From the New York Post’s Eric Fettman:
The opening night of next month’s Democratic convention in Boston is set to feature an emotional party tribute to hometown hero Ted Kennedy, who has served in office longer than every other senator but one.
Guess no one at the Democratic National Committee took a close look at the calendar: That July 26 salute to Teddy just happens to coincide with . . . the 35th anniversary of Chappaquiddick.
Well, actually, Eric, the DNC is perfectly aware of the Chappaquiddick anniversary (give or take a few days) — which you’d know if you’d actually been invited to the Kennedy gala. Me, I run with a tonier crowd. Here’s my copy of the invitation:
See? They’ve thought of everything…
update: I just received an email from the DNC party organizers reminding me that July 26 is also Mary Jo Kopechne’s birthday,* and that I might want to wear “something black.”
It happened on July 19, 1969.
I think that Eric Fettman guy is wrong. Don’t they have fact checkers (tee-hee) at the Post?
Interesting…I just read his piece, and he’s stretching the facts a little to fit his snarky little smear. Cute.
He’s a ballparker, Eric is.
Well, your piece is still f@#ing funny. F the facts.
Actually, it’s almost as good:
Mary Jo Kopechne’s birthday was July 26.
Oh, that’s just too much.
Isn’t it a fitting statement regarding this great nation, or perhaps the states that elect them, (or your ironic choice) that the two longest serving senators are Ted Kennedy, and…drum roll please…former Kleagle (recruiter) for the Klan, Bob Byrd!
I didn’t THINK you could make this irony any funnier……..that’ll teach me…
“flotation device”……priceless…
Priceless. I hear there is a run on 60s Oldsmobiles at eBay Motors. Get ‘em while you can and see you in Boston.
Harry
There a similar post over at Tim Blair’s blog, with someone in the comments section quoting from a web site that has the historical material from Ted’s Big Adventure (sorry for the long reference), where Ted is quoted as stating, among all the particulars, that the bridge was at a left angle (perpendicular?) to the road, as if he never completely made the turn.
For a laugh, sadly for Mary Jo, read his televised statement. It is full of so many inconsistencies, that even the passage of 35 years can’t fog them over.
http://www.ytedk.com/tvstatement.htm
If only some enterprising radio personality with a Boston audience would sponsor a birthday/memorial for the poor girl on that day.
As a resident of WV, I would like to apoligize for my fellow citizens for inflicting Robert Byrd on America for all these years. (Even though I have never voted for him)
Jed, yes the “event” happened the 19th but Kennedy plead guilty on the 25th.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/25/newsid_2763000/2763525.stm
I guess it depends on what you consider an “anniversary” Sounds like a week long celebration to me! ;D
Jeez, Forbes…after reading that little burp of Uncle Teddy’s, I can only say…What the hell! His constituents actually swallowed that?!
jmflynny,
The polish was still fresh on the Camelot legend; no one wanted the blot of Squire Teddy on the escutcheons of Sir Robert and King John. All was forgiven so that the junior Kennedy might keep the magic name alive until the next generation was ready to assume their rightful place as the elected representatives of noble Massachusetts.
Inspiring stuff, eh ?
If memory serves, the National Lampoon, in the early- or mid-1970s, ran a fake ad, showing a picture of a VW Beetle floating, with the caption “If Teddy Kennedy had driven a Volkswagen, he might be president today.” Can we find one? Maybe post it?
Virge, I’m sure Howie Carr will be on the job, as he is every year, although it’s always on the anniversary of the event, not the guilty plea.
Found it:
http://www.bizbag.com/Cartoons/kennedy.htm