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 felonyany 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 wayall the way to the Florida Supreme Court. He spent millions of dollars defending himselfdespite 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 judgewe 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.
And whatever happened to that case?
There is a double standard in effect for Kennedys.
The MSM loves 'American Royalty'.
Patches should resign in disgrace but that won't happen because DemonRATs never resign no matter how disgraceful they behave. Clinton set that standard & others follow his lead!
Yep. That's what he said on Thursday, today he can't recall even getting out of bed, among other things.
Wrong. Rush doesn't have a driver.
If he's anything like his dad, it's Chivas.
The hypocrisy of these people is unbelievable. What bugs me is that the cop didn't give him a sobriety test, and reliedon his explanation about taking painkillers. The only thing I can think of is that these people are above the law. I just can't imagine anyone doing what he did and and not taking a sobriety test.
Truth and honesty.
I should have asked first instead of assuming...thanx BigSky.
The fact his story changed when this began to unravel in the press is a sure thing he's lying. That, and the fact his name is a Kennedy.
Patrick looks more like
William Weld than Teddy
Yeah. If it was you, me, or anyone else here, we'd be subjected to a sobriety test based on the fact that we couldn't stand up without stumbling all over the place.
But he can get away with it, because he is a Liberal and a Kennedy.
Only because our side sits around all day analyzing, drawing comparisons, and pontificating over the situation, rather than hunting these repugnant liberal bastards down, and executing due justice.
That's how you get results.
The police give him a pass, the media gives him a pass, and it looks more and more like the Republicans are giving him a pass.
The Kennedy's have a long storied history of outrageous, lewd, crude and boorish behavior. That's a given.
Just once, I'd like to see our side have some spine.
I totally agree with that. It bothers me their passivity and asskissing - just bugs me bigtime.
Exactly. They're always sucking up to liberals, then liberals turn around and hand their heads back to them on a filthy dinner plate.
That's about it.
We need the whole "dope" on the identity of the painkillers.
And, as someone earlier in the thread asked, from whom is this lawmaker obtaining illegal amounts of prescription painkillers?
Phrased another way, just who is the "DR. FEELGOOD" (JFK's drug supplier) for this lawmaker?
Also, and I'm sure someone must have asked this...
If the "Honorable" Rep. Kennedy doesn't remember the events surrounding the collision -- THEN -- how can he remember NOT asking for special treatment from the arresting officers?
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Tag Line Alpha
Democrats - - the party of blames, lies, accusations, and subversion. The once great party of Roosevelt now chooses Stalin.
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