Posted on 05/24/2011 10:53:34 AM PDT by raccoonradio
(WPRI) - Patrick Kennedy continues his campaign for support for brain research -- with empathy for the suspect in a serious case of violence: Jared Loughner, the man accused of shooting Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and killing six others in a rampage earlier this year.
Kennedy, the former Rhode Island representative who stepped down last year, wants to eradicate the stigma attached to mental health disorders.
In an interview that aired this weekend on CNN -- an hour-long program called "Patrick Kennedy, Coming Clean" -- he told the news channel's Dr. Sanjay Gupta people with mental problems have been ignored for too long. He implied he has sympathy for Loughner.
"It's an irony, but we think no stigma towards Gabby and her brain injury, but he has a brain injury as well, because clearly his brain was not working properly when he picked up that gun and shot all those people," he told Gupta.
Kennedy himself has struggled with substance abuse for more than 25 years. A year ago, he told reporters "Some days, you're more successful than others," in response to reports he was drinking at a bar -- and "cut off" by the bartender.
In the CNN interview, he said mental instabilities are often dismissed -- or written off -- by the public.
"There is that sense like, 'Jared Loughner out in Arizona... He's crazy.' They look the other way. Not thinking that this is someone who is sick and needs healthcare. Instead, because we look the other way, and he goes untreated, he shoots and kills people -- including a good friend of mine, Gabby Giffords."
Eyewitness News wanted to ask Kennedy more about his statements. While he no longer has an official spokesperson, we put several phone calls into a former Kennedy chief of staff, who remains a family friend. As of 6:00 Monday night, our calls had not been returned.
Howie Carr list ping
Support the mentally challenge—re-elect Patrick—oops, he’s no longer in office. (Had to retire due to illness; the voters got sick of him.)
another washed up kennedy who can’t control his mouth
He’d be better off searching for a brain.
So now I am supposed to look kindly on sociopaths and psychotics? I'll pass, you pill popping nit wit.
There but for that inheritance from Grandpa goes YOU, eh Mr. Kennedy?
Some people don’t know enough to quite while their ahead, or at least no worse off. Remain silent and be thought a fool, or speak and remove all doubt.
Does he have sympathy for Lee Harvey Oswald and Sirhan Sirhan?
(1)Lobotomy
(2)Election to Public Office by trained and adoring members of the lower classes
(3)Appointment to head phony foundations at very high rates of compensation.
Patches is somewhat confused, because while he was assigned to #(2), that fell through. He has not, to anyone's knowledge, yet been scheduled for #(1), the lobotomy option. Other highly-paid relatives have not made room for him at #(3).
Permit me to suggest that he cool off and go for a late-night drive around DC, avoiding bridges.
I’d be willing to chip in to get him a #1...
I saw a few seconds of this clown whining and feeling sorry for himself. Disgusting.
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