But the assertions contained in his letter are left for the living and we must set the record of his actions here on earth straight for those of us who remain on earth.
"Champion the rights of the poor and open doors of economic opportunity"
Granting the poor entitlements rights which Kennedy sought to do time and again is not opening opportunity. In fact, Kennedy excoriated Robert Bork in his infamous speech on the Senate floor by falsely imputing onto Bork a desire to end those entitlements and leaving the poor Unsuccored. Kennedy's career has been one long campaign not for equality of opportunity but for equality of outcome.
"I have worked to welcome the immigrant, "
No, Senator Kennedy, did not work to welcome the immigrant, he deliberately made Western European immigrants unwelcome and deliberately made other immigrants based on racial preference more welcome. More, his welcome did not extend only to immigrants but also to illegal immigrants. Kennedy's legislative history is one of frustrating every attempt to limit illegal immigration.
"to fight discrimination"
Again Senator Kennedy worked to fight discrimination only of a certain kind. Racial discrimination against white Americans was not opposed by the senator. Moreover, discrimination against achievers and political conservatives was actually practiced by Senator Kennedy.
"expand access to health care "
Yes, he worked to expand health care to illegal immigrants. He did act to require achievers to pay for the healthcare of others.
"expand access to... education"
He sought at every turn to limit access to the kind of education he approved of which was run by educational elitists and apparatchiks with the result that America possesses the dreariest statistics of any Western industrialized nation.
"I have opposed the death penalty "
Liberals such as Senator Kennedy have succeeded in so attenuating, in time and likelihood, the punishment from the murder that much deterrent value has been washed out of capital punishment laws. How many innocent people died as a result of Senator Kennedy's activities?
"fought to end war"
How many people died in the aftermath of the Vietnam war as a result of efforts of liberals like Senator Kennedy to abandon the people of southeast Asia to the Communists who proved to be the murderers the right had predicted? The record of Senator Kennedy in this regard is not that of a pacifist in opposition to war but that of an ideologue in opposition to wars waged in America's national interest.
The reckoning for Senator Kennedy's sins has already occurred between him and his maker and it is not for us to presume on that process. But we have a duty to our children to keep the record straight here on earth.
