Posted on 05/05/2006 2:05:21 PM PDT by wcdukenfield
Patrick Kennedy & Double Standards 05/05 04:37 PM
I don't wish anyone ill, except our nation's enemies. It's a good thing that Patrick Kennedy is going back into rehab. But I am very angry.
For nearly three years we witnessed the persecution of Rush Limbaugh, who became addicted to painkillers resulting from back and neck problems. We witnessed leaks by prosecutors who spread lies about him being involved in money laundering, drug rings, and doctor shopping. But the media happily repeated them. Some mocked him.
Rush got help. He has been clean for years. And in most cases, when someone becomes addicted to prescription drugs for the first time, the matter is eventually dropped. Most jurisdictions have set up drug courts for this very purpose. But that didn't stop the state prosecutor in Palm Beach County from spending hundreds of thousands of tax dollars pursuing Rush.
Early on, prosecutors claimed they had evidence of over ten felonies. They demanded that Rush plead guilty to some felony—any felony. He refused, always insisting on his innocence. So, they leaked more lies to the media, hoping to intimidate him. They seized his medical records. They gave his medical records to the media. The media took those records and turned them into graphics for television. Reporters and commentators were studying his prescriptions, discussing both the kinds and amount of medicine he had taken. They were beside themselves with glee. Newsweek, AP and the Palm Beach Post, Rush's local paper, were especially vicious, serving as lap-dogs for the prosecutors.
In court, Rush fought these people every step of the way—all the way to the Florida Supreme Court. He spent millions of dollars defending himself—despite the fact that he had been a first-time abuser, went to rehab, and was clean. And then last October, the lead prosecutor sauntered into court and in response to questioning told the judge—we have no evidence that Rush Limbaugh has committed any crime! None.
So, I am very angry. You will hear commentator after commentator speaking sympathetically about Patrick Kennedy and his addiction to painkillers. You will hear people say that he is addicted, he has a serious health problem, he deserves to be praised for his forthrightness today, and we should leave him alone. And many of these commentators will be the same people who were giddy in their ceaseless attacks on Rush.
I am angry at the double standard, where liberals are regularly treated one way and conservatives another. I am also glad Patrick Kennedy won't be abused as Rush was. But you can be sure that the next conservative with a problem won't be treated like Kennedy.
But there are some aspects to the Kennedy matter that require answers. If Patrick Kennedy, who is not a first offender, is addicted to painkillers, from where did he get them? And there are news reports that he had been drinking earlier at a Capitol Hill bar and alcohol was later smelled on his breath. So, why was the officer on the scene prevented by more senior police officers from performing a routine sobriety test?
I truly wish Patrick Kennedy well. But you bet I'm angry.
end sarcasm
Has anyone compared the time from the accident to the press release to that of the Vice President's hunting accident? It would be a shame to let the press use double standards when they hammered the VP for "waiting so long to come forward". /sarc
Just heard on the news that the watch commander had be reassigned.He should have something more than that but I guess that is all that will happen.
She referred to the Kennedy family history of "battling" substance abuse, saying that Patrick is no different.
So he is a victim, right? Courageously ~battling~ this afliction? ~sarcasm~sarcasm~sarcasm~sarcasm~
I have seen the Kennedys battling the ~consequences~ of their substance abuse, thrill-seeking, lying, cheating, manslaughter, sexual predation, etc., etc. I have seen their army of lawyers and flaks battling mightily.
But the conduct itself? I couldn't say that they are battling....maybe Gloria knows. It seems to me that maybe they just enjoy doing what the heck they want using their special Kennedy pass to escape the consequences. Rather than battling, they must be enjoying themselves. They keep repeating the same behavior through generations and decades. They make me sick. And so does anyone who buys their whining, lying explanations.
Rush is a good man to speak as he did about patty boy today.
#1) and most important difference, Rush was not driving...
#2) Rush took full responsibility, admitted the problem, went to rehab.
#3) it still cost Rush tens of thousands of dollars and three years to even get a plea offer and he still had to spend minimal time in Jail... Kennedy did not even get a slap on the wrist... he got a lift home.
Damn it sure seems like each of the Kennedy's should be able to afford to have a full time driver in their employ to make sure there are no more DUI's
Was it, then, just a rumor that Patrick Kennedy first replied to the arresting officer -- that he was attending a Congressional hearing thingee (so he is excused from arrest)? Was that made up, and by whom?
He's an accomplished liar. Must be genetic.
Now tucked away in rehab, ... a victim.
Want to see voter fraud just wait until 2006 and 2008.. If 500,000 aliens both legal illegal and enablers will come out for a mere rally in L.A.. just wait for next election.. The democrats are mobilizing as we speak..
Yes, it crossed my mind from the very beginning (or at least from the beginning of Kennedy's "addicted to painkillers" defense) , that Rush may have ironically paved the way for people like Patrick Kennedy, who managed to be both judge, jury and no-executioner in the disposal of his own case.
Before anyone had a chance to do anything he announces, pre-emptively, that he is off the rehab, thereby taking himself of the hook, and putting on the hook a sign that reads "Case Closed" .
I'd like to know how the "higher ups" appeared on the scene so quickly, and took control.
I don't like most of the Kennedys, but in retrospect, both JFK Sr. and Jr. were good guys overall, and pretty fair- and open-minded.
Wow! Levin nailed it. And dittos.
Double standards: I doubt we'll see Howard Dean do an impression of Patrick Kennedy using the sounds of someone snorting cocaine like he did to Rush Limbaugh.
http://jednet207.tripod.com/PoliticalLinks.html
I totally agree with you.
True... when I was 16 I was told it would go down when I turned 21 and again when I turned 25... I never did...
My point was since Kennedy never got the DUI he deserved (for alcohol or drugs... one way or the other should have been a DUI) his insurance rates wont be going up over this...
Not only that - poor Patches just found out that Cindy Sheehan is his long-lost identical twin sister ;-)
Exactly right.
Of course he's lying... it's what they do to avoid responsibility and punishment.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.