The Kennedy Effect

It is interesting to see that all of the democratic candidates have kept Ted Kennedy at arms length. They well know that Ted Kennedy is not John Kennedy. John Kennedy is held in high esteem even by many republicans. Ted Kennedy is a stinking albatross around the neck of the Democratic Party. Not that they disagree with him, he is just a tremendous liability on many points: Ted Kennedy was a strong supporter of the 1965 Hart-Celler Act — signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson — which dramatically changed US immigration policy.[17] "The bill will not flood our cities with immigrants. It will not upset the ethnic mix of our society. It will not relax the standards of admission. It will not cause American workers to lose their jobs." (We all know that was a bust.) Add Chappaquiddick 1969, losing his bid to unseat Carter for the 1980 nomination, being a divorced Catholic, and the McCain-Kennedy bill which would further erode our nationality. There have also been repeated Kennedy family alcohol and drug abuse stories in the headlines. Not to mention stories of abuse of women by the Kennedy’s. It is no wonder that he is “neutral” in the primary. There is simply too much baggage for the candidates, none of who want or need his “endorsement”. Ted is a pathetic, though still dangerous, shadow of the Kennedy legacy. His only play in the 2008 campaign would be if Romney were to win the republican nomination. And then it will be a very limited play. Can you say damage prevention?