NEW YORK BOSTON |#Popular: Irish Celebrity Gossip Irish in US Politics Irish Festivals Irish Roots Irish Entertainment Offbeat Irish

Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > Ted Kennedy's gamble on Obama pays off as health care passes

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Ted Kennedy's gamble on Obama pays off as health care passes

Posted on Sunday, March 21, 2010 at 11:47 PM

Larger Text

E-mail

41 Comments

RSS

Archives

Somewhere Ted Kennedy is smiling.

His gamble on choosing Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton for President has paid off. The relentless Obama focus on health care, a legacy from Kennedy, has made possible the historic vote on health care which passed the House tonight.

There was a poignant moment tonight when Speaker Nancy Pelosi made an impassioned plea for the passage of the health care bill, and spoke emotionally about Kennedy's posthumous letter to Obama pleading for health care passage to be his legacy.

That looked like a failed dream when Sen. Scott Brown took the Kennedy seat, to the consternation of the Kennedy family.

But a few weeks is a long time in politics, and tonight Pelosi cobbled together a majority that ensured that the greatest change in health care since Medicare was passed will now become law.

Off to the side, watching Pelosi's speech, was Rep. Patrick Kennedy -- now in the last few months of his time in the House. As soon as Pelosi was finished, she strode over and embraced him.

They both knew Ted Kennedy's legacy is now secure. His wife Vicki issued an immediate statement saying it was the culmination of his life's efforts.

It is a sad he did not live to see his greatest legislative priority come into being.

But no doubt, he would have deflected the praise as he always did to others.

Nonetheless, history was made on health care tonight -- and in many ways, we have the Lion of the Senate, Ted Kennedy, to thank.

E-mail

41 Comments

15 - 41 | See all comments

killowen | Mar 27, 2010, 10:45 AM EDT

The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act, otherwise known as CLASS, provides for a national insurance program to help cover the cost of long-term care

Report abuse

irishathens | Mar 26, 2010, 11:53 AM EDT

I posted a right of reply to IrishAndProud...where is it?

Report abuse

shuvonn | Mar 25, 2010, 05:41 PM EDT

I am mystified how people can want the right to bear arms but those same people think that having health insurance that is affordable is forced upon them? There is not one law that is passed without some back room dealing and DEMOCRACY means that if there is a majority vote on something it passes. And IF you do not agree with something and it gets voted in by a legitimately voted in MAJORITY, that IS democracy, and tough !

Report abuse

IrishAndProud | Mar 24, 2010, 03:12 PM EDT

FYI, irishathens, the American people have always been the most generous there's ever been, through charity, giving and reconstruction (and still are) -- and we didn't get there by imitating YOUR socialism. If it wasn't for us, you'd be speaking GERMAN, now, and there would BE no Ireland.

Report abuse

IrishAndProud | Mar 24, 2010, 03:09 PM EDT

irishathens, like a typical hard-core leftist you define compassion as confiscating people's hard-earned money and using it to pay for government entitlement programs which they did not want, cannot afford and which bankrupt the next two generations. 'Compassion', to you, is taking my money to pay for your politics. You call r-ping taxpayers 'compassion.'

Report abuse

irishathens | Mar 24, 2010, 11:28 AM EDT

Ted Kennedy did not gamble. I think he remarkably analysed a situation. He judged Obama's previous work, met with and had a long conversation with him and realised they were in fact walking on the same road. I didn't fully realise until now that the American people are so money orientated..Have they forgotten compassion and fellowship?

Report abuse

IrishAndProud | Mar 23, 2010, 11:12 PM EDT

And hyattsville...why should the government take what little money I have to involuntarily pay for others, all the time? Remember, this is MY money you'r talking about confiscating, for this rag of a bill. That's the big difference: I may choose to be generous with my money -- and an Obamanik ALSO chooses to be generous with my money.

Report abuse

IrishAndProud | Mar 23, 2010, 11:09 PM EDT

Further, killowen, your giddy praise of The One is so utterly over-the-top and over-done, it's frankly embarrassing. Work on containing that excessive excitement, just a bit. Perhaps you should re-name yourself OVERKILLowen.

Report abuse

IrishAndProud | Mar 23, 2010, 11:06 PM EDT

(cont'd) This farce won't even be implemented for four years (though the taxes of course will kick in, much sooner). Fortunately no 'victory' is permanent; the Dems have a megatsunami headed their way, this November...which I'm only smiling, about. They don't even see it coming.

Report abuse

IrishAndProud | Mar 23, 2010, 11:05 PM EDT

No, it won't be accepted, 'derrylass.' The MAJORITY (not just 'some') of the American people opposed -- and still oppose -- this nonsense. Obama's approval rating (just today, mind you) from CNN is the LOWEST, EVER...and Pelosi is only polling 11% approval. The only ones this thing was a 'victory' over is the majority of the country, who were steamrolled to pass it.

Report abuse

hyattsville | Mar 23, 2010, 04:46 PM EDT

Yeah how dare the uninsured expect access to some form of health insurance say the insured and healthy, until they become unemployed and uninsurable owing to a pre-existing condition!

Report abuse

Derrylass627 | Mar 23, 2010, 11:22 AM EDT

This landmark legislation will prove to be a Godsend to millions of Americans and over time will be accepted by many of the nay-sayers. It's too bad that some of the people who opposed healthcare reform are such sore loosers and unable to accept what is and get on with their business. They act like sulky babies! Congratulations to the U.S. Senate and Congress and everyone who supported health care reform.

Report abuse

killowen | Mar 23, 2010, 11:13 AM EDT

No other family gave so much except perhaps the O'Sullivan brothers. Audie Murphy was hero of WWII. Cite some others on us - who've done great things - MLK comes to mind and John Barry Father of American Navy, not that John Paul (added Jones to hide) who was a true mercenary who went off to serve in Russia while Barry stayed true to his American cause. Mason fellow Jones gets elevated with body shipped over from France and buried in Indianapolis.

Report abuse

killowen | Mar 23, 2010, 11:10 AM EDT

Obama the Profiles In Courage winner for CHANGE true to his promise. Awesome human in spite of his Masters voice. The average citizen does what he's programmed to do. The Repugs ruined the country to name but; Nixon and the Bushies. Lucky that McSame and Palin pair got pushed to the curb. History will be very good to what the Kennedy family brought to this land.

Report abuse

porkheaven | Mar 22, 2010, 10:13 PM EDT

This a bad thing for the US and never though that Ted Kennedy was a great man he should have served time in prison. The average citizen is not in favor the big O is ruining our country and thinks he is the anointed one.

Report abuse