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Rep. Kennedy Says Mental Health, Drug History Makes Him Stronger Advocate
FOX ^

Posted on 04/15/2008 1:55:06 PM PDT by Sub-Driver

Rep. Kennedy Says Mental Health, Drug History Makes Him Stronger Advocate

Tuesday , April 15, 2008

AP

WASHINGTON — Rep. Patrick Kennedy says his personal struggles to recover from depression, alcoholism and substance abuse have made him a more compelling advocate in Congress for improved mental health care coverage.

The Rhode Island Democrat, a son of Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, played a leading role winning House passage last month on a bill to expand coverage for people needing mental health and addiction treatment.

"My own story gave a lot of my colleagues a comfort level to tell me their own stories, privately," he said in a recent telephone interview with The Associated Press. "In the process it tied them into this debate personally in ways I think that gave traction to this legislation early on."

Kennedy, 40, crashed his car into a Capitol barricade in the middle of the night nearly two years ago, and agreed to a plea deal on a charge of driving under the influence of prescription drugs. He speaks publicly about his own recovery in hopes of ending the stigma of mental illness that prevents people from seeking treatment.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 110th; kennedy; kennedyfamily; patches
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I'm sure....liberalism is a mental disease.....
1 posted on 04/15/2008 1:55:06 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
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To: Sub-Driver

After he kills someone, he’ll be untouchable!


2 posted on 04/15/2008 1:57:10 PM PDT by Califreak (Hangin' with Hunter-under the bus "Dread and Circuses")
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To: Sub-Driver

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. Democrats suck.


3 posted on 04/15/2008 1:58:22 PM PDT by stevio (Crunchy Con - God, guns, guts, and organically grown crunchy nuts.)
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To: Sub-Driver
"My own story gave a lot of my colleagues a comfort level to tell me their own stories, privately," he said

If a preponderance of our Congresscritters are alcholics and drug addicts, that explains a lot.

4 posted on 04/15/2008 1:58:35 PM PDT by Tax-chick ("It's hard to be stressed out over your spouse while you're in a bathtub drinking wine together.")
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To: Califreak

5 posted on 04/15/2008 2:00:21 PM PDT by Westlander (Unleash the Neutron Bomb)
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To: Sub-Driver

Well, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Uncle swimmer is an expert on alcohol, that is for sure!


6 posted on 04/15/2008 2:00:32 PM PDT by blondee123 (NObama IN '08!!!!!!!!!!!)
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To: Sub-Driver

And yet, nobody can defeat this clown because he’s a Kennedy. Sigh.


7 posted on 04/15/2008 2:01:44 PM PDT by johnthebaptistmoore (Vote for conservatives AT ALL POLITICAL LEVELS! Encourage all others to do the same on November 4!)
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To: Sub-Driver; Travis McGee

Amazing that those who establish the rule of laws for us couldn’t do our jobs SD..... can ya imagine the reliability / security issues this POS would raise just in the military and SHOULD raise in CONGRESS ?

Doom on these losers........never re-elect anyone !


8 posted on 04/15/2008 2:02:40 PM PDT by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet.©)
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To: Sub-Driver
“Rep. Kennedy Says Mental Health, Drug History Makes Him Stronger Advocate”

What do you mean History? I know someone who sees Kennedy on government business often and Im told that Kennedy is rarely coherent much less sober.

9 posted on 04/15/2008 2:02:44 PM PDT by mthom
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To: Sub-Driver

Having been voted “The Dumbest Member of Congress” year after year by the Congressional staff (quite something when you consider the Sanchez sisters), Patrick Kennedy...son of Joan and an unknown bar patron...continues to make words though the Universe yawns.


10 posted on 04/15/2008 2:03:29 PM PDT by Deb (Beat him, strip him and bring him to my tent!)
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To: Sub-Driver

Hunter S. Thompson said it best: “I wouldn’t recommend sex, drugs or insanity for everyone, but they’ve always worked for me.”

That or something similar has got to be the Kennedy family motto.


11 posted on 04/15/2008 2:04:17 PM PDT by Mountain Troll
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To: Sub-Driver

“Rep. Patrick Kennedy says his personal struggles to recover from depression, alcoholism and substance abuse have made him a more compelling advocate in Congress for improved mental health care coverage.”

Should have said;

“Living in the Kennedy family gave me the depression, alcoholism and substance abuse I had to overcome.”


12 posted on 04/15/2008 2:06:14 PM PDT by stockpirate (A country that doesn't honor it's warriors will be defeated by one that does.)
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To: Sub-Driver

I think Kennedy should get the socialized-medicine treatment he wants to force on the rest of us. It might actually teach him something.


13 posted on 04/15/2008 2:08:40 PM PDT by American Quilter (The urge to save humanity is nearly always a cover for the urge to rule. - H. L. Mencken)
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To: Sub-Driver; Allegra; big'ol_freeper; Lil'freeper; TrueKnightGalahad; blackie; Larry Lucido; ...
Re: Rep. Patrick Kennedy says his personal struggles to recover from depression, alcoholism and substance abuse have made him a more compelling advocate in Congress for improved mental health care coverage.

Going by this train of thought... Charles Manson should be the next Democrat Attorney General!

And Ted Kennedy as the pool life guard and driving instructor.

14 posted on 04/15/2008 2:10:40 PM PDT by Bender2 ("I've got a twisted sense of humor, and everything amuses me." RAH Beyond this Horizon)
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To: Sub-Driver

Kennedy and all the other weak links in Congress should be publicly stigmatized for their actions. We need to bring back a higher level of shame. Clean ‘em out and then maybe more people of real substance who won’t mind sharing space together on Capitol Hill will run for office. No doubt these limpwristed saps are pawns for others to play with, the same ones who pull the strings to keep them in Washington.


15 posted on 04/15/2008 2:13:06 PM PDT by Melinda
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To: Sub-Driver
Rep. Patrick Kennedy says his personal struggles to recover from depression, alcoholism and substance abuse have made him a more compelling advocate in Congress for improved mental health care coverage.

Struggles? Nonsense.

Nobody made Mr. Kennedy swallow, sniff, and/or inject those substances.

Mr. Kennedy, you are NOT a victim!

You are a willing participant.

I also notice that you say nothing about personal responsibility, self control, or the inner strength that comes from character.

Typical Kennedy weakling, you are.

16 posted on 04/15/2008 2:14:23 PM PDT by Seaplaner (Never give in. Never give in. Never...except to convictions of honour and good sense. W. Churchill)
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To: Sub-Driver

17 posted on 04/15/2008 2:17:40 PM PDT by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: Sub-Driver

18 posted on 04/15/2008 2:18:18 PM PDT by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: Sub-Driver

There is some truth to this. Look at Teddy. After drunk driving and murdering a young girl, he is way more powerful and influential now.


19 posted on 04/15/2008 2:18:29 PM PDT by fish hawk
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To: Bender2

Now you’re talking.


20 posted on 04/15/2008 2:24:22 PM PDT by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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