The DNC Tribute to Ted Kennedy
September 5, 2012 4 Comments
At the Democratic National Convention last night, they played this video tribute to the late Ted Kennedy. It’s well put-together, with a few particularly effective elements.
For starters, the list of Teddy’s accomplishments reveals just how diametrically opposed his values were to those of Mitt Romney and the current Republican Party.
Expanded Civil Rights
Sponsored Voting Rights
Author of Immigration Reform
Author of Consumer Protection
Champion of Women’s Rights
The Leader for LBGT Rights
For Education and Job Training
For Raising the Minimum Wage
Fought to Protect Social Security and Medicare
Fought to Pass Patients’ Bill of Rights
Leader Against the War in Iraq
Family and Medical Leave Act
Children’s Health Care
The inclusion of debate footage between Kennedy and Romney is priceless. What are the Republicans supposed to do with clips like these?
ROMNEY: I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country. I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for twenty years, that we should sustain and support it. And I sustain and support that law and the right of a woman to make that choice.
KENNEDY: On the question of the choice issue, I have supported the Roe v. Wade. I am pro-choice. My opponent is multiple choice.
– Massachusetts Senatorial Debate, October 25, 1994.
It’s absolutely impossible for Republicans to deny that Kennedy was right, and it strikes at the heart of Romney’s credibility. (I know, I know — it’s not that he has any true credibility for those who know his history.)
I love that Kennedy can continue to speak for his values from beyond the grave. The implications of the following question are devastating…
KENNEDY: When, Mr. Romney, are you going to tell the people of Massachusetts which health care program you favor?
But really, there’s no way for Romney and the Republicans to answer any of this directly. They’re going to have to rely on misdirection, which has been their game plan all along. My fervent (foolish?) hope is that at least the traditional media were watching and learned a little about Romney’s history, as their attention span can be a bit…let’s say “lacking” at times….
Right on schedule, after I typed this up last night, RNC chairman Reince Preibus signaled how much that Kennedy video hurt by tweeting the following:
Classless Dems use tribute video of deceased Ted Kennedy to attack Mitt Romney.—
Reince Priebus (@Reince) September 04, 2012
My favorite response has been by Ezra Klein:
I, for one, am shocked that Democrats would inject politics into a video about politician Ted Kennedy during a political convention—
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) September 04, 2012
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Ironically, when Romney ran against Kennedy, he tried to run to the left of him on a bunch of issues. The press conveniently ignores all that.
I remember that fairly well, because I was living in Massachusetts at the time. It’s why I used to think of Romney as a mere flip-flopper, as opposed to a Machiavellian man beholden to the banks. Kennedy looked like he was in danger for a few moments, but it was mostly because he was off in Washington. He came home, proved that he still had the passion, and trounced Romney.
I think Priebus’s attack confirms what I suspected. Reagan is alive! He’s frozen w john Wayne.
This is to be shared worldwide !