Ted Kennedy: Healthcare Hero

Posted by michaelryan

May 20, 2008

Sen. Kennedy has malignant brain tumor

Today it was announced Senator Ted Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Our thoughts and prayers go to him and his family as they tackle this in the weeks, months and years ahead. Like almost every American, we all have someone in our family or close friends who has battled some type of cancer. Senator Kennedy son Teddy, Jr. successfully fought his own cancer battle in 1973. As a native Washingtonian, I grew up surrounded by politics and I can recall a few times heading to the Kennedy’s Hickory Hill compound the 1960s in McLean, VA and seeing him, Bobby and other members of the growing political family “Dynasty”.

When I served as a White Intern in 1980, I watched Senator Kennedy mount a dramatic Democratic Presidential campaign challenge against President Carter and witness one of his greatest speeches at Madison Square Garden. After losing his Presidential bid at the Democractic Convention he concluded his speech by exclaiming…”For me, a few hours ago, this campaign came to an end. For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.”

Although I have often been on the opposite side of his politics, there have been very few people in Congress that have championed and successfully passed such important health legislation into law over the past 40 years he has served this country. This is especially true in his legislative fights for cancer healthcare funding. Senator Ted Kennedy, like his older brothers is indeed an American ”Hero” and may his living legacy be all those Americans that are better served by a not perfect health system, but one that has been made better by Ted Kennedy’s passions, talents and untiring efforts. His dream lives on…