Ailing Ted Kennedy Addresses DNC

Battling Brain Cancer, Senate Icon Pledges To Cheering Crowd, "I Will Be There Next January"

(CBS/ AP)  His wave familiar, his voice firm, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy told a cheering Democratic National Convention Monday night that his is "a season of hope" for a stronger future in America -- despite his struggle against brain cancer.

And he added: "I pledge to you that I will be there next January on the floor of the United States Senate."

That had special meaning given the bleak prognosis Kennedy faces with his disease.

"The hope rises again and the dream lives on," he said after his seven minutes at the microphone, minutes of high and unexpected drama for delegates waving thousands of Kennedy signs, cheering as he came and as he stepped away into the arms of his wife, Vicki.

"My fellow Democrats, my fellow Americans, it is so wonderful to be here," he said. "And nothing, nothing is going to keep me away from this special gathering ..."

Kennedy flew to Denver Sunday night, and his first stop was a hospital, where doctors examined him. His physicians had been wary of the trip, especially his exposure to crowds, given the weakness of his immune system after weeks of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. The brain cancer was diagnosed after he collapsed in May in Hyannis Port, Mass. After brain surgery in June, he had remained at home, save for a brief trip to Washington to cast a Senate vote on July 10 for Medicare legislation that had been stalled in deadlock.

It was to have been a Kennedy appearance on tape, after a tribute by his niece, Caroline Kennedy. But he came himself, and his performance, if brief, was not frail. "I have come here tonight to change America, to restore its future, to rise to our best ideals and to elect Barack Obama president of the United States," he said.

Kennedy's speech would have been standard convention fare, nothing remarkable, but for his health. It was a striking performance for a man of 76, stricken by cancer. "As I look ahead, I am strengthened by family and friendship," he said. "So many of you have been with me in the happiest days and the hardest days.

"Together we have known success and seen failure ... victory and defeat," he said. He said this is the time for victory, for the election of Obama. "For me this is a season of hope ... new hope ... and this is the cause of my life, new hope that we will break the old gridlock ..."

In introducting him, Caroline Kennedy said her uncle "has been a senator for all who believe that the dream has never died." She said "Uncle Teddy" and Obama are "two men who have changed my life and the life of this country.

"Leaders like them come along rarely," she said. "But once or twice in a lifetime, they come along just when we need them the most This is one of those moments."

She said that in this campaign, Obama "has no greater champion" than Kennedy. "When he is president, he will have no stronger partner in the United States Senate," she said.

Before Kennedy's dramatic appearance at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CBSNews.com caught up with one of Kennedy's longtime colleagues, Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.

"It’s bittersweet," Frank said of the video tribute to Kennedy. "It’s a tribute to a man who is very ill, who has been just an incredible force for all of the things that the people at this convention care about. And it’s great to be able to see him again, and it’s sad to know he’s ill."

[realpatriot1]

I sure hope he''s wearing pants this time!

[dnsallday]

The man is amazing. I lived in Massachussetts for a number of years and got to see some of the work from this champion of a man first hand. There has never been a more potent and effective force in the Senate looking out for the middle class.

I can''t help compare Kennedy''s getting to Denver after brain surgery and during his chemo and radiation treatments and then there is John McCain who couldn''t even be bothered to get himself to D.C. to vote on the last Veterans bill.

[antoniof123]

What a GREAT symbol for the Liber-Brats to rally round...a rich drunken murderer with half his brain removed.

Posted by DaVicar2 at 11:18 AM : Aug 25, 2008

I am old enought to remember when the accident happend and it was out in the open yet did you know that Laura Bush was driving a car that killed her best friend.

Did you ever hear about it, of course not because they wanted to keep it quite might be a problem for them. Enough of your lies save them for when people are dead and can''t remember.

[edward1975-2009]

The guy is fighting for his life and these idiots want to march him out, for what. He hasn''t been anything other than a symbol of corruption,poor morales and ineptness for the last twenty years. How low will a political party go, apparently quite low.

[katiecntdikk]

If you want to talk about "corruption" and "ineptness, don''''t forget to mention Cheney and Bush,

Posted by raflin1 at 12:10 PM : Aug 25, 2008

Bush and Cheney weren''t mentioned purposely, mostly because calling them "corrupt" is ALL you America-hating Marxists have to go on.

[mensarino]

DaVicar--Kennedy with half a brain is far greater a man than the brainless as you repeatedly prove on these posts.

[dante805]

Uncle Ted joins Joe and Barrack as part of the 3 stooges. The 3 most liberal Senators ever to take the same stage. The DEM party is run by unions and Lawyers. Obama the IVY league Lawyers chose another Lawyer in Biden. What a shame. So much for Change...a BIG Wash insider. It''s too bad Obama didnt pick Kennedy - since it will be his last convention.

[edward1975-2009]

Things here at home were going along just fine till the Democrats took Congress. And since, other than posturing, Pelosi and crew have done nothing but lie to the American people, which of course is a prerequsite of any politician.

[nolalou]

In spite of the hateful comments about Kennedy from some of the posters here, John McCain said Kennedy is
"the single most effective member of the Senate, He is not reluctant to share the credit. And when he fails, he is willing to take the blame,%u201D

[beehive21-2009]

Teds big headed,alcoholic, anti freedom, ( second Amendment )now, we have too look some where else.The Demos sure know how to loose voters ?

[edward1975-2009]

nolalou: Ted Kennedy has never taken the blame for anything in his life. His accountability is zero. He''s a walking joke. But other than that.

[emelder]

Good for you, Ted. You''re a good man, you''ve paid your dues, and you''ve made enormous contributions to the well-being of common Americans. Enjoy your tribute tonight ... it''s well deserved. God bless.

[vetforobama]

To:Edward1975

Your statement that "Things here at home were going along just fine till the Democrats took Congress..." is flatly and undeniably FALSE. Dems took congress 6 years into Bush''s administration. Bush was left with the largest surplus in history and turned it into the largest deficit in history (before the dems took over the majority). In a recent poll asking who was the worst presidents in history 70% of American''s voted for George W. Bush; ahead of Richard Nixon. All other presidents combined split the other 30%. This includes Civil War era presidents, depression era presidents, and Vietnam era presidents.

Now McCain is proud that he supported the president 95% of the time. STAY THE COURSE!!!

[blamegovt]

With Pelosi, Kennedy and Obama - who would not vote Democrat?

[edward1975-2009]

For all you blind Dumbocrats who think that Pelosi and crew are doing a smash up job, please, since their winning of Copngress, they have accomplished zilch of what they had promised, gas has gone sky high, the economy has sunken to a joke, and theirs is the only approval rating lower than the presidents. So please enlighten me to all the miracles these jokes have performed.

[vetforobama]

To: makeitso928

You write thoughtful,accurate, and factual blogs. Well, I guess that''s what you do when the facts are on your side. Keep it going.

[ramos937]

he guy is fighting for his life and these idiots want to march him out, for what ----------------------------------------
---------- Posted by Edward1975
-----------------------------------

To Edward1975......Ted Kennedy is over 21 and makes his own decisions. If he wants to attend, no one, no delegate, you or me can stop him.

[vetforobama]

To: Edward1975

The truth is that the dems are struggling and they will (we all will) be struggling for a long while, regardless of who wins the Whitehouse, because Bush and the republican congress has dug us into such a deep hole. We swimply cannot afford another four more years of failed policies. McCain''s stay the course attitude will only dig the hole deeper. McCain is proud of the fact that he voted with Bush 95% of the time. And the 3 million dollar bear DNA study that McCain likes to joke about, well, you guessed it, McCain voted for it.

Oh, and before you slam me as a "fill in the blank" democrate, I''m an INDEPENDENT!

[armydog2]

I am not very fond of Senator Kennedy but the citizens of Massachusettes see something in him and I will trust their judgement.He has served this country in the US Senate for years and unlike bush or cheney I would believe what this man says. Thank You Senator for all you have done for this great Country.

[platteman]

Kennedy is a killer. He killed a woman, took hours to report his accident and then he becomes this God like figure in the senate. Gosh, I didn''t know that being a killer, drunk were ideals that people should look up to. Were it not for his money and connections, he would have been in jail. What a crock. He is a pathetic excuse for a human being.

I would rather go hunting with *** Chaney than drive with Ted Kennedy.

[vetforobama]

McCain''s voting record for veterans is horrible. He is rated as one of the worst.

Off the subject a bit, but it''s not just Democrates and Independents that are soured against McCain. Check out republicansforobama.org

The organization includes past republican congressmen and senators and a whole lot of mad Republican''s from all walks of life.

They''re saying hey Bush! Chenney! oh Mr. McCain you borrowed our party and we would like it back now.

[dasfarg]

Is Ted Kennedy''s malignant brain tumor a fraud and orchestrated attempt to distract from his real legacy which is his 1968/69 Chappaquidic ***/murder scandal? Because he does not appear to have chemo and radiation side effects such as weight loss due to loss of appetite, jauntice, etc.

[vetforobama]

To: Platteman

I think there are a good deal of us that would rather you go hunting with Chenney. Oh and on the subject of deaths caused, you would have a hard time finding anyone equal to Bush and Chenney.

[dasfarg]

Wonder if Obama%u2019s plane failure a couple of weeks ago was a cover up of his involvement in the general tampering of opponents%u2019 planes during this election season? Understand that he has another "tampering" attempt lined up for this Sunday when opponent%u2019s plane is scheduled to fly from NY/NJ area to Madison, Wisconsin, hmmmm....

[irliberal]

GO TED KENNEDY! WOOHOO!

GO OBAMA/BIDEN! WOOHOO!

Exciting stuff!!

[dasfarg]

Is Ted Kennedy''''s malignant brain tumor a fraud and orchestrated attempt to distract from his real legacy which is his 1968/69 Chappaquidic ***/murder scandal? Because he does not appear to have chemo and radiation side effects such as weight loss due to loss of appetite, jauntice, etc.

[irliberal]

Hehehe... you can tell how desperate the republican party is when they hire ridiculous shills like "dasfarg". 8-) Things are looking good for the democrats!!!

[mjvw2]

Ted Kennedy Makes It To Denver

probalby didn''t swim

[irliberal]

Oh, and dasfarg - if you''re NOT being paid - that makes you even MORE ridiculous! 8-)

[dasfarg]

Since Obama''s job was to rid of Hillary, will he be rid of too via his own generated *** and financial scandals? There is a term called "down load" in the black community for professionals who have gay *** on the side despite being married with children and have respectable daytime jobs. Larry Sinclair has come forward with such claims with Obama since November 1999. Google "barack obama is a closet homosexual," or "Video: Pastor Manning Says Obama is Homosexual & Crack Addict for ...," or "Digg - Is Larry Sinclair Obama''s dark secret," etc.

[vetforobama]

To: makeitso928

Thanks for the info on the grizzlies. The first time I heard of this issue when McCain was making fun of it, without letting it be known he actually voted for it. He meant to imply that the American taxpayer was getting ripped-off. What a hypocrite!

[irliberal]

I would rather pet a rattlesnake than cast one vote for John McCain.

Posted by makeitso928 at 02:03 PM

I would rather be BIT. Repeatedly. Before voting for McSame, same failed wars, same failed foreign policy, same failed economic policy, same failed social policy.

[vetforobama]

To: dasfarg

So, Obama is a closet homosexual? Probably just another Republican smear tactic, like the one about his fake birth certificate (NOT) or the one that he will make all women where burkas (NOT) or any number of other lies.

Let me ask you are you a homophobic? or are you actually interested in Obama?

[talkingham]

Oh great, the Dean-Kerry-Kennedy wing of the party that hates Hillary and that has foisted loser Obama into the limelight will be well represented. This wing of the party loves to lose and puts their hate of Hillary and Bill for actually winning presidential elections above all else.

[vnveteran-72]

Years ago they won the prize that Barack Obama will claim on Thursday. But their names and deeds are dusty artifacts to young Americans, and to many older voters, they conjure up campaign debacles that helped Republicans paint the Democratic Party as too liberal, wimpy and egg-headed.

McGovern. Mondale. Dukakis.

Even one who made it to the White House, Jimmy Carter, is largely remembered for his helplessness during the Iranian hostage crisis, and his lopsided loss to Ronald Reagan 28 years ago.

Two younger, more recent nominees %u2014 Al Gore and John Kerry %u2014 suffered painfully narrow losses to President Bush, personifying Democrats'' frustration during a time of GOP domination of Congress and the White House.

All six men are in Denver this week.

Rarely if ever have so many losing nominees attended a national party convention, those quadrennial extravaganzas of blather, hoopla and hopefulness, where mentions of past defeats, like discouraging words on the range, are seldom heard.

[rochest]

the Republican playbook is working --- we are talking a lot about personality issues/conflicts not policies isdone---This woman supports 95% of George Bush''s stance like wiretapping, torture, illegal war, tax cuts for the wealthy, privatizing Social Security, hands off big oil in effect give them lots of tax breaks and take the money away from hard-working middle-class folks. And wonder if her support is because of the level of her income which would be taxed fairly when Social Security taxes go $250,000 as a base. Yes has long as we talk about personalities and peoples belief in many of the smears and false statements we are not dealing with any reality rather " beliefs " and they do not respond to facts necessarily.

[xlib]

makitso928-why sweetie, nussle up to the messiah and his running mate and you''ll have a two-fer.
Listen, vote for whoever you want but why the nastiness?? My God people, you are all ill.
Say, learn anything about biden and his son the lobbyist?? Probably not.

[xlib]

whoooa, makeitso928-MCCAIN IS A WOMANIZER!!!! Are you serious or just demented?? You people put up products like clinton and kerry and you have the nerve to call mccain a womanizer.
Listen, leeming, go to snopes.com and read about the mccain''s. Me, not voting for him, don''t like him as a politican but as a man and human being... Aw c)(p, just go to snopes.
You people are unbelievable, just unbeliebable. Guess that''s why I left the party.

[antoniof123]

Posted by dasfarg at 01:53 PM : Aug 25, 2008

Go check out Laura Bush''s car accident and then call the pot black. Too funny you are a prime example of why the swing voters removed the GOP from power in 2006, now because they still refused to moderate they will see more loses in 2008.

[airboatboy]

Wonder what he''ll do after the convention. I guess he''ll cross that bridge when it comes.

[bigwhtpony]

youu''''ll escape your necon cacoon, unfold your beautiful democratic wings and taste real intellectual freedom for the first time.
Posted by makeitso928 at 03:01 PM : Aug 25, 2008

He didn''t say he was gonna ''off'' himself.

[bigwhtpony]

Guess that''''s why I left the party.
Posted by Xlib at 02:59 PM : Aug 25, 2008

You did the right thing (no pun intended). :) It''s not a party, it''s a cult.

[bigwhtpony]

''Ted Kennedy Makes It To Denver''

Hey, who turned out the lights? This isn''t funny, anymore.....where''s my drool bucket????

[dnsallday]

nolalou: Ted Kennedy has never taken the blame for anything in his life. His accountability is zero. He''''s a walking joke. But other than that.

Posted by Edward1975
******************************************************** I guess this is your way of calling John McCain a liar.

[dnsallday]

The man is amazing. I lived in Massachussetts for a number of years and got to see some of the work from this champion of a man first hand. There has never been a more potent and effective force in the Senate looking out for the middle class.

I can''t help compare Kennedy''s courage to get himself to Denver after brain surgery and during his chemo and radiation treatments and then there is John McCain who couldn''''t even be bothered to get himself to D.C. to vote on the last Veterans bill.

[bretster7]

Uh, fatracisthorse, a cult?! You can sit there draped in the NeoCon flag, bible at the ready, listening to FOX Noise on TV and spewing hate-filled Rovarian talking points and say the Democratic Party is a cult?! Do you have a mirror handy?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by nokoolaid




In the first sentence of your rant YOU were spewing the hatred Typical liberal double standard, accuse the other side of doing exactly what you are doing, hypocricy.....where is YOUR mirror

[mjvw2]

Ted Kennedy Makes It To Denver
Liberal Icon Might Speak To Democratic Convention Tonight During Planned Tribute To Him

I doubt they''ll mention what a good swimmer he is

[rosieod4prez]

So, I wonder why the Good Senator has not relinquished the office he holds, so that the Governor may assign someone to fill in for him until the election rolls around. After all, if he''s too sick to make it to Denver, does he believe he will make it back to the Senate floor.

Wait a minute - is this Senator up for re-election again this year ?

[haoli25]

The real question is will he make it back to Mass. without ice.

[kennedy7955]

For those of you on this blog that hate Obama, the Clintons and the Democrats - I wish you would just come out and say you love George Bush, and explain to everyone here what you are so proud of over the past 8 years from this President.