The Last Lion!

In an odd sort of way, death, or the prospect of dying (even the prospect someone else will die), is a great equalizer. It often transcends natural barriers such as age, race, class, and even political affiliation. For example, upon learning that Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy has a malignant brain tumor, Senator John McCain is quoted as having said Tuesday, "I have described Ted Kennedy as the last lion in the Senate," a tearful McCain said on his campaign bus in Florida. "And I have held that view because he remains the single most effective member of the Senate."

Wow, it is really difficult to fathom McCain making such a statement about one of the patriarchal figures of the Democratic Party, and the contemporary face of the American Liberalism movement, as we know it today. In fact, were it not for the unfortunate circumstance of Senator Kennedy’s recent diagnosis, it is fairly easy to envision the presumptive Republican nominee for president maligning Kennedy with the same fervent zeal he does the man Kennedy endorsed for president, Barack Obama.

By no means am I writing this piece as a premature obit for Ted Kennedy. It just seems McCain’s comments constitute pandering, for no reason. While Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton also made statements lauding Kennedy and the legacy he has constructed, they have not only both shared in that legacy, but both actively contributed toward building and expanding upon Kennedy’s work.

Senator Obama said Tuesday that it is "heartbreaking" to hear that Sen. Edward Kennedy is suffering from a brain tumor, crediting the ailing lawmaker with making it possible for him to run for president. Also Tuesday, Senator Clinton said that Kennedy's "courage and resolve are unmatched, and they have made him one of the greatest legislators in Senate history."

McCain, alternately, has been, as an ardent supporter and extension of George W. Bush, the antithesis of Kennedy. I admit, I do not know Mr. McCain, but from this vantage point, his comments seem contrived and unauthentic. In that light, it would seem he has done his party, himself, but more importantly all prospective voters, a rank disservice.

In a fit of election overload, I decided not to discuss the details of the Road to the White House this week. However, I would be remiss if I did not mention three points, quickly. First, Hillary won Kentucky in another anticipated walk-over, 65% to 30%. Second with 84% of precincts reporting, Obama’s lead in Oregon was 58% to 42%; not bad for a guy who is white voter-challenged vying in a state that is over 90% white, and less than 2% black. Perhaps Oregon whites just don’t work hard enough to know better. Third, despite the Kentucky drubbing, Obama’s camp announced that Barack had won enough Kentucky delegates to secure an absolute majority of pledged Democrats, well before Oregon polls closed. (Two weeks and three primaries left).

In thinking about a topic for this week, I considered the Democratic Primaries, the R. Kelly Sex Tape Case, and Senator Kennedy. There were no really new developments with the primaries. While the whole R. Kelly thing is titillating, it’s just getting started. If there is a story worth sharing, it will unfold at some later stage of the trial. The Kennedy story was already the most compelling of the three, but the McCain contribution took it over the top, considerably, for me.

That’s it; I’m done. Holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday.


http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/20/candidates.reax.kennedy/index.html

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/Health/story?id=4894479&page=1

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/20/national/main4109953.shtml

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24728667/

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080520/ap_on_go_co/kennedy_tumor

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/20/AR2008052001278.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR

http://www.kentucky.com/517/story/410741.html

http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/05/senate_draped_in_dispair_over.html

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view/2008_05_20_Sen__Kennedy_has_brain_tumor/srvc=home&position=0

http://www.charlotte.com/171/story/631829.html

http://www.newser.com/story/28042.html

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/20/primary.wrap/index.html