Joseph P. Kennedy III, the grandson of Robert F. Kennedy and current Massachusetts congressional hopeful, and Vicki Kennedy, the wife of late senator Edward 'Ted' Kennedy, are both set to address the Democratic National Convention.
Kennedy III is running for the seat held by retiring Congressman Barney Frank and this will be his debut on the national stage, where he is scheduled to introduce a video tribute to his great uncle, the late Senator Ted Kennedy.
The appearance of Kennedy III is expected to remind the nation of why the family is famous in the first place, diverting attention from singer Taylor Swift’s romance with Conor Kennedy and the suicide of Mary Kennedy, RFK Jr’s estranged wife.
According to the Daily Mail, the Kennedys' appearances at the convention will be the first since Ted Kennedy's death in 2009. At the DNC in Denver in 2008 he made a barnstorming speech while battling a fatal brain tumor.
Former U.S. senator Paul Kirk, a longtime Kennedy family friend, told the Boston Herald that the convention gives Democrats a chance to pay tribute to the family's long and significant history..
'I would say, I'm going to predict that this may be the only convention for a while without an elected Kennedy,' Kirk concluded, referring to Kennedy III’s congressional race.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.EphraimKibbey | Sep 07, 2012, 03:24 PM EDT
Never let the facts get in the way of a good one-liner!
OldMariner | Sep 06, 2012, 05:38 PM EDT
I got to feel sorry for Obama. Here's his convention supposedly themed to rally the dems and independents for his re-election. Instead, Big Bill gives a rousing speech but it is geared for Hillary's run in 2016. Here's another Kennedy with family tribe in attendance geared to his election - and of course, the embarrassing spectacle of the very obvious negative voice vote on God and the Jerusalem question for inclusion in the party's platform.
BrianO | Sep 06, 2012, 11:28 AM EDT
Maybe he can be as good of a politician and public servant as Patrick Kennedy, pass the Ambien please.
irishcoffeekid | Sep 06, 2012, 09:58 AM EDT
People need to get over themselves and stop going over the old ground. So what if another Kennedy comes forward - i'm open to hearing what he has to say. You don't tarnish someone new coming up in politics because of his relations! You have no clue how good or otherwise he will be until you LISTEN to what he has to say! Get over yourselves and stop typecasting everyone with your issues about Ted, JFK, Robert etc. I'd vote for him if he's got what it takes to convince me - it has nothing to do with those before him. He's his own man, his voice has a right to be heard. Those of you who bury everyone because of history will never get far with your bias and insecurity and negativity - grow up!
Frosty38 | Sep 06, 2012, 08:31 AM EDT
Let me tell you. as a Cambridge Ma person. My sister with a child moved from our home state to Cailf with her daughter. She found out her husband was marring a person with a divorcee. She was back and forth from Boston to Cilf fighting child support. Gas and hotels and going to court. She contacted Ted and sat with him and he took care of it. Then she gor everything without the back and forth drive. So whatever you have to write about. Not everyone is a SAINT
EphraimKibbey | Sep 06, 2012, 01:38 AM EDT
Missing Tip O'Neal and Ted Kennedy right about now! Two really GOOD Americans of Irish decent.
borefield | Sep 05, 2012, 11:30 PM EDT
Pillinox04, are you for real ? Ted Kennedy had guts, really!. Your definition of guts and mine are very different, a person who left a young woman to die while he hid to sober up for over nine hours before he reported that he went over the bridge, that's guts?
alisaann | Sep 05, 2012, 05:57 PM EDT
i've seen the tribute video they plan to show....and it's WONDERFUL....it shows the debate between teddy and romney....where romney says he's for abortion and women's right to choose.....yet, NOW romney wants to BAN abortion for any reason.....ted kennedy faught for health care and many other things for the people....was he perfect?...NO, of course not....but, he was human...NO ONE IS HUMAN.....i HOPE that Joseph P. Kennedy III WINS his election....because WE NEED A KENNEDY FIGHTING FOR THE PEOPLE AGAIN. ALISA
pilib04 | Sep 05, 2012, 03:06 PM EDT
hooligan6a, you and Zell Miller are tools. As for fanatic PhlutiePhan, Healthcare for all is a RIGHT! The Pedophile Protecting Cardinals have their own sins to worry about.
hooligan6a | Sep 05, 2012, 02:59 PM EDT
pilib04, first, I am a Zell Miller Democrat, not a republican, so the RNC does not handle me. Second, I don't do Twitter or Facebook. A little paranoid are you?
PhlutiePhan | Sep 05, 2012, 12:53 PM EDT
@pilib04: Life is very complex and not black and white as Teddy made one believe. Health Care for all is great. However, read the "fine print" and it's attack on the Catholic faith. This is the faith that Teddy professed as did JFK and RFK at one time. Teddy became an alcoholic and lost all perspective on truth and honor.
BrianO | Sep 05, 2012, 12:38 PM EDT
We from massachusetts are finally rid of the kennedys, just when you think its safe to go outside another one wants to join the family business, let a generation or two make it on their own instead of off of the goverment teet.
darao | Sep 05, 2012, 12:08 PM EDT
I don't understand this ongoing obsession with bashing the Kennedys. Frankly almost nobody in Ireland cares these days about such ancient history. Joseph P. Kennedy III gave a positive speech focused on the needs of Americans. He is not Irish and really has no impact whatsoever on things in Ireland. Your headline adding amid scandals,spats and gossip smacks of low level tabloid trash journalism. Some posters even dredge up things from decades ago that are unrelated really to anything Irish. As President Higgins recently suggested -- "try to build something positive instead of just being a wanker dragging things down " (paraphrased). The democrats and their convention is all about trying to make the great U.S. a better place - something your journalistic style could learn from.
Edward McDonald | Sep 05, 2012, 11:48 AM EDT
Now, if I'm clear here, isn't this Joe The Third the child his father would have disavowed as a bastard because he wanted a 'church wedding' for his 2nd marriage?? Oh my, what America's First Family of Sociopaths will do for Heavenly validation. Apparently his "Hun" first wife would have nothing of such nonsense and put the whammy on that. How dare she not want her children deemed bastards?!!? Such boldness in the face of Divinity!!!
pilib04 | Sep 05, 2012, 11:24 AM EDT
hooligan6a, I was wondering when the RNC would put out the alert. Do your handlers have you on Twitter?
hooligan6a | Sep 05, 2012, 11:14 AM EDT
I wonder what the wife of the murderer will have to say? Remember, Teddy ran away and left Mary Jo, to drown in that car. He did not report that she was there, for 9 hours. Yeah, he is a real hero. The "Lion of the Senate". And let's not forget, he never reported, that his nephew raped a young girl down in Florida. A real Lion.
pilib04 | Sep 05, 2012, 11:05 AM EDT
Jamthecat, excellent point. If not for Ted and Bobby Kennedy, who would stand up for the poor, the abused and the neglected of this great country of ours?
pilib04 | Sep 05, 2012, 11:03 AM EDT
Joseph Patrick Kennedy III was great doing the introduction of the film about his Uncle Ted. It was simply amazing watching him speak. And then the film about Teddy. It reminded us of the guts Ted had in pursuing national healthcare throughout his life. Little wonder he spent such energy on President Obama's campaign. Healthcare really was Ted's Holy Grail. What a tribute! "For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die." Ted Kennedy, 1980 Democratic Convention speech.
jamthecat | Sep 05, 2012, 10:45 AM EDT
Whether you agree with their private lives or not, and sometimes members of the clan have behaved very badly, the Kennedys have done more for America's poor and middle class and Democracy in general than any other family of politicians. Of course, that's not going to stop the Kennedy-haters, who bring up even the most innocuous actions to bash the family while ignoring even worse ones committed by family members of politicians they like.
TisEyerish | Sep 05, 2012, 10:11 AM EDT
I believe that the Kennedys should stay at home. They have proven themselves over and over again to be worthless people with an extreme lack of morals. Please let these people fade into the background and keep them there. As to Taylor Swift...I have been a big fan of her's, both for her music and her personal life...but what the heck is a 22 year old doing dating a high school senior? That's just wrong.