The Legacy Of Edward Kennedy

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Sen. Ted Kennedy's Legacy

At times, it seemed Kennedy and his abundant energy would last for years. But last May, he suffered a seizure at his Cape Cod home and was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.

By August 2009, he was too ill to appear in public and missed the funeral for his sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and his being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama.

Kennedy is credited with several legislative efforts, most notably in the fields of civil rights, welfare and education. He was key to passing Head Start as part of the 1964 Economic Opportunity Act, the centerpiece of the War on Poverty. Kennedy fought for Title IX equal access for women and more student aid for GIs .

He proposed increases in minimum wage, championed the Family and Medical Leave Act, shepherded the No Child Left Behind Act, led the fight for passage of hate crimes legislation and sought protections against discrimination for gays and women.

He supported nuclear reduction treaties, enlisted labor unions and backed unrestricted access to abortion even in late term and for teens crossing state lines. He also stood proud despite some failures, including sponsorship of the Equal Rights Amendment, support for a doomed immigration reform bill and opposition to the Iraq war and several Supreme Court nominees, including current Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito.

He has spent the better part of his career trying to institute a nationalized health care program though he has been absent this year as Congress debates President Obama's plan, which was largely embraced in a Senate version with Kennedy's name on it.

Despite his inability to sway the daily debate, Kennedy's legacy will live on.

During the Aug. 15 Presidential Medal of Freedom award ceremony, Obama recalled a story the senator frequently told of an old man who throws starfish back into the sea even though each toss made only a small difference in the big picture.

Obama said for 50 years Ted Kennedy has been "making a difference for that soldier fighting for freedom, that refugee looking for a way home, that senior searching for dignity, that worker striving for opportunity, that student aspiring to college, that family reaching for the American Dream. The life of Senator Edward M. Kennedy has made a difference for us all."

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/26...ennedys-legacy/

[The Dude 206]

I imagine a vast majority of Fox News viewers won't ever see past his car accident. Sad really.

[_Simpson_ 250]

I imagine a vast majority of Fox News viewers won't ever see past his car accident. Sad really.

I realize that we need to be respectful of his death but to start singing his praises I will never

[The Dude 206]

I imagine a vast majority of Fox News viewers won't ever see past his car accident. Sad really.

I realize that we need to be respectful of his death but to start singing his praises I will never

And I suspect you know little of the mans resume, let alone his life.

[_Simpson_ 250]

I imagine a vast majority of Fox News viewers won't ever see past his car accident. Sad really.

I realize that we need to be respectful of his death but to start singing his praises I will never

And I suspect you know little of the mans resume, let alone his life.

You are wrong, I do. I know more about his politics than his personal life.

[almaty 19]

yes, he helped the disabled and pushed the fmla./.that allot of americans use....and need,,,

Edited August 26, 2009 by almaty

[Niels Bohr 72]

I'm sure simpson benefited from the minimum wage increase. I'm sure simpson had benefited from Kennedy. I'm not so sure if Kennedy benefited from Simpson.

[_Simpson_ 250]

I'm sure simpson benefited from the minimum wage increase. I'm sure simpson had benefited from Kennedy. I'm not so sure if Kennedy benefited from Simpson.

I hope your not trying to get me to jump on the Ted Kennedy band wagon because its just not going to work my good dear sweet friend.

Edited August 26, 2009 by -Simpson-

[HAL 9000 96]

yes, he helped the disabled and pushed the fmla./.that allot of americans use....and need,,,

Definitely no praises for that.

[_Simpson_ 250]

yes, he helped the disabled and pushed the fmla./.that allot of americans use....and need,,,

Definitely no praises for that.

Bush has done some good things, are you going to start praising him.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

yes, he helped the disabled and pushed the fmla./.that allot of americans use....and need,,,

Definitely no praises for that.

Bush has done some good things, are you going to start praising him.

Did Bush die as well?

[spookyturtle 9,465]

yes, he helped the disabled and pushed the fmla./.that allot of americans use....and need,,,

Definitely no praises for that.

Bush has done some good things, are you going to start praising him.

Besides startng two wars and destroying the economy, name two.

[HAL 9000 96]

yes, he helped the disabled and pushed the fmla./.that allot of americans use....and need,,,

Definitely no praises for that.

Bush has done some good things, are you going to start praising him.

Lets see the context.

Without that, all you have is the party blinders.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The Bush administration did do a lot to combat HIV/AIDS in the developing world. It's too bad that they allowed their legislation to be influenced counter-productive abstinence-only #######.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

yes, he helped the disabled and pushed the fmla./.that allot of americans use....and need,,,

Definitely no praises for that.

Bush has done some good things, are you going to start praising him.

Besides startng two wars and destroying the economy, name two.

[Kennedy]...shepherded the No Child Left Behind Act,

A Bush initiative, I do believe.