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‘The Cause of My Life’ [Ted Kennedy Explains]
Newsweek ^ | July 18th 2009

Posted on 07/18/2009 7:37:28 PM PDT by Steelfish

‘The Cause of My Life’

Inside the fight for universal health care.

By Edward M. Kennedy

July 18, 2009 From the magazine issue dated Jul 27, 2009

In 1964, I was flying with several companions to the Massachusetts Democratic Convention when our small plane crashed and burned short of the runway. My friend and colleague in the Senate, Birch Bayh, risked his life to pull me from the wreckage. Our pilot, Edwin Zimny, and my administrative assistant, Ed Moss, didn't survive. With crushed vertebrae, broken ribs, and a collapsed lung, I spent months in New England Baptist Hospital in Boston.

To prevent paralysis, I was strapped into a special bed that immobilizes a patient between two canvas slings. Nurses would regularly turn me over so my lungs didn't fill with fluid. I knew the care was expensive, but I didn't have to worry about that. I needed the care and I got it.

Now I face another medical challenge. Last year, I was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Surgeons at Duke University Medical Center removed part of the tumor, and I had proton-beam radiation at Massachusetts General Hospital. I've undergone many rounds of chemotherapy and continue to receive treatment. Again, I have enjoyed the best medical care money (and a good insurance policy) can buy.

But quality care shouldn't depend on your financial resources, or the type of job you have, or the medical condition you face. Every American should be able to get the same treatment that U.S. senators are entitled to.

This is the cause of my life.

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


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: flying; wreckage
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EXCERPT

"It is a key reason that I defied my illness last summer to speak at the Democratic convention in Denver—to support Barack Obama, but also to make sure, as I said, "that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American…will have decent, quality health care as a fundamental right and not just a privilege."

1 posted on 07/18/2009 7:37:29 PM PDT by Steelfish
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To: Steelfish

What a POS


2 posted on 07/18/2009 7:38:31 PM PDT by goodnesswins (WHO is Jim Thompson?)
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To: Steelfish

Teddy Kennedy is a worthless piece of shyster.

Fortunately for the rest of us, he is not long for this world.

Stop your BS, Teddy. Get right with God before it’s too late.


3 posted on 07/18/2009 7:39:25 PM PDT by Nervous Tick (Stop dissing drunken sailors! At least they spend their OWN money.)
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To: Steelfish

So Birch Bayh ultimately cost Mary Jo her life.


4 posted on 07/18/2009 7:40:06 PM PDT by beethovenfan (If Islam is the solution, the "problem" must be freedom.)
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To: Steelfish

“If she had lived, Mary Jo Kopechne would be 62 years old. Through his tireless work as a legislator, Edward Kennedy would have brought comfort to her in her old age...”

—Charles Pierce, Boston Globe


5 posted on 07/18/2009 7:40:10 PM PDT by raccoonradio
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To: Steelfish

Go away and never show your ugly face again, you murdering fat pig.


6 posted on 07/18/2009 7:40:16 PM PDT by wastedyears (The Tree is thirsty and the hogs are hungry.)
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To: Steelfish

>>will have decent, quality health care as a fundamental right and not just a privilege<<

“Except for Mary Jo who deserved no care at all and of course I, having the kenndey name, deserving escape from my actions as a privilege.”


7 posted on 07/18/2009 7:43:17 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (Communism comes to America: 1/20/2009. Keep your powder dry, folks. Sic semper tyrannis)
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To: wastedyears
Although he's more special than the rest of us, under this Universal Health care, if he were an ordinary citizen, he wouldn't be getting any care for his cancer or anything else.

He's the ultimate "Let them eat cake" a-hole!

8 posted on 07/18/2009 7:45:09 PM PDT by basil
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To: Steelfish

That’s the same line of crap he was spouting the last time he “FIXED” health care...............with HMOs.................30 years ago.


9 posted on 07/18/2009 7:46:36 PM PDT by CMailBag
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To: Steelfish
Yuri Bezmenov, defected KGB agent detailed a visit Ted Kennedy and his entourage made to the Soviet Union. He said Kennedy et al were swimming in the booze from the time they arrived in Moscow until the time they left, and he described Kennedy in particular as a narrow minded egocentric idiot.
10 posted on 07/18/2009 7:46:50 PM PDT by SpaceBar
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To: freedumb2003; raccoonradio

The anniversary of Mary Jo’s death is TODAY.....how ironic.


11 posted on 07/18/2009 7:46:52 PM PDT by goodnesswins (WHO is Jim Thompson?)
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To: wastedyears

When this addled old boozer finally dies it would be rather easy for them to cremate him. The percentage of ethanol in his cells would be an excellent fuel. They need to start discussing assisted suicide with him NOW...STAT....Pronto.


12 posted on 07/18/2009 7:46:52 PM PDT by shankbear (Al-Qaeda grew while Monica blew)
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To: Steelfish
To prevent paralysis, I was strapped into a special bed that immobilizes a patient between two canvas slings. Nurses would regularly turn me over so my lungs didn't fill with fluid. I knew the care was expensive, but I didn't have to worry about that. I needed the care and I got it.

Under Socialized Healthcare, Kennedy would never have received this treatment.

13 posted on 07/18/2009 7:47:00 PM PDT by Cowboy Bob
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To: Cowboy Bob

NO....KENNEDY would GET this care....you and I would NOT.


14 posted on 07/18/2009 7:48:55 PM PDT by goodnesswins (WHO is Jim Thompson?)
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To: Steelfish

...................Birch Bayh, risked his life to pull me from the wreckage.......................

Teddie, you should have learned from Bayh. You don’t leave the scene of an accident; you try to extracate her before the car floods in the five feet of water in the thirty foot wide stream. You POS!


15 posted on 07/18/2009 7:50:13 PM PDT by aShepard ("OK Class: repeat after me: "BUSH BAD- OBAMA SAVIOR OF MANKIND")
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To: Steelfish

no one cares Teddy....no one....


16 posted on 07/18/2009 7:51:06 PM PDT by The Wizard (Democrat Party: a criminal enterprise)
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To: Steelfish

I have Tricare for Life and would not even be able to afford a third the medical care Ted (I cannot drive over a bridge) Kennedy has been given.


17 posted on 07/18/2009 7:52:47 PM PDT by indyhome
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To: beethovenfan

no, that’s not right


18 posted on 07/18/2009 7:53:47 PM PDT by InvisibleChurch (t i m e f o r a n e w t a g l i n e)
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To: Steelfish
Sorry, Teddy, no brain transplants available just yet.

We have Barry Goldwater's in a jar and if we can figger out how -- we'll fix ya up!

---

Send treats to the troops...
Great because you did it!
www.AnySoldier.com

19 posted on 07/18/2009 7:54:53 PM PDT by JCG
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To: Steelfish
In 1964, I was flying with several companions to the Massachusetts Democratic Convention when our small plane crashed and burned short of the runway. My friend and colleague in the Senate, Birch Bayh, risked his life to pull me from the wreckage.

Fourty years ago today, Ted FAILED to pull Mary Jo from his car ....

20 posted on 07/18/2009 7:57:34 PM PDT by ColdWater
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