Kennedy Calls Bush Minority Nominees 'Neanderthals'

NewsMax.com ^ | 11/14/03 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

Sen. Ted Kennedy called President Bush's judicial nominees "Neanderthals" on Friday, a group that includes Hispanic lawyer Miguel Estrada and African-American Judge Janice Rogers Brown.

Boasting of his party's resolve in the face of GOP attempts to stop their filibuster, Kennedy told the Senate, "What has not ended is the resolution and the determination of the members of the United States Senate to continue to resist any Neanderthal that is nominated by this president of the United States for any court, federal court in the United States."

Kennedy's overtly racist language stunned even liberal CNN correspondent Jonathan Karl, who reported, "Strong words from Ted Kennedy suggesting that some of these nominees are Neanderthals."

Karl said Kennedy's harsh tone was "exactly what Republicans point to when they say it is the Democrats that have been the extremists on this."

[proud American in Canada]

"Yikes! what a HORRIBLE racist thing to say! He has totally lost his grip on reality and manners!"

So true. I had so many responses I thought of posting but they just weren't polite.

Not that I don't mind a lack of "politeness" on the part of other Freepers; it can be very funny and insightful, and usually is. But I just couldn't do it.

But what you said is perfect. By the way, I love your tagline.

[ridesthemiles]

but he sounds like he may be heading into end-stage alcoholism.


Just NOT fast enough........

[republicofdavis]

"Howard Cosell was a LIBERAL albeit an OUTSPOKEN one. His career was not threatened."

Actually, he was pretty much done at the time. And he did get a lot of grief for the comment. Undeserved.

[ridesthemiles]

he is not the picture of health. He may be in hell soon.

NOT SOON ENUF.......

[andy58-in-nh]

A man who has precisely the Face he deserves.

[prairiebreeze]

A very recent tabloid cover featured this lower (not primary) headline:

"Is Ted Kennedy Losing His Marbles?"

I don't recall exactly which tabloid it was. I noticed it in grocery line. Never, ever buy them though.

Prairie

[hellinahandcart]

Seriously, what is WRONG with a man who has millions of dollars and yet won't pay to get those man-boobs liposucked?

The whole lot is notorious for being cheap, but sheesh...

[Dan from Michigan]

He probably figured, why bother, since he'll drink enough Jameson to put it back on again.

[chiefqc]

The result of being always drunk for years.

[Merdoug]

In my opinion, it was stupid for the Republicans to claim that Democrats were withholding the vote because they were "racist" against minorities. That is not the reason and everyone knows it; it has to do with idealogies. It doesn't matter much anyway: they are both only after power and keeping their power and I bet most people in Government have been corrupt for at least 100 years. The whole system is geared for bringing out the worst in our leaders: money is stolen from taxpayers and doled out among the leaders who buy votes with what money they spend in their represented States. The whole probelm started when Politians became "career" jobs.

[SquirrelKing]

Whoa.

[proud American in Canada]

"It probably wasn't really racist since you can call whites neaderthals just as easily --- but he sounds like he may be heading into end-stage alcoholism."

"Anyone know offhand when the last time was someone collapsed and died on the floor of the Senate? I half-expect that to happen to Ol' Teddy. Some "evil" Republican is going to say something that pisses him off, and then he's going to launch into some semi-coherent tirade and cause an aneurysm to burst in his brain, live on C-SPAN."

Yes....
I agree, he was just calling them "stupid"; apparently "Neanderthal" is now a new short-hand for that adjective.

I really hate his politics, I cannot stand how the liberal media seem to hold up his wild comments as the "refutation" of whatever GW is doing.

But on a human level, yes I feel sorry for the man. He has drunk himself into insanity and soon, death, perhaps all because of a heartless, cruel thing he did with Mary Jo Kopechne.

Yes, YES, he was wrong. But put yourselves in his place: he came from a political family and his first instinct was to hide, hide, and cover up.

Oh d*mn, I'm about to sound like a Clinton apologist. I'm sorry. I want Senator Kennedy gone from the Senate and I don't want to hear the media quoting him as if he's some wise old Democrat who knows the right answer.

But I also hope that we, as conservatives and Republicans, can separate the man from his politics. As political people, we can hate the influence that T.K. has had over what is happening in politics; however, on a human level, we can also have compassion for the terrible things he has done, and the guilt he must be attempting to chase away with every shot of scotch.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Maybe he thinks the super saggers look good? Maybe he wants to be prepared with his own inflatable devices, just in case he drives off another bridge?

[Paul Atreides]

And, to think, this worthless pus-bag was given an award by our current President's father. The wrong person drowned at Chappaquidick.

[Howlin]

Not only did he call them "neanderthals," he called them "turkeys."

It was disgusting.

[tracer]

"I guess that's one evolutionary step above monkeys, another popular pejorative."

So Teddie the Buoyant feels that he can refer to African-American, Hispanic, and female judicial candidates as "neanderthals," eh?

"Royalty" is as "royalty" does, I suppose.

Perhaps he thinks that "neanderthal" is a Jewish name such as "Rosenthal" and simply is jumping heartlessly aboard (crunch!!) the growing bandwagon of anti-semitism in attempt to become au current and demonstrate gravitas -- not to be confused with gravity, mid you.

I'll wish His Lardship the best that I can muster at this point in time -- that he'll not suffer too much after his self-inflicted first and final stroke.

May he be allowed to peacefully ooze into the night in anticipation of his long-awaited reunion with a poor soul named Mary Jo who once was in the proverbial wrong place at the wrong time, to say the least.

The thought of his displacing seven or eight long-dead fallen heroes from their places of honor and repose within Arlington National Cemetery troubles me, though.

Yet another Kennedy burial at sea would seem approrpriate for this great American when his time comes, but I'm not sure that we really can spare a day's steaming time for one of our already over-utilized aircraft super-carriers.

Were I a poet, I would masterfully weave the imagery of his rusty, water-logged chariot careening off of a fog-shrouded bridge as he endeavors to cross the river Styx.

But, alas, I must continue to live with my limitations -- and remain content with the obscurity of my treasured FReeperhood......

[clintonh8r]

Hey, let's give The Swimmer a break, OK? I mean, the guy was probably drunk.

[Political Junkie Too]

I'll wish His Lardship the best that I can muster at this point in time -- that he'll not suffer too much after his self-inflicted first and final stroke... The thought of his displacing seven or eight long-dead fallen heroes from their places of honor and repose within Arlington National Cemetery troubles me, though.

I think that's what the "Big Dig" in Boston was really about.

-PJ

[doug from upland]

Are we all ready to sing ---- ALLEY OOP

[NYC GOP Chick]

I think he's been hitting the Chivas a bit too much lately...