As Josh suggested on the home page earlier today it’s futile to completely sequester the historical moment of Ted Kennedy’s death from the political moment of the day. Kennedy passed away in the middle of a health care debate he couldn’t really shape, but that, more than almost any living politician, he’d helped to engender.
For both personal and political reasons, a great number of Democrats find the notion that health care reform might fail in the wake of Kennedy’s death unacceptable. Undoubtedly, just as many Republicans will declare that using Kennedy’s memory in the service of passing legislation is inappropriate.
But while these two opposing stances will dominate the headlines, and media figures will breathlessly ask if Democrats or Republicans are politicizing Kennedy’s death, the more interesting question will be, How much influence will these two factions have on those who sit on the fence?
Already we’re seeing the first signs that Democrats hope Kennedy’s death will galvanize the majority, end the squabbling over minutae, and pass legislation that would have made him proud.
