Senator Ted Kennedy dead at 77

A great man who accomplished much for the average man plagued by his own humanity

Senator Ted Kennedy has died at home from brain cancer. He was 77 years old.

BOSTON – Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the liberal lion of the Senate and haunted bearer of the Camelot torch after two of his brothers fell to assassins’ bullets, has died at his home in Hyannis Port after battling a brain tumor. He was 77.

For nearly a half-century in the Senate, Kennedy was a steadfast champion of the working class and the poor, a powerful voice on health care, civil rights, and war and peace. To the American public, though, he was best known as the last surviving son of America’s most glamorous political family, the eulogist of a clan shattered again and again by tragedy. MSNBC

For almost 50 years he took the side of the poor, the working class and the disabled in American politics. His successes were often from dogged perseverance since his personal authority was diminished by a tattered lifestyle.

Scandal plagued him throughout his life including DUI convictions, the death of Mary Jo Kopechne at Chappaquiddick Island in Martha’s Vineyard, divorce and a wild lifestyle.

He was an interesting study in human fallibility, wealth and good works. Despite his weaknesses, people respected him as the standard bearer for his brothers who were assassinated – President John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy.

He worked tirelessly for the underdog and was invincible in electoral victory after victory.

For most of the dirt on Ted Kennedy see NNDB

Filmmaker Michael Moore sees Ted Kennedy in a more positive light as a civil rights, disability and healthcare activist.

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