President Carter - "Losing My Religion for Equality"

[merrily]

56. What is hypocritical about eulogizing Kennedy?

If someone thinks Kennedy was a good person and an asset to the country--as I do--what is wrong with expressing grief at his loss? Senate Republicans eulogized him. Why shouldn't posters on a Democratic board?

He lost most of his family to war, illness, accident and assassins much too soon. He was a surrogate parent to his bereaved neices and nephews. After his mother died, he held the extended family together. He served in the Senate for something like 40 years and was beloved by many. I only wish I could say a tenth as much about myself. Are only perfect people entitled to "unhypocritical" eulogies?

tAnd in the interviews I saw when Carter's book came out, HE was the one to make sure the subject came up.

Not having seen the same interviews you did, I cannot agree or disagree. However, I do not take your word for it. I mean nothing personal about that whatsoever. It's just that everyone has his or her own perceptions.

I just don't think it's seemly to attack someone when they're not around to defend themselves.

How did Carter attack Kennedy? Did he call him names? Or did Carter just tell what happened? As I said, I think we are better off knowing what happened. If Carter and Kennedy were private people, I might agree with you. Whether a deceased had bad breath or something like that is better left unsaid after death. However, what happened between these two men affects us all. I want to know, even if one or both is dead. Besides, I have little doubt that Kennedy was aware of how Carter felt.

I would've like to hear Kennedy's version of the story.

Maybe he mentioned it during a radio or TV interview that he did while he was alive. That is the only way you will hear it. But, he did write his autobiography before he died. Perhaps his version is in there.

I don't think health care was why Carter didn't get the nomination.

I don't think health was why Carter did not get the nomination, either. I never said it was. I think you misinterpreted my post on that. I was speaking to Kennedy's own motives, not to the motives of voters.

I believe it had much more to do with Iran.

I think it was a lot more complex than that, but the internecine battle did weaken Carter as a candidate.