The Patrick Kennedy incident is getting a lot of attention in the blogosphere, with healthy doses of sarcasm from the right wing sites. In case you haven't heard, the Rhode Island Representative came into police custody early Thursday morning after nearly clipping a cruiser then smacking a barracade.
Although the Congressman was observed 'staggering' for some reason he was carried home rather than to the station, the insinuation being he used a Congressional get-out-of-jail-free card.
If he wasn't a Kennedy this wouldn't be much of a story. If you're reading this blog then you know the tale of how his father made the little town of Chappaquidick famous one dark and tranquil night long ago. Alcohol was involved in that event, therefore the political snipers are gonna wonder if the apple didn't fall too far from the tree. Unfortunately that's the legacy Teddy's left with his kids.
Indeed, the junior Kennedy denies alcohol was involved in this event. Skeptical reporters spent the day Thursday pounding the DC pavement looking for his favorite watering holes, probably in part due to the abovementioned legacy. They turned up a waitress who claimed he was imbibing at the "Hawk and Dove" lounge that evening. Yes, yes, it sounds like a good National Enquirer headline.
His explanation was that he went home, took the prescription antihistamine Phenergal along with the sleep aid Ambien, went to bed, then awoke confused after 2 am, got in the car and headed towards the House where he thought he was late for a vote. Gee, maybe it was one of those wee hour specials where all the earmarks are secretly passed through?
But let's try to boil this down. Other than the fact Mr. Kennedy seems to have some health problems, the real issue here seems to be whether DC police provided special treatment. Almost anyone else would have been given a breathalyzer test on the scene--he wasn't.
Not sure it applies here, but some in the media have in the past referred to the Kennedy family as "America's royalty". If that notion still exists, it's long past time to flush it. And if the already tenuous rule of law is to survive in America, it must apply to us all.
cross-posted at MSJ
correction--Kennedy is a Rep from Little Rhody
MORE 5/6/06
Mr. Kennedy's going back to the Mayo, and the police are canvanssing the bars. Right now there is no word about him stepping down, but such a thing seems appropriate. You would think his constituents would demand a full-time and competent rep. It would be another democrat, anyway.
Maybe the people of New England don't care. After all, they were fine with Kerry galavanting around the country campaigning for president in 2004. At least Kennedy was making a valiant effort to vote.
No comments:
Post a Comment