A Call From Senator Kennedy’s Widow - "Teddy's watching."

[jefferson_dem]

A Call From Senator Kennedy’s Widow
By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN

Moments after the vote to begin debate on the major health care legislation, a reporter asked the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, if he had spoken with President Obama.

“I was pretty well focused on getting the votes,” Mr. Reid said with a smile. “I took all senators’ calls but no one else’s.”

But there was someone else: Victoria Reggie Kennedy, the widow of Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, whose life’s work in the Senate was largely dedicated to the issue of health care.

Mr. Reid first mentioned the call in an aside to Senator Christopher J. Dodd, Democrat of Connecticut and one of Mr. Kennedy’s closest friends in the Senate, as they stood at a news conference after the vote. While Mr. Kennedy was battling cancer, Mr. Dodd stepped in as acting chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and helped shepherd the health care bill through a committee vote in July.

“She believes that Ted was watching,” Mr. Reid told Mr. Dodd.

Asked about the call, Mr. Reid said that Mrs. Kennedy had telephoned him in the Democratic cloakroom just after the 60 to 39 vote, which allows debate to begin on the Senate’s health care legislation.

“She called right after the vote,” Mr. Reid said. “I’ll remember the call always. She of course was crying pretty hard. We both felt that he’s watching us tonight.”

http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/21/a-call-from-senator-kennedys-widow/?

[bdamomma]

1. Teddy must be celebrating with his brothers.

[ChicagoSuz219]

20. Ironic that the vote was on the 21st...

the 20th was Bobby's Birthday & the 22nd is the anniverary of JFK's death...

[Cha]

2. If that isn't the most poignant

thing..my friend and I were talking about Teddy last Thursday night when she asked if I wanted to borrow his book..and we drifted to the current Health Care Legislation in the Senate and it being his life's work.

Thank you, Victoria Kennedy, for calling Senator Reid.

[derby378]

3. I just fear that Victoria will be disappointed with the final bill

I hope not, but there are valid reasons why so many progressive Democrats do not support health insurance reform as it currently stands.

[dflprincess]

4. Senator Kennedy's goal was health care for all

this was expressed in the prayers said at his funeral. He knew that insurance "coverage" wouldn't guarantee care and all this bill does is protect the insurance companies.

[Raine]

14. I agree

Teddy wanted to help the people not the insurance companies. :-(

[gateley]

5. Forgive me if this is inappropriate, but in reading this I'm reminded of the

close friendships Teddy had with members on both sides of the aisle. I'm thinking maybe a phone call from Mrs. Kennedy might help take the partisanship out of it and bring the focus back to the people in need?

[Iwillnevergiveup]

6. Not one single Republican vote

Not even Teddy's friend, Orin Hatch. Disgraceful.

[gateley]

10. Agree, although I honestly think Hatch believes in what he says. But others who

are just playing the anti-whatever-the-Dems-want game and know better might have been moved by a plea from her (if they were friends).

[impik]

15. Shame on them. And what about

Olympia Snowe? She couldn't vote to START a debate?

[bdamomma]

22. republicans are just for themselves. greedy

bastards.

[BlooInBloo]

7. I assume you're joking.

[gateley]

8. No, not at all. I'm thinking the personal touch from a friend might help

cut through the partisan crap.

It may be a bad idea, but "surely you're joking" discounts my honest inquiry. You could have just told me it's a bad idea - and why.

[BlooInBloo]

9. Ok: It's a bad idea because we're talking about republicans here.

Feel better?

[gateley]

11. Well, yeah. Now I know WHY you think it's a bad idea. I didn't know if there's

some protocol that would be shattered or what.

And actually, that's my point -- a lot of these republicans aren't that bad under the crusty surface. Well, SOME of them aren't, which is why I thought it might be worth a shot to appeal to them on a friend to friend, what would you tell Teddy if he was here, kind of thing.

[Cha]

12. Kick for Teddy~

[ZombieHorde]

13. Teddy watches us go to the bathroom. nt

[Lindsey]

16. Another kick for Teddy. n/t

[Vidar]

17. It's only a shame the bill isn't worthy of Teddy.

[Vinca]

19. But he would have voted to open discussion and he would vote

for its passage just to get the door open. The bill has all kinds of problems, but if we get a foot in the door and the dimmer among us realize government involvement will not turn us into something akin to Nazi Germany, we can add and subtract to it over the years.

[tavalon]

18. See my sig line

[PopSixSquish]

21. I Hope Teddy Shows Up in the Bedrooms of Nelson, Landrieu, Lincoln, and Smoe Lieberman

ala Jacob Marley and telling these fools that they will be visited by the Ghost of Campaigns Future and they will be voted out of office...

[RepublicanElephant]

23. k&r nt

[politicasista]

24. Kick for Uncle Ted

:kick: :patriot: