Posted on 09/06/2009 10:30:52 AM PDT by rhema
Since the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy, we've witnessed his canonization as a kind of political saint. Media tributes have taken Kennedy's selfless defense of the poor and downtrodden as a matter of course -- and as iconic for our age.
The New York Times' worshipful praise was typical. Kennedy, the Times assured its readers, "used his privileged life to give consistent, passionate voice to the underprivileged for nearly a half-century."
Was Edward Moore Kennedy, in fact, "one of the greatest senators of our time," as President Obama has declared?
No doubt, Kennedy's efforts regarding the poor were unique and significant. He was, after all, one of only two U.S. senators still sitting in 2009 who were present for the construction of the entire infrastructure of the modern welfare state.
First elected in 1962, Kennedy was a lifelong advocate of the vision that animated Lyndon Johnson's Great Society and War on Poverty. These initiatives ushered in decades of welfare policy predicated on the belief that every social problem is best addressed by a massive, costly government program.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
Here is Ted Kennedy commenting on the 1965 immigration bill,Quote
“The bill will not flood our cities with immigrants. It will not upset the ethnic mix of our society. It will not relax the standards of admission.” End of Quote.
Ted Kennedy on the 1986 Simpson-Mazzoli Bill, Quote:
“This amnesty will give citizenship to only 1.1 to 1.3 million illegal aliens. We will secure the borders henceforth. We will never again bring forward another amnesty bill like this.” End of Quote.
Ted Kennedy(2007) on the McCain/Kennedy immigration proposal, Quote:
“The plan will strengthen our borders and our national security while providing a tough but fair path to citizenship for millions of people.” End of Quote
Ted Kennedy pushed SEVEN amnesties into law. None was followed by a reduction in illegal immigration.
1. In 1986, Ted Kennedy’s blanket amnesty for 2.7 million illegal aliens promised a lot more enforcement but did not set any requirements for actual reductions in illegal immigration.
2. In 1994, Ted Kennedy’s Section 245(i) Amnesty gave legal residence and jobs to 578,000 illegal aliens. It was a temporary rolling amnesty primarily for extended family members of immigrants who instead of waiting in line, come on to the country illegally.
3. In 1997, Ted Kennedy’s extension of the Section 245(i) rolling amnesty was followed by an increasing flow of illegal immigration.
4. In 1997, Ted Kennedy also won an amnesty for close to one million illegal aliens from Central America. Illegal immigration sped up some more.
5. In 1998, Ted Kennedy won an amnesty for 125,000 illegal aliens from Haiti.
6. In 2000, Ted Kennedy got the so-called Late Amnesty, legalizing another 400,000 illegal aliens who claimed that they missed out on Kennedy’s 1986 amnesty.
7. In 2000, Ted Kennedy also won the LIFE Act Amnesty for an estimated 900,000 illegal aliens. It was another reinstatement of the rolling Section 245(i) amnesty...an estimated 900,000 illegal aliens. Illegal immigration accelerated.
http://towncriernews.blogspot.com/2009/08/rip-sen-ted-kennedy-1932-2009.html
I respect people who use their OWN money and time to help the poor, not those who figure out ways to confiscate money from others to help the poor (or anyone else).
Mary Jo Kopechne
I may be speculating, but he could be in hot water now.
His efforts didn't include the poor unborn.
Kennedy doesn’t get the credit that he richly deserves. For example, he was a tireless champion of the minimum wage. Today teen unemployment exceeds 25%. I hope all these teens say a prayer every night to Ted Kennedy for giving them the privilege of earning more than $7 an hour IF they can find a job...
We insist on minimum standards of competence for people to become doctors, lawyers, nurses and even (in some states) beauticians. My guess is that we could vastly shrink the mountain of foolishness enacted by Congress by the simple requirement that every member have taken Econ 101 before being permitted to hold office.
And have a minimum of 10 years of work experience, community activism and legal work not included.
test
“For example, he was a tireless champion of the minimum wage. Today teen unemployment exceeds 25%.”
Indeed. Oregon enacted the highest min. wage of $8.00 an hour first and guess what....Oregon’s unemployment rate is the second highest in the nation, next to Michigan.
The guy was a parasite who never had a job.
I agree. He lived the high life, and taxed the heck out of his constituents to pay for these services for the underpriveleged.
That’s exactly right. He made a living helping the poor without infringing on his own lavish lifestyle. What’s to admire about that? Well, other than the chutzpah.
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Most of the Kennedy clan has no shortage of that. I admired Eunice.
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