Edward Kennedy, 1932-2009

Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy died late last night of brain cancer. His presence on the U.S. Senate floor has already been sorely missed during the last few months, especially since health care, one of Kennedy's strongest causes, has taken center stage in the national debate with legislation pending in the fall session.

To his detractors, Ted Kennedy was a silver-spoon Kennedy baby who pretty much had his political career handed to him on a silver platter. And he squandered it all one night in July 1969 when he drove off a bridge in Chappaquiddick, Massachusetts and abandoned the scene, leaving his female passenger in the car to die. That one incident by itself was enough to keep the Massachusetts senator from ever being able to be elected as president. And many (myself included) blame Kennedy for a vicious presidential primary fight in 1980 against besieged Democratic incumbent Jimmy Carter, who then desperately needed support from his own party instead of division while he tackled weighty issues like the Iran hostage situation, the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan, and the tanking economy.

But as a senator, Edward Kennedy received high marks, even from his ideological opponents. He demonstrated a great ability to reach across the aisle and work with his Republican counterparts to draft and push through legislation over the years. And yet, on certain issues, Kennedy was unwavering. Chief among them was his view that America needed a national health care policy that did not victimize the very people it was supposed to be helping.

I'm looking forward to seeing some of the tributes and specials that will be aired during the next few days about this important figure in American history. Hopefully, Kennedy's successor in the Senate will be appointed soon in order that this body may have the number of senators needed to pass meaningful health care reform (and resist efforts to water it down).