in my fanciful literary sensibilities...moments after that liberal virus died_in a parallel universe, Mary Jo is climbing out of the car swimming to shore, leaving that VIRUS to suffer her fate.
NOW THAT WOULD BE JUSTICE!!
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." -Winston Churchill
Pathetic
August 27, 2009 - 20:22 ET by BondPlainBondThis has gone beyond any kind of civility or decorum.
The MAN has died. His family loved him. Turning his memory, which is important to his family, into a political thing is disgusting, desperate, pathetic, and sad.
Renaming ObamaCare into KennedyCare is an insult. The bill is doomed. Such a non-honor for one so revered by liberals who actually (and irrationally) believe this bill will pass with Kennedy's name on it.
They're running out of straws to grasp, that's for sure.
Can you say "Paul
August 27, 2009 - 20:25 ET by motherbeltCan you say "Paul Wellstone"?
One can only hope that this bloody-shirt waving comes to the same result.
Exactly What I Was Thinking...
August 28, 2009 - 00:02 ET by Intellectual HonestyCan you say "Paul Wellstone"?
AOL has an internet polls about how Chappaquidick affected his legacy and it is not pretty (86% say it has a large affect). Internet poll or not it seems, as hinted, there is a real Wellstone Pep Rally Effect going on here. And this is not just bad for the Dems but equally so for the Dem-enabling media. For a large portion of the populace "Camelot" has no personal meaning rooted in experience/memories however over-glorified as they were.
But the biggest "learning moment" Kennedy's death has provided is the sheer number of people that either have never heard of Chappaquiddick or realized how the whole story was sanitized by a pro-Dem media and pro-Dem educational system.
Breaking the liberal mindset always starts in small ways and this revelation of how protected the Kennedy's were by the liberal establishment will jump start many political conversions.
For instance, “the most senior Senator, Robert Byrd, said yesterday, 'my heart and soul weeps' at the loss of the Senator Kennedy and called for naming the health care bill after him, a view wildly held b by Democrats.”
As far as Byrd goes, do we even know where he is or level of sound mind he has? I simply can not just presume that Byrd said anything without even knowing where he is. Just like Kennedy's late game request to overturn the very special election law that he instituted to thwart Romney of a Kerry vacancy choice. While I'm sure Teddy approved, who knows when he was or wasn't actually still engaged or lucid.
Straws to grasp
August 28, 2009 - 00:18 ET by KC MulvilleThe only explanation for this "win one for Teddy" nonsense is that the liberals can't understand why we're against it. To them, our opposition can't possibly be intellectually honest. Therefore, they conclude, we must just be stubborn, narrow-minded, and petty. It must be an emotional opposition.
So, they hope that sympathy for the dead will soften our heart, because surely that's the only reason we're opposing it, right?
I am still waiting for one
August 27, 2009 - 20:24 ET by motherbeltI am still waiting for one of these cheerleaders to explain why, because he died, the entire country should be subjected to living his dream of socialism!
Do we "owe" that to him??? Not bloody likely!
He was also a big proponent of the so-called "living wage." Should a push begin to rais the minimum wage to $10 an hour?
Why not, if that's what he wanted!
I said it before: they are the ones who want to remember him this way. Build him a monument; name a couple of buildings after him, but leave us the hell out of it!!
Well.... wait a minute here....
August 27, 2009 - 20:40 ET by Willis_Leon_JohnsonHe also believed that it was a good thing to make a 'waitress sandwich' with chrissy dodd, drive drunk, drive off a bridge and leave a young lady in the car to suffocate.
He never met a socialist dictator he didn't absolutely fall in love with.
He had numerous mistresses, as well as brief flings and one night stands.
Denying support of any kind to a democratic government while actively supporting the communist forces attempting to overthrow that government.
I say BUILD THAT MONUMENT!!!!
A very large plaque at the base listing ALL his accomplishments in trying to further any form of government that denies FREEDOM TO THE PEOPLE and pushing for the enslavement of the subjects.
BUILD IT, I'll throw in the first $20 just to get it started.
http://gjresult.com
Re Waitress Sandwich
August 27, 2009 - 21:36 ET by slickwillie2001One of the 'waitress sandwich' stories:
"It is after midnight and Kennedy and Dodd are just finishing up a long dinner in a private room on the first floor of the restaurant’s annex. They are drunk. Their dates, two very young blondes, leave the table to go to the bathroom. (The dates are drunk too. “They’d always get their girls very, very drunk,” says a former Brasserie waitress.) Betty Loh, who served the foursome, also leaves the room. Raymond Campet, the co-owner of La Brasserie, tells Gaviglio the senators want to see her.
As Gaviglio enters the room, the six-foot-two, 225-plus-pound Kennedy grabs the five-foot-three, 103-pound waitress and throws her on the table. She lands on her back, scattering crystal, plates and cutlery and the lit candles. Several glasses and a crystal candlestick are broken. Kennedy then picks her up from the table and throws her on Dodd, who is sprawled in a chair. With Gaviglio on Dodd’s lap, Kennedy jumps on top and begins rubbing his genital area against hers, supporting his weight on the arms of the chair. As he is doing this, Loh enters the room. She and Gaviglio both scream, drawing one or two dishwashers. Startled, Kennedy leaps up. He laughs. Bruised, shaken and angry over what she considered a sexual assault, Gaviglio runs from the room. Kennedy, Dodd and their dates leave shortly thereafter, following a friendly argument between the senators over the check."
The entire, very long article from 1990 is here: A Sober Look at Ted Kennedy: http://men.style.com
mb... I said it before:
August 27, 2009 - 20:53 ET by bigtimermb...
I said it before: they are the ones who want to remember him this
way. Build him a monument; name a couple of buildings after him, but
leave us the hell out of it!!
...and tell them to Shut-Up already!
Obama's a Community Agitator, a walking, talking destroyer. ~ Rush Limbaugh
If you have a piece of crap,
August 27, 2009 - 20:24 ET by UpNorthand it's proud patron dies, it's still a piece of crap. This bill is anti-American, as was Ted. Let it meet the same fate he did.
Say No! For Mary Jo!
August 27, 2009 - 20:26 ET by danboNuf said .
Limited Disclosure: I used to belong to the Sierra Club untill they went crazier. Worse of all, I was bribed by Exxon with free New Orleans Saints glasses with fill ups in the 70's.
Let's bury Health Care with Teddy...
August 27, 2009 - 20:30 ET by rgrangerAnd save a few lives by starting the Ted Kennedy Swimming School, um, maybe better name it after Mary Jo.
what crap...
August 27, 2009 - 20:32 ET by American.Patriotthankfully the durnk, murdering asshole ids dead.
~Give our regards
August 27, 2009 - 20:35 ET by choselife3xTo your fellow Kossacks. Tell them to come up with something more imaginative.
Dissent: It's not just for liberals anymore.-kudzupolitics, USA Today
The Party of Treason
August 27, 2009 - 20:36 ET by Wesen"Every state that seceded from the United States was a Democratic State....Every man that shot Union soldiers was a Democrat. Every man that loved slavery better than liberty was a Democrat. The man that assassinated Abraham Lincoln was a Democrat....Every man that raised bloodhounds to pursue human beings was a Democrat. Every man that clutched from shrieking, shuddering, crouching mothers, babes from their breasts, and sold them into slavery, was a Democrat.”
Congressman Benjamin Butler 1876
They are responsible for the policies that freed Phillip Craig Garrido and now they lead the deception for TeddyCare.
If you aren't mad you should be.
If the government option ...
August 27, 2009 - 20:37 ET by SentryDanIf the government option (healthcare reform or healthcare insurance reform or whatever it is being or will be called) isn't good enough for the president, his family, or members of congress and their families, then it isn't good enough for "We the People". Only when the president and members of congress and their families go under the public option (and don't get preferential treatment and have to wait in line for everything like the rest of us would) then this plan will be good enough for the rest of us.
JUST SAY NO TO OBAMACARE/KENNEDYCARE/OR WHATEVERCARE. "We the People" don't want this and we didn't ask for it.
Remember folks, Freedom isn't Free. It was bought with the blood and sacrifice of the men and women who are serving and who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor that the protected will never know.
Also remember folks, that the way to SUPPORT THE TROOPS is to support their mission. Anyone who says that they support the troops but don't support their mission is lying about supporting the troops. And if you want to know, yes I do have a dog in the fight, he is a United States Marine.
And whatever happened to
August 27, 2009 - 21:00 ET by motherbeltAnd whatever happened to them wanting us to have the same excellent coverage that they get?????
mb... That flew out the
August 27, 2009 - 21:10 ET by bigtimermb...
That flew out the window...along with the other pigs.
Obama's a Community Agitator, a walking, talking destroyer. ~ Rush Limbaugh
I am not so sure that
August 27, 2009 - 20:59 ET by jdhawkI am not so sure that dimocrats and their government run media minions want to compare obama and/or kennedy care to the civil rights act. Remember it was Republicans that made it possible for the bill to pass. It was dimocrats, led by Senator Byrd, filibustering that nearly doomed the bill and the voters rights act to follow. Dimocrats in the south were united in opposition to both bills.
Remember, in those days, it was dimocrats who blanketed political offices high and low in the south that barred the door to the voting booth and the school house for African-Americans. "Barred" doesn't quite get it in terms of an apt description. Try, they used sudden violent death, shotguns and the snapping teeth of attack dogs to deter entry.
It was in part because of dimocrats' opposition to these two acts and a largesse, not unlike what is going on today, by LBJ with his Great Society plan that ushered Republicans into congressional seats in any great numbers for the first time since before the Civil War.
Desperate acts . . .
August 27, 2009 - 21:30 ET by GalvanicSECRETARY OF HHS KATHLEEN SEBELIUS: They'll ask themselves, what would Teddy do?
We'll drive off that bridge when we get to it.
With “final Fight” as the on-screen heading, reporter Kelly O'Donnell asserted that “looking forward, the emotional impact of Kennedy's passing could become a factor now” as “Democrats are saying respect for Kennedy could change minds now.”
More shallow political analysis by a network news organization that is still hoping that Obama is really the reincarnation of JFK.
Given the visible and vocal opposition to this bill at virtually every town hall meeting in the past few weeks, what Republican or Blue Dog Democrat would throw his/her political career on Teddy's funeral pire? Only an idiot like Pelosi or Reid would seriously entertain this as a viable strategy.
To the contrary, with the bill(s) acceptance diminshing daily despite Obama's full court press, dozens of town hall meeting, thousands of hours of pro-bill television advertisments, and even a Presidential personal appeal to the 'morality' of clergy, this is a last desperate act to revive this ghost.
Go ahead and rename the Titanic as the "SS Teddy Kennedy" -- it's already hit the iceberg and it's going down.
Win one for
August 27, 2009 - 21:31 ET by BarkerThe Dripper
Crash for Clunkers!
August 27, 2009 - 21:36 ET by CrashIf Obey & the Dems do health care as well as they did the clunker program - what with handing a huge surge in auto sales to team Honda, Toyota and Kia. Brilliant! Let them support a flopping bomb of a bill with Kennedy the lady killer's name attached. Now that's a legacy fitting for a scamp. Too soon?
McCain/Hatch
August 27, 2009 - 21:37 ET by TexndocFortunately I saw interviews with 2 of "Teddy"s most prominent Republican apologists and they are NOT "asking themselves What would Teddy do?" Thank God.
To Hell with Ted, he's dead.
August 27, 2009 - 23:10 ET by R D HelmI say we win one for good ol' Ammurrican freedom and liberty, and burn all current versions of this hideous health care "reform" bill, bury the ashes in Ted's grave, and get on with REAL health care reform, which starts with getting the federal government the hell out of it completely.
-Dave
Even when the government tries to kiss you, it is just a prelude to a good screwing. -Neal Boortz
Seriously, this is how the
August 28, 2009 - 01:07 ET by KevroySeriously, this is how the Left thinks. Take a pile of crap and put a new face on it and that changes everything. To paraphrase a saying I once heard, liberalism is based upon the belief that it's entirely possible to pick up a dog turd from the clean end.
I'm sure that Americans
August 28, 2009 - 01:13 ET by RR GOPI'm sure that Americans worried about getting proper health care for themselves and their families give a crap about what Kennedy wanted.
In Massachusetts they already have socialized medicine, so they are already in anyway.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 86% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
We did not have a
August 28, 2009 - 09:14 ET by capeindieWe did not have a choice/voice or a say in the matter....much like what is going on like a raging wildfire now around the rest of the country. I am sick and tired of all the news and people just assuming that if you live in Massachusetts your not worth listening to because its "Kennedy Country" so your automatically labeled a liberal and hence your vote is automatically counted in favor of whatever looney wacko leftist idealogy they want to push on you. I believe the health insurance requirement that was "IMPOSED" on us is unconstitutional.
I think it's about time!!
August 28, 2009 - 07:39 ET by kengieI think it's about time!! The Senator worked a life time on health care. This could be Kennedy's "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED".
August 28, 2009 - 07:41 ET by jessieHYea, let's win one for the murderer.
Wow
August 28, 2009 - 07:47 ET by FeynmanFanThat's pretty poignant.
"I support the President but not his policies" - Blonde
Win 1 for the Gipper by defeating plans for BIG government.
August 28, 2009 - 08:02 ET by ekslibKill Kennedy Kare.
Remember "the Gipper."
To flip on such an important
August 28, 2009 - 08:24 ET by capeindieTo flip on such an important issue simply because a man died and it would honor him is just plain wrong. How would this help the living. To honor someone is noble but not for politics and power. Stay focused on the issue not on stroking someones ego.
Is that Sebelius or George Washington in that screencap?
August 28, 2009 - 08:56 ET by SickofLibsIs that Sebelius or George Washington in that screencap?
Win One for Teddy
August 28, 2009 - 09:11 ET by SemusGod help this country, the people the hard left pick for heroes. Talk about the bottom of the barrow if it weren't so serious it would be funny. Kennedy was a lot of things but one thing he wasn't is a brain bank. If we're real quiet I bet we can hear Putin laughing.
I want to remember the line the marine used in the Townhall meeting, it's the only response these "Fellow travelers" deserve.
"Thank you very much for allowing me to keep what you have no right to take away."
August 28, 2009 - 09:18 ET by SemusFunny, Democrats and the
August 28, 2009 - 09:36 ET by Six String SpiffFunny, Democrats and the MSM never used words like "Battle" "Fight""Struggle" when we were attacked oh so many times.
They save those words for a country they loath.. Their own.