Heard the apologists falling all over themselves yesterday on (Patches)Kennedy's behalf. Bob Becke on Fox: "He's a good guy. It's a disease. Besides, he's manic depressive." (So give him a break. However, Patches swears he wasn't drinking, although the cop said he smelled alcohol when Kennedy got out of the car. Howie Carr on WRKO says this is the second serious traffic accident in three weeks for Patches, who isn't the brightest bulb in the box. And then there's Patch's mother, who's life is a wreck, thanks to alcohol and having been married to Fatso.
Hannity on Fox said the accident reminded him of Fatso and Chappaquidick, where Fatso left a young woman to drown in that car, didn't inform cops until the morning, 9 hours later, although he burned up the motel phone lines all night with some 45 calls to his lawyers. Beckel said, basically, "Tut, tut, no comparison." But there certainly is a valid comparison, and it has to do with the myth of the Kennedy curse, privilege, power, and stupidity. Everyone has given that family a pass for everything in life that requires self control, denial, or effort. There are absolutely no consequences for a Kennedy for drunk driving, even if someone is killed.
All their lives people cover up for them -- cheating at school, doing drugs, underage drinking, whatever. Those standards and rules keep us from harm, they help us develop character, integrity, the things needed to meet life's challenges, and the Kennedy's lose out in the long run. John Kennedy Jr. died with his wife and sister in law because he wasn't experienced enough to fly his plane, but his instructor didn't feel able to say NO, to insist on flying them himself that evening. So they're all dead. There is no 'Kennedy curse'. It's stupidity. Over and over again.
Two weeks ago a kid in my town in MA. drove home from an afternoon of good times and a few beers, and on a dark winding road, crossed the center line and hit another car head-on, killing the passenger and her unborn child. This is a good kid, no record, never been in trouble. His family is the salt of the earth, but the cops will throw the book at him. He won't get out of prison for years. His life is over. Patches Kennedy should thank God he didn't kill anyone two nights ago. But, never mind, he 'wasn't drinking'. It was 'an accident. He mixed up prescription drugs, Ambion and whatever.' The cops on the case weren't allowed to administer a field sobriety test, a supervisor pulled them off the case, and Patches was driven home. (If I were Cynthia Mckinney, I'd be screaming bloody murder. Where's Jesse Jackson?)