THE PLANK AUGUST 29, 2009
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It was not one of his more epic speeches--to me Obama's remarks seemed intentionally understated. Obama knows he's capable of stealing any show, but this was a day for the family to shine (and Teddy, Jr. was the clear star). I also thought it immensely wise, if not terribly surprising, that he resisted flicking at the politics of health care reform. (While other Democrats, most surprisingly including HHSÂ Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, have been explicit about turning health care into a Kennedy crusade, the White House hasn't gone anywhere near that theme.)
This was my favorite part:
Through his own suffering, Ted Kennedy became more alive to the plight and suffering of others - the sick child who could not see a doctor; the young soldier sent to battle without armor; the citizen denied her rights because of what she looks like or who she loves or where she comes from. The landmark laws that he championed -- the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, immigration reform, children's health care, the Family and Medical Leave Act -all have a running thread. Ted Kennedy's life's work was not to champion those with wealth or power or special connections. It was to give a voice to those who were not heard; to add a rung to the ladder of opportunity; to make real the dream of our founding. He was given the gift of time that his brothers were not, and he used that gift to touch as many lives and right as many wrongs as the years would allow.
5 comments
BO [the president not the dog]: Ted Kennedy's life's work was not to champion those with wealth or power or special connections. It was to give a voice to those who were not heard.... george: Indeed, we have President Obama's own economic policies to note how he is intent on carrying on in the tradition of Ted Kennedy. Barack is clearly more committed to giving, "a voice to those who [are] not heard" on Main Street than to amping up the volume on the bullhorn, "of those with wealth or power or special connections" on a couple of other streets we are all familiar with. Right. How do politicians like Obama not choke on words like this? Or maybe occasions like this will always remain less ironic inside the church than outside it. Watching these things, though, you can't help but imagine wistfully how grand and glorious the world would be if what is said on the inside could be said on the outside and not elicit chortling guffaws from those who still take irony seriously. george
- iambiguous
August 29, 2009 at 3:52pm
- Yes, it could have been better, but:
- The guy was on vacation and all eyes were on him. He probably does his best writing with a smoke and couldn't sneak off and burn one.
- He only had a short personal history with Teddy. No sailing stories - no metaphor.
- An interesting tale would have involved the endorsement during the primary and surely pissed off the Clintons.
- After dozens of great speeches, everything had been said.
-- michael
August 30, 2009 at 10:34am
- If anyone missed it, John Culver's was Comedy Central quality: -
- michael
August 30, 2009 at 10:50am
... (and Teddy, Jr. was the clear star)... Yeah sure: we can't rest till we know who the star was, clearly.
- basman
August 30, 2009 at 8:14pm
I agree with you, michael crowley. The eulogy was understated, but it was fine. In times like this i harken back to what president clinton said at nixon's funeral, which went something like "The triflings of life seperate us, but in the higher things we are all one." At this very site, i've commented negatively on kennedy's actions after chappaquidick, but i can see where he spent the rest of his life making up for it, in his way. It doesn't excuse what he did (or didn't do) but it counts for something in my book.
- wldctfan142
August 31, 2009 at 11:32am