Legal Commentary

The Last Word

By Big Tent Democrat

I heard it last night, and Digby has the critical part of Senator Edward Kennedy's letter to the Pope in the waning days of his life. It was read at his burial at Arlington National Cemetery:

I want you to know, your Holiness, that in my nearly 50 years of elective office I have done my best to champion the rights of the poor and open doors of economic opportunity. I've worked to welcome the immigrant, to fight discrimination and expand access to health care and education. I've opposed the death penalty and fought to end war. Those are the issues that have motivated me and have been the focus of my work as a United States Senator.

I also want you to know that even though I am ill, I am committed to do everything I can to get access to health care for everyone in my country. This has been the political cause of my life. I believe in a conscience protection for Catholics in the health field and will continue to advocate for it as my colleagues in the Senate and I work to develop an overall national policy that guarantees health care for everyone.

Senator Kennedy was expounding on how his Catholic faith imbued his political philosophy. He was explaining his religious values. And how they were central to his political values. Perhaps President Obama can take up THIS values argument.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on August 30, 2009 (boomark / email).