Obama Flashback: Ted Kennedy Is Old and Needs a Spine

[boston bean]

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/01/obama-flashback.html

January 28, 2008 7:34 PM

So, apparently, JFK has been reborn. Who knew?

Barack Obama was understandably appreciative of Ted Kennedy passing the torch to him today.

A few years ago, though, Obama wasn't as appreciative of the liberal lion.

Attending a 2003 AFL-CIO forum, the then-state senator took issue with the prescription drug bill Congress was putting together, which Kennedy was helping to negotiate.

"We gotta call not just Republicans," Obama said. "We gotta call up Ted Kennedy, and say, 'Ted, you're getting a little old now, and maybe, you been a fighter for us before. I don't know what's happening right now, Ted, get some spine. Stand up to the Republicans."

Watch the video HERE.

Ouch.

[Clarkansas]

1. TK must REALLY dislike Hillary then I guess.

Good for Obama.

[Adelante]

9. Good one

:thumbsup:

[robbedvoter]

21. Power struggle betweeen the families. Obama is just the football this time.

[joshcryer]

30. I said it early on, Obama would be a very easy candidate to manipulate.

[Occam Bandage]

39. Where's the manipulation?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Evidently Ted has forgiven him.

So why bring this up now? If it doesn't bother Ted, why should it bother us?

[Beaverhausen]

8. hint- it's not about Ted. It's about Obama and that flip-flop thing

[Occam Bandage]

36. What flip-flop? He said TK needed to stand up to the Republicans. TK apparently agreed.

[Beaverhausen]

45. Obama wants to work with republicans! He thinks they are the party with the ideas

geez- pay attention, will ya?

[Occam Bandage]

46. Here, you missed this:

:sarcasm:

[Egnever]

3. Wow look he was right again!

Good judgement O

[stray cat]

4. stand up to the republicans sounds like a decent admonishment

how often do people including senators agree on every thing. Thats only the republicans who act like lemmings and follow the leader off the cliff.

[cali]

5. It clearly didn't bother Teddy- at all, and he's the one Obama's words

were directed at.

[Maven]

6. 2003? That's, like, ancient history dude!

;)

[journalist3072]

7. Oh shit please tell me he didn't say that. Wow...eom

[boston bean]

11. watch the video in the link. nt

[tammywammy]

12. Obviously telling Kennedy to stand up to the republicans

is horrible.

:eyes:

[Tarc]

22. Obviously hypocrisy is acceptable in the Obama camp

[tammywammy]

26. ...

:eyes:

[MoonRiver]

10. Maybe Ted is suffering from memory problems.

That could explain things.

[CreekDog]

32. *You* are suffering memory problems, ultimately Kennedy voted against the bill

He tried to work with Republicans to fashion a bill he could support, but frustratingly ended up opposing it after he could not make it the leglislation the way he wanted it to be.

He had quite the spine.

[MoonRiver]

40. I'm talking about Obama's insults toward him.

Sheeeh, such a sensitive little baby.

[CreekDog]

42. Actually that shows character, not faulty memory

And Kennedy, rather than being insulted by a comment Obama made in his direction, was instead insulted by what the Clintons did to the voters in general.

[Flabbergasted]

13. Perhaps because, as often happens, the moment was taken of of context.

Kennedy was not offended at the statment. He knew Obama was trying to get the issue moving in the right direction.

[tammywammy]

16. A quote taken out of context

On DU?!?!?! Never!

[Meshuga]

14. Send this to Ted Kennedy to see if he cares

He apparently doesn't care. So why would anybody else care?

[Avalux]

15. Teddy probably admires that tenacity in Obama. Why not?

It probably made him laugh.

[rinsd]

17. Hey that was 4 years ago, way before Obama even became a Senator

[Buzz Clik]

18. Jealous?

You'll get over it.

[Nailzberg]

19. Teddy knew what he meant.

Come on, Ted. Gather your sword and shield, we need you in the fight.


A lot of the old guard Dems have tired of the battles the last two decades have forced them to fight. And along comes this new, young, energetic officer riding onto the battlefield. Teddy got the message, he wasn't offended.

[Bread and Circus]

20. I think it's up to Ted Kennedy to decide the merits of that statement

and apparently he's ok with it.

And like someone else said he must REALLY NOT LIKE Hillary and I would imagine it's for a good reason.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

23. OH SNAP

[bidenista]

24. "you're getting a little old now"

Ugh. That does sound ageist and patronizing. Still, TK obviously saw past it - assuming he was aware.

[mckeown1128]

43. Clinton supporters find a nice time to talk of ageism...

If I had a nickle for every characterization of Obama supporters as just "pimple faced youngsters" I would be able run to out bid romney for the repuke nomination. All here on DU is how young and misguided Obama supporters are. Give me a break.

[bidenista]

48. i'm not a "clinton supporter"

But you enjoy your whine. Some cheese to go with it?

[joshcryer]

25. Damn, video link here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlvJ8bA6_xA

Wow.

[joshcryer]

27. HOLY CRAP THIS THREAD EXPLODED IN 2 MINUTES

Damn when I posted there were no replies.

[CreekDog]

28. Obama was right and so was Kennedy. He voted against the bill, ultimately.

Try reciting the full story next time.

That will have less impact, but it is more honest.

But thanks for playing. :hi:

[Occam Bandage]

29. I suppose he respects Obama's fire.

[WillyT]

31. Well...He Is Old... His Spine, I Wouldn't Know...

:shrug:

[ProSense]

33. Kennedy and Obama discussing Hillary:

Click image for more!

[Skip Intro]

34. Yep. I love TK, but think he might have had one too many. nt

[Joe the Revelator]

35. You guys are getting super desperate

Trotting this stuff out again.

[THUNDER HANDS]

37. you mean watch that 13 second video

that doesn't have any context or any part of his speech that came after that, or indicates whether or not he was joking?

[Proud2BAmurkin]

38. Funniest find of the day. Thanks.

[ErnestoG]

41. The Senator with the longest running liberal record needs a spine?

Wow, are you recommending yourself as his personal trainer and life coach too?

[Bluebear]

44. "You're getting a little old now." More inclusive language of HOPE from Obama.

[Lucinda]

47. I forgot all about that.

Hmmmmm.......curious.

[boston bean]

49. I almost did. nt

[ecstatic]

50. It would be interesting to see which DUers bashing Obama over this

were just bashing Kennedy. Faux outrage much?

[lojasmo]

51. Kudoes to both of them...

To obama for speaking truth to power, and to Kennedy for recognizing courage and leadership in Obama.

[sjdnb]

52. A Kennedy played like a fiddle

but, after NCLB, the Medicare fiasco, and all the other nuzzling up/supporting TK did of Bush during Bush's first term, I'm can't say I'm surprised.

[Gloria]

53. Kennedy ain't the only one being played....

[cooolandrew]

54. Clearly they have setteled their differences since then.

[cooolandrew]

Sounds good to me if Barack is going to straight talk his party.

[cooolandrew]

55. Sounds good to me if Barack is going to straight talk his party.

[smalll]

56. The O-man exhibits a pattern of ageism. He drops these little generational bombs

quite regularly it seems.

[jackson_dem]

57. Yup but the media never calls him on it right now. They will if he is the nominee

[Proud2BAmurkin]

58. "you're getting old"

[BigBearJohn]

59. So, Obama spits in TK's eye and TK now endorses him? Sounds neurotic to me.

All the more reason to support John Edwards.
I used to admire Kennedy. No longer.

[Hoof Hearted]

60. Ouch indeed. n/t