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> Man, sometimes I feel like the Kennedys are America's most hypocritical family. I don't know what this means. Are you referring to actions taken by other Ken

> Man, sometimes I feel like the Kennedys are America's most hypocritical family. I don't know what this means. Are you referring to actions taken by other Kennedy family members? If so, why should the actions of one's relatives fall exactly in line with one's own legacy, lest their family be deemed hypocritical? That seems like an awfully high bar that presupposes the family is a single moral and ethical unit.

melling 9y ago
How about when Ted Kennedy stopped Richard Nixon’s healthcare plan. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2012/06/22/stockman/bvg57mguQxOVpZMmB1Mg2N/amp.html https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/201...
- icebraining 9y ago
  You mean, when Nixon introduced a much weaker healthcare bill right after Kennedy had managed to broker a bipartisan bill proposing a real reform? I don't see anything hypocritical about refusing to support a bill designed to keep the current broken system running and squash actual reform. At least, that's how it looks to me as a complete outsider.
  - melling 9y ago
    well, that’s not what the article says that I posted: “Kennedy said later that walking away from that deal was one of the biggest mistakes of his life.” “Over time, Kennedy realized his own plan couldn’t succeed. Opposition from the insurance companies was too great. So Kennedy dispatched his staffers to meet secretly with Nixon’s people to broker a compromise. Kennedy came close to backing Nixon’s plan, but turned away at the last minute, under pressure from the unions. Then Watergate hit and took Nixon down.”
    - icebraining 9y ago
      I read that, and I don't think it contradicts my view. Kennedy introduces a real reform bill; Nixon introduces a weak, "compromise" bill so the opponents of real reform (like the insurance companies) can use to oppose it while avoiding the wrath of the people who understand the status quo is terrible, by looking like they also want changes. Kennedy, defeated, judges whether accepting Nixon's bill - despite its intent - is still worth it, or whether the unions are right that it imposes too great of a cost on employees (25% of premiums). He makes a decision, then later he regrets it.
DubiousPusher 9y ago
You're right of course. I'm generalizing too much.
strathmeyer 9y ago
> That seems like an awfully high bar that presupposes the family is a single moral and ethical unit. Not when that is how they amass their power. They pretend to be squeaky clean but JFK used to rape women in the oval office.

melling 9y ago

How about when Ted Kennedy stopped Richard Nixon’s healthcare plan. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2012/06/22/stockman/bvg57mguQxOVpZMmB1Mg2N/amp.html https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/201...

icebraining 9y ago
You mean, when Nixon introduced a much weaker healthcare bill right after Kennedy had managed to broker a bipartisan bill proposing a real reform? I don't see anything hypocritical about refusing to support a bill designed to keep the current broken system running and squash actual reform. At least, that's how it looks to me as a complete outsider.
- melling 9y ago
  well, that’s not what the article says that I posted: “Kennedy said later that walking away from that deal was one of the biggest mistakes of his life.” “Over time, Kennedy realized his own plan couldn’t succeed. Opposition from the insurance companies was too great. So Kennedy dispatched his staffers to meet secretly with Nixon’s people to broker a compromise. Kennedy came close to backing Nixon’s plan, but turned away at the last minute, under pressure from the unions. Then Watergate hit and took Nixon down.”
  - icebraining 9y ago
    I read that, and I don't think it contradicts my view. Kennedy introduces a real reform bill; Nixon introduces a weak, "compromise" bill so the opponents of real reform (like the insurance companies) can use to oppose it while avoiding the wrath of the people who understand the status quo is terrible, by looking like they also want changes. Kennedy, defeated, judges whether accepting Nixon's bill - despite its intent - is still worth it, or whether the unions are right that it imposes too great of a cost on employees (25% of premiums). He makes a decision, then later he regrets it.

DubiousPusher 9y ago

You're right of course. I'm generalizing too much.

strathmeyer 9y ago

> That seems like an awfully high bar that presupposes the family is a single moral and ethical unit. Not when that is how they amass their power. They pretend to be squeaky clean but JFK used to rape women in the oval office.