Posted on 05/06/2006 5:31:24 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
May 6, 2006
Let's imagine it was, oh, Karl Rove who had been involved in a car accident under circumstances identical to those surrounding Patrick Kennedy. Think the Today show would be focusing on his 'courage' and largely taking at face value his claim that prescription medicines caused the crash? Or would they be asking another question: was Kennedy telling the truth when he claimed that no alcohol was involved?
That 'Today' was in a decidedly forgiving mood was clear from the show's very opening. Note the graphic Today attached to Kennedy's image: "Seeking Treatment". Not "Telling the Truth?" or "Drinking & Driving?"
In his subsequent report, NBC reporter Chip Reid clearly seemed to endorse Kennedy's version of events. We first were treated a clip of Kennedy's statement about his addiction to painkillers, concluding with his observation that "I struggle every day with this disease as do millions of Americans."
The very next words out of Reid's mouth: "That struggle came to a head this week in a bizarre traffic accident on Capitol Hill." Translation: Kennedy's version of the accident is true. It was the 'struggle' with prescription drugs, not alcohol, at the root of the accident.
Reid later referred to Kennedy's announcement that he was entering rehab as a "big step." Oh, the bravey! Again, had this been Rove or another disfavored Republican, one can imagine the MSM skeptically suggesting a decison to enter rehab was nothing more than part of a carefully-orchestrated PR campaign.
Now, it's true that Reid mentioned that Capitol Hill police officers suspected Kennedy was driving under the influence of alcohol. But Reid mentioned only the police report stating "Kennedy's eyes were red and watery, speech was slightly slurred and balance was unsure." No mention that police reportedly smelled the odor of alcohol on Kennedy. No mention that police at the scene wanted to perform a sobriety test and were prevented from doing so by supervisors who ordered Kennedy be given a lift home. Reid left it for viewers to infer that the police mistakenly confused Kennedy's pill-induced symptoms as stemming from alcohol.
We were later treated to file footage of father Ted Kennedy saying he was proud of Patrick, and to Sen. Kennedy's current statement saluting Patrick's "courage."
Not a word from Today of a reported eyewitness who saw Patrick Kennedy drinking prior to the crash at the 'Hawk & Dove' bar. No apparent investigative reporting on NBC's part to determine the truth.
Curiously incurious, those NBC folks, wouldn't you say?
I wanna know if he was in his jammies....or did he "sleepchange" his clothes too?
"Now he'll be in sleeptherapy until this blows over..."
Lol
Capitol Police are investigating the original reports. They have made inquiries at two bars close to Capitol Hill whether Kennedy was seen drinking. The watch commander on duty the night this took place has been reassigned.
Just as much will come of this as of the Cynthia McKinney incident last month; NADA!
I'd like to know where Kennedy got his meds, since any doc prescribing the Ambien and Phenergan to a patient with a history of addiction needs his/her head examined.
"I wanna know if he was in his jammies....or did he "sleepchange" his clothes too?"
He must have, cuz he was dressed for the "vote" he was late to.
My guess is that there WAS someone with him. I'm betting that's the hush, hush, not his willingness to say..."I'm going to therapy".
Would just love it if his car had a GPS system in it that tracked his movements....although by now, I'd guess it's in the Potomac.
Thank God for the blogosphere.
FoxNews reports that P Kennedy was seen at 2 different bars that morning.
[As more details on that develops, PK may be in for further embarrassment, but he's a Kennedy, so he will get a pass.]
CBS Early Show was pretty much the same - I think. I only surfed over to it while looking for updated radar screens on our storms locally, but I stopped to gawk at the Patches coverage.
They did have a reporter in Pawtucket, so they had to mention the accident of 3 weeks ago. But to a man, all the Pawtucketians said this was just a mistake and he'll be back and they'll vote for him again. Only one said, he probably ought to go now, but that was the very first one - you know, the one you'll forget by the time they've talked to 15 more people who think the Kennedys are royalty.
It's this STUFF that causes Congress People to be the class of professionals people trust least. Those surveys, put COngress leaders towards the bottom of the pile.
Big surprise.
I am a
VICTIM.
I've seen several posts and threads refer to Patrick Kennedy as 'Patches'.
Why?
I don't know that much about him, so I'm wondering what the nomenclature means.
Do we have any idea approximately where he lives? I missed the first few threads on this, so if it was posted, I haven't seen it.
He said it is just a few blocks to Capitol Hill - I just wondered which neighborhood/bars he sleeppubcrawled, if any other than the Hawk and Dove.
You know the answer to that question.
That is why Hillary will probably be the next President.
The old media is a protectorate and promoter of the Democrat Party........ plain and simple.
And still, most of the American people do not see the depth of the news distortions and lies.
This Kennedy event is a PERFECT example!
They've always been there to protect the politicians.
right
At least it's not in Poucha Pond.
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