I Don't Like Ted Kennedy

I don't like most of what he stands for. I don't like his phoniness and insincerity. His character and integrity certainly don't impress me (need I really go any further)? In fact, I really don't like any of the Kennedys, particularly Papa Joe. And yet, like anyone with any empathy, I really felt awful when I heard of his seizure on Saturday, and certainly wish Senator Kennedy the speediest and healthiest of recoveries. Although I don't admire him, he has had an admirable career. Most importantly, he is human, and I do believe his beliefs and actions are mostly well-intentioned.
It's interesting how moments of anguish can often bring divided people together. Things like one's health obviously transcend politics. And yet in comes Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to bring us back to earth. On Saturday, in response to Senator Kennedy's hospitalization, he was widely quoted as saying the following: "The one thing I can say, if there ever was a fighter, anyone who stood for what we as Americans, we as Democrats, stand for, it's Ted Kennedy."
If he had only not said, "we as Democrats," he would have risen above the occasion. But no, Senator Reid has to make someone's acute health issue merely about divisive politics.
I'm not a Democrat. I'm not a Republican. There are a lot of us in the great big middle. Are we not American? Are we not fighters?