Teddy's Power

[MadBadger]

January 27, 2008
Read More: Barack Obama

Teddy's power


A reader writes:

My mother is a die-hard, working class, union Democrat who, up to now, wouldn't consider Obama if the good Lord himself told her to. But she will now, because, well, the good Lord is telling her to.





By Ben Smith 05:18 PM


http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0108/Teddys_power.html#comments

[gateley]

1. That endorsement would probably hold a lot of weight with my parents, too. nt

[MadBadger]

2. Wont hold anything with mine

My dad doesnt exactly care for Teddy.

[gateley]

8. Probably because he's not an Irish Catholic from Boston, like my parents

were. Quite a clique! :hi:

[Bitwit1234]

3. AND my senior citizen group which reaches from

North Dakota thru Michigan and beyond is raising heck they want to move to Mass so they can vote Kennedy and Kerry out of office. They say they are both traitors and I can't blame them.

[Occam Bandage]

4. "They say they are both traitors and I can't blame them."

:eyes:

[MadBadger]

5. Traitors to who twit?

[thevoiceofreason]

6. Funny

My Dad called and said he had to re-think his position on Obama. Said he wasn't aware that any "older folks" were backing him. This is big on that issue.

[OmahaBlueDog]

7. Teddy

I got myself in trouble for talking about this earlier, but I will say it again.

Outside of Mass. (where he can do no wrong), Teddy is probably not our best PR figure. An Al Gore endorsement would mean something. Teddy -- he's been a champion of the working poor and downtrodden (which is great), but all I (and a lot of other folks) can think of is Chappy when his name comes up. I personally wish he'd be seen and heard from less often.

[foo_bar]

9. my aunt is a die-hard, Catholic-raised, union Democrat

She's also an outspoken feminist (and "recovering" Catholic) and goes on The Nation cruise, and supports or supported John Edwards for reasons not fully explicated, but when she talks about Ted Kennedy there's a reverential air generally reserved by practicing Catholics for saints. She's Irish, but never lived in Massachusetts, and presumably reveres Teddy for historical/lefty reasons more than Irish-American solidarity (although the connection can't hurt, but for all I know it's the St. Augistinian archetype of repentance through good deeds), so I anticipate some juicy dinner table conversation.

LET'S SAY you're a political gumshoe and the question before you is this: Who does Edward M. Kennedy think would make the best president of the United States?

Other than Edward M. Kennedy, that is.

The state's senior senator has worked with nine presidents. And he has served in the Senate with six of the Democratic candidates. So his perspective would be well worth having.

A logical place to start would be by asking Kennedy himself. Ah, but there you would run into Stephanie Cutter, Kennedy's iron curtain, who would politely inform you that the senator is focused on Senate business, "is not likely to endorse at this time," and will not consent to an interview.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/11/09/in_search_of_kennedys_endorsement/ (11/2007)