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The passing of the greatest Kennedy
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The Lion of the Senate, Ted Kennedy has passed at the age of 77, after 47 years in the United States Senate.
He was a man born to extraordinary wealth and power. Instead of dedicating his life to protecting that wealth and power, he, like his older brothers, chose to become a servant to the people of Massachusetts and to the people of our nation.
He never reached the office of the Presidency, like his brother John. He never acheived the near cult status of his brother Bobby. Ted Kennedy's life wasn't shrouded in glamour, as were his brothers'. Instead, his legacy is one of vast accomplishments, compassion and passion.
He was famous for fighting selfless battles. He fought for civil rights. He fought for human rights around the world. He fought for education. He fought for the minimum wage. He fought for veterans and for the environment. He fought for seniors. If he saw inequality in the world, he fought to stop it.
Nearly all of Kennedy's programs were met with doomsday scenarios from the Republican side of the aisle. There were fears that they would bankrupt the country, bankrupt small businesses and change our country forever. The first two predictions never came to pass, but they might have been right about the third prediction. The country was changed by Ted Kennedy, and I am grateful.
In the end, he was fighting two battles, one for quality health insurance for all, and perhaps ironically, one for his own life. He lost the second battle today. The first is still being fought, with the same doomsday predictions of his previous accomplishments. Passing a quality healthcare bill, with a strong public option will be the only fitting tribute.
R.I.P. Senator Edward M. Kennedy 1932-2009
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