Jack & Jill Politics

Kennedy and Obama

Through two years of wearying campaigning, defeats and victories, the cool, disciplined Sen. Barack Obama rarely was overcome by emotion. Once was on the eve of the election, when his grandmother died.

The other time, a close aide recalled, was when Sen. Ted Kennedy endorsed him.

Kennedy's endorsement may have won Obama the nomination. His legacy, health care legislation, has already shaped Obama's presidency, and Obama will deliver a eulogy at Kennedy's funeral Saturday. But it wasn't until the last minute, in late January 2008, that Kennedy decided to take sides at all – throwing himself into a hard-fought primary between two of his friends, Obama and then-Sen. Hillary Clinton.

When he did, it was without reservation. He addressed critics, declaring Obama ready to lead. And he invoked his family's legacy:

“The torch will be passed again to a new generation of Americans. The hope rises again. And the dream lives on,” he said, as the future president sat on a tall stool on stage behind him at American University in Washington
on Jan. 28, 2008.

“He was a monumental figure in the history of the campaign,” David Axelrod, Obama's senior adviser, told POLITICO, saying that the weekend of Kennedy's endorsement “transformed the campaign.”

“It was like being shot from a cannon,” Axelrod said.

The day of the endorsement was, Obama told a Kennedy adviser at the time, the greatest day of his life, according to Dan Balz and Haynes Johnson's account of the campaign.

Kennedy, whose age never diminished his outsized political standing or his eye for up-and-coming talent, saw Obama dominate the 2004 Democratic National Convention in his hometown, Boston, and he may have seen a little of himself in the young celebrity senator.

“When [Obama] came to the Senate as a new young senator, he was in a certain way a little like Teddy was when he first came to the Senate. That is, that everybody already knew about him or thought they knew about him,” longtime Kennedy adviser Bob Shrum told POLITICO. “So I don't think Kennedy was surprised at his eloquence, his intelligence, his grasp of issues. But it was kind of a habit with Teddy [to mentor promising young senators]. He spent time with him and got to know him well.”

This has made my day. Ted all but annointed Obama as the 5th Kennedy brotha with that speech.

I agree with you. That endorsement help Obama gain momentum going into Super Tuesday and beyond. I never get tired of seeing that video and hearing those words.

There were a lot of Dems who were thrown under the bus by the Clintons for good because they endorsed Obama (even if it was seen as a slight to the pre-scandal Edwards), so Uncle Ted was so brave to do this. He knew Obama was the Real Deal.

Uncle Ted always had my respect because he (and his other siblings) always were public servants rather than politicians. Sure, they had flaws and all like other political families, but their impact on society will be felt for generations to come.

And the last sentence, I somewhat agree but have to respectfully disagree with not seeing “any politician today in the Senate willing to get the job done.” There are other liberal Dem senators (some were/are collegues and alies of Ted and Obama) that can be counted on.

Sure, their last name isn't Kennedy or won't command the same attention or prestige that Ted had, but just because he is now gone does not mean we should write off the good liberal Senate Dems (despite the Blue Dogs) that are still left.

JMHO.

I agree with you. That endorsement help Obama gain momentum going into Super Tuesday and beyond. I never get tired of seeing that video and hearing those words.

There were a lot of Dems who were thrown under the bus by the Clintons for good because they endorsed Obama (even if it was seen as a slight to the pre-scandal Edwards), so Uncle Ted was so brave to do this. He knew Obama was the Real Deal.

Uncle Ted always had my respect because he (and his other siblings) always were public servants rather than politicians. Sure, they had flaws and all like other political families, but their impact on society will be felt for generations to come.

And the last sentence, I somewhat agree but have to respectfully disagree with not seeing “any politician today in the Senate willing to get the job done.” There are other liberal Dem senators (some were/are collegues and alies of Ted and Obama) that can be counted on.

Sure, their last name isn't Kennedy or won't command the same attention or prestige that Ted had, but just because he is now gone does not mean we should write off the good liberal Senate Dems (despite the Blue Dogs) that are still left.

JMHO.