Ted Kennedy Adrresses the DNC

I am watching the opening night of the Democrat National Convention and Caroline and Ted Kennedy just spoke. I found it very moving, perhaps all the more so since I had the opportunity to meet Ted Kennedy many years ago when he spoke at UVA when I was in college. The ravages of time were obvious as Kennedy spoke and the knowledge that he's battling brain cancer made his address all the more poignant. At one point he spoke of Obama's goal of ending the old politics of division based on race, gender and other factors, including pitting gays versus straights. I truly believe that unless the politics of hate and division which have become the hallmark of the Republican Party, this country will never achieve justice and equality under the law for all citizens. I find it obscene that the USA does not have universal health care while citizens of other industrialized countries have better health care services for ALL citizens. Here are a few highlights from Kennedy's remarks via MSNBC:

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“This is the cause of my life,” Kennedy declared: “New hope that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American — North, South, East and West, young, old — will have decent health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege.

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“Barack Obama will close the book on the old politics of race, gender and group against group and straight against gay,” Kennedy said, bringing the convention to its feet.