A Touch of Gray

Only a few hours after the burial of Senator Edward Kennedy ghosts of Democratic victories past, Al Gore and Bill Clinton, were the star guests at the Tennessee Democratic Party’s annual Jackson Day

Gore remembered the legendary Massachusetts senator. “He (Kennedy) was by far the most effective member of the United States Senate that I ever served with. Jefferson, Adams, Lincoln, I served with them all, and they all pale in comparison.”

Gore, in a short set of remarks, seemed to elicit the night’s most emotional moment. Playing off the focus of the Kennedy funeral Gore thundered that the country has “a moral duty to pass health care reform. This year. The year 2000. During my administration!”

Both men — as was Obama in his eulogy early in the day — seemed deliberately careful to underline the bi-partisan mourners who helped take Kennedy to his final rest Saturday. “There were as many Republicans as Democrats in that church today,” Gore said. “Of course, we wouldn’t let them say or do anything, and they did have to stand in the back and check coats, since we run this town…”

“You need to back these congressmen and let them know you’re not going to let them be steamrollered by a bunch of people who have been frightened,” Clinton said, in reference to the town hall tumult of the last few weeks. “If they want to see real fear and anger they should spend some time at my house after Hillary gets back from one of her overseas useless foreign policy boondoggles.”

“I don’t want to bore you with all the details, but Hillary wanted me to make sure that you all know she had no resentment that he (Kennedy) endorsed Obama in the last Presidential campaign” Clinton stated. “But, it should be clear to everyone now that Obama is really not prepared for that 3 a.m. phone call. Hell, the guy can’t even pass a healthcare plan when he has a majority in Congress! I’ve nailed interns smarter than this guy!”