Blogs

After focusing every convention speech around unrestricted abortion, awarding Sandra Fluke a speaking slot, and hosting a rally by Catholics for Choice, the Democratic National Convention capped off its homage to Gomorrah with a video saluting the late Senator Ted Kennedy – featuring a commentary from his second wife. 

The video, which casts Barack Obama as the man who brought Kennedy’s dreams to reality, begins with footage of the only good speech Teddy ever gave: his 1980 DNC speech after losing the primary to Jimmy Carter, something everyone – except Carter – has utterly forgotten.

Videographers superimposed laudatory titles over Kennedy’s image, including “champion of women’s rights” and “the leader for LGBT rights.”

“I’ve never shied away from being called a liberal,” Kennedy said, “but what I have done is stand up for my beliefs.”

The video left out less edifying aspects of his life and career, such as writing the “No Child Left Behind” act, slandering Robert Bork, and leaving a would-be one-night-stand at the bottom of a ripple of air bubbles.

Teddy’s second wife, Victoria Reggie Kennedy, told delegates, “If Teddy were here, he would tell us now it’s time to roll up our sleeves, get to work, fully implement the [ObamaCare] law, and get on with the business of our country.” 

Such an act of impudence, running contrary to every cherished principle of his faith, does indeed sound like Teddy.

The video retrospective for a senator two years dead struck an odd note in a campaign whose slogan is “Forward.”

Click “like” if you want to end abortion!

So, too, did the video address given by former president Jimmy Carter. Carter claims to have signed a letter asking the Democratic Party platform to curtail its unqualified support for abortion, most perfectly expressed by its fidelity to a president who has supported abortion-beyond-birth. However, he expressed no such concern at the convention, where it might have made a difference.

Quoting his own 1976 acceptance speech, the nation’s third worst president said the country needs a leader who “takes his strength and dreams from you, the American people.” Obama’s autobiography famously attributed his own dreams to his father, a Kenyan radical who hailed “nationalization” of industries as a “benefit to society.” 

In a sentence perhaps intended to appeal to those who speak English as a second language, Carter said, “Both now and for the next four years, we have just such a leader in the White House.” Sin tax, yes. Syntax, no.

Kennedy, Carter – all the night needed to be a parade of washouts and losers was Michael Dukakis, and…wait! Dukakis was there, too, slamming former Democratic mayor of Boston and Vatican ambassador Ray Flynn. “I don’t know what’s happened to him,” he said, speaking of Flynn’s decision to place his pro-life principles above his allegiance to the Democratic Party. He speculated it may be a “change of life.” Witty, and so very classy.

All of this begs us to ask: Where’s Walter Mondale? Where’s George McGovern? Couldn’t they give John Edwards another turn at the microphone?

A version of this article originally appeared on TheRightsWriter.com and is reprinted with permission.