In Memorium

Today marks the passing of a legend in American politics. Theodore M. Kennedy, known to everyone as Teddy, was the last surviving member of the Kennedy brothers. Many people have said many wonderful things about the Senator today and we must remember what he gave to this country that he loved so much.

Teddy was an unashamed liberal and instrumental in so many changes in this country that I dare not think about what life would have been like without him. The “liberal lion of the Senate” pushed through many hard fought Senate battles to bring justice and fairness to every American. Kennedy has been instrumental in pushing for health care reform for over 40 years. When asked as of late why he was pushing so hard for health care reform, President Obama answered “I promised Teddy.” The current health care reform is something that he did not live to see come to fruition, but we must do everything in our power to make it happen. He believed that every citizen had a right to health care and has moved our country in that direction as much as possible over his years in the Senate.

During his career, Kennedy pushed for women’s rights, gay rights, and helped to push through Title IX. He championed funding for AIDS research and truly believed that no one was undeserving of equal treatment and protection under the law. He sponsored the Civil Rights Act and The Voting Rights Act. He was instrumental in passing the COBRA act, which allowed health care coverage to move with an individual after changing a job. He pushed through the Mental Health Parity Act, which forces insurance companies to pay for mental health treatment. Kennedy also pushed through the State Children’s Health Insurance program, which used tobacco taxes to fund health care for American children. Teddy also was staunchly opposed to the Iraq War Resolution of 2002.

Teddy Kennedy has given so much to the American public over the years that we cannot express our gratitude to the lion. He will be dearly missed. We must carry on his mission so that when he looks down on us from the heavens, we can see that oh so familiar smile that so many will miss so much.