Edward Kennedy's now a knight, but not all Britain bows

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, in a formal address to Congress this morning, announced that Queen Elizabeth has conferred honorary knighthood on Sen. Edward Kennedy, the veteran Massachusetts Democrat who's battling brain cancer.

The 77-year-old brother of assassinated President John F. Kennedy and son of the former ambassador to Britain, Joseph P. Kennedy, is being honored for his role in swaying Irish American public opinion during the Northern Ireland peace process.

View C-SPAN video where Brown says:

Northern Ireland is today at peace, more Americans have healthcare, more children around the world are going to school, and for all those things we owe a great debt to the life and courage of Sen. Edward Kennedy.

Congress responded by giving Brown a standing ovation. But in London, some critics questioned the move.

“I have to question the appropriateness of the award,” said Tory Michael Ancram, who served as a junior minister in Ulster. “I was surprised because those who really helped in Northern Ireland, like George Mitchell, made it clear they worked for both parts of the community, whereas Ted Kennedy visibly supported one part, the Republican [separatist] movement.”

In the Senate for 46 years, Kennedy has survived the assassinations of his older brothers, JFK and Robert Kennedy. He was almost killed in a plane crash in 1964 that left him with permanent back pain. His political future was clouded by an accident at Chappaquiddick. He drove a car off a bridge at Chappaquiddick in 1969, swimming to safety and abandoning his companion, Mary Jo Kopechne, who died trapped in the sunken car.

Kennedy -- an early and ardent supporter of Barack Obama's presidential bid -- has ever since sought to carve out a record as a champion of children and working Americans, chairing the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and spearheading efforts to reform healthcare.

-- Johanna Neuman

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Video courtesy of C-SPAN.

Photo: Young Edward Kennedy, right, stands with former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and his brother, then Atty. Gen. Robert Kennedy, at the funeral of slain President John F. Kennedy. Credit: Hulton Archive of Getty Images

Comments

[ChrisR]

Sir Kennedy, that just nullifies the historical importance of a Knight. Now, even drunks who kill young women and leave them by fleeing the scene of a crime can be a Knight. This is ridiculous and I am glad than many British citizens are upset with this Royal mistake. I guarantee the Kings and warrior Knights throughout history would be outraged and saddened by the disrespect for their title of honor that is now given to the dishonorable.

[Gary]

Technically, the title of Sir is reserved on for British subjects only

[AJ]

I guess it's been 40 years:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chappaquiddick_incident

Kill an innocent woman, become a knight!!

[ChrisR]

Sir Kennedy, that just nullifies the historical importance of a Knight. Now, even drunks who kill young women and leave them by fleeing the scene of a crime can be a Knight. This is ridiculous and I am glad than many British citizens are upset with this Royal mistake. I guarantee the Kings and warrior Knights throughout history would be outraged and saddened by the disrespect for their title of honor that is now given to the dishonorable.

[DJ]

This diminishes all knighthood's. It wasn't an accident at Chappaquiddick, it was a drunk driving manslaughter which was covered up and never prosecuted.

[drbenk]

Let's see. Teddy demanded that his pilot take off in inclement weather in 1964 resulting in the crash and death of his pilot and an aide. He wasn't done. In 1969 his driving resulted in the drowning death of Mary Jo Kopechne. In 1979 he couldn't answer the question "Why do you want to be President?" while running for the office. Other than occasionally singing in Spanish this guy should have been locked up years ago. For this he gets rewarded??

[Melvin Goodwriter]

"Sir" Edward Kennedy? Royal bullshit, I say, mayte!

[drbenk]

Let's see. Teddy demanded that his pilot take off in inclement weather in 1964 resulting in the crash and death of his pilot and an aide. He wasn't done. In 1969 his driving resulted in the drowning death of Mary Jo Kopechne. In 1979 he couldn't answer the question "Why do you want to be President?" while running for the office. Other than occasionally singing in Spanish this guy should have been locked up years ago. For this he gets rewarded??

[davegood57]

GEE, IF DRIVING A CAR OFF A BRIDGE AND LOSING Mary Jo Kopechne TO "ACCIDENTAL DROWNING" GETS YOU AN HONORARY KNIGHTHOOD WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO OBTAIN AN EARLDOM OR LORDSHIP. WAS THE QUEEN'S HAND IN THIS DECISION IF SO, THEN I HAVE JUST LOST THE LAST SCINTILLA I'VE EVER HAD FOR ROYALTY.

[jtbwriter]

Who cares what the Torys think? The honor that Queen Elizabeth is bestowing is well deserved. Sen Kennedy is one of the few who actually cares about affordable health care for all. As one who lost a father because we couldn't afford $3000 for an angioplasty; I support Sen Kennedy and the President's efforts to ensure no one loses a life again because they don't have the money. I'll be proud to call him "Sir'!

[JoeCaprio/Citylifeproductions]

KENNEDY PERSONAL LIFE HAS BEEN CLOUDED BECAUSE OF AN EVENT THAT HAPPENED WHICH BROUGHT TO LIGHT A WHOLE NEW OUTLOOK ON A KENNEDY.ONE LOOKED AT OUT OF WEAKNESS RATHER THEN STRENGTH. THAT SAID. THIS WEAKNESS WAS NEVER VISIBLE WHEN FIGHTING FOR THOSE WHO NEEDED FIGHTING FOR. HE IS THE HERO OF THE MASSIVES IN THIS COUNTRY WHO VOICE IS OVERLOOKED AND WHOS PROSPECTS ARE DIM, HIS PASSION FOR ORDINARY PEOPLES RIGHTS AND DIGNITY HAS MADE THIS COUNTRY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN.FOR THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ANY COUNTRY BESTOWING ANY HONOR ON HIM IS HONORING WHAT HE STANDS FOR AND THAT IS HELPING THOSE WHO NEED HELP . JOE CAPRIO CITYLIFEPRODUCTIONS

[KansasGirl]

Knighthood to this sleezeball?

[Publius]

Of course, if anyone cared anymore, this would be unconstitutional.

See US Const., Art I, sec. 9; See also Federalist No. 84, in which Alexander Hamilton called the prohibition on titles of nobility "the cornerstone of republican government."

[Sean Kane]

A very deserved award for Senator Kennedy despite what the British right wing press and politicians have to say about his role in Northern Ireland.

Ted Kennedy played a critical role in bringing about the cease-fires and peace process in Northern Ireland. Michael Ancram and his Tory party did their very best to sabotage the process at the same time.

Ted Kennedy was actually an ardent opponent of the IRA and the Republican movement. He worked very closely with his friend, Nobel Laureate John Hume and successive Irish governments to bring peaceful change to Northern Ireland.

However since he was also critical of British actions and human rights violations in Northern Ireland, he was subjected to a campaign of hatred and vilification in the British press for the past 40 years.

Without Teddy Kennedy and others, there would not be peace in Northern Ireland today.

[Read the Constitution]

Article 1, Section 9, paragraph 8:

No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them,[e.g., a US Senator] shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state.

Will Kennedy insist that the Congress do its duty and give its consent before accepting the title--or will he ignore the Constitution?

[Michelle L. Blankenship]

Thank you, Your Majesty, for honoring our beloved senator. I was only three years old when our President was assinated, only eight years old when our next best hope, Robert Kennedy, was killed. I reminder it all. Ted Kennedy has had his MANY ups and downs in our government, but NEVER has he waivered from the ideals that describe our most basic principles. Thank you, your Majesty, for recognizing one of our MOST effective statesmen. God Save the Queen!

[David R.]

Most awards that used to mean something, have been cheapened and made worthless by handing them out to the completely unworthy. Nobel prize to Al Gore????
Now Knighthood to "The Swimmer"????
What's next, the Congressional Medal of Freedom to Harry Reid?
I guess and career politician can get any award or medal they want. Anythings possible. Even a completely inexperienced, unworthy ROOKIE, can become President.
What a sad state of affairs.

[Stretch]

Wow, a knight!
Probably too late to rescue Mary Jo, she was a damsel that was in distress........
wait, wouldn't that be a disqualifying factor?

[Rick]

You are a disgusting human being and obviously have no friends in the entire world. To attack Kennedy the way you do and bring up nonsense like Chappaquiddick. You lies and blatant stupidity makes me realize why you are just a blogger and not considered a journalist. You're a racist and a liar and have no good things to say or do except for attack Democrats with your race baiting. Sickening and I u understand why you are alone and will die that way.

[Donnie]

Wouldn't this apply?

The Anti-Title Amendment
This amendment, submitted to the States in the 11th Congress (in 1810), said that any citizen who accepted or received any title of nobility from a foreign power, or who accepted without the consent of Congress any gift from a foreign power, by would no longer be a citizen There is some debate about whether this amendment was actually ratified or not, mostly by those who put forth the fanciful notion that if it had been, most (if not all) legislators who are lawyers, and who use the title "Esquire" would no longer be citizens, and hence, no longer be able to serve in Congress.

[D.A.]

Why is Rick calling David R. a racist? All he said was that Obama was an "unworthy ROOKIE" which is true, based upon Obama's past non-committal voting record, only having been a Senator for 2 years, lied about Rev. Wright, needs a teleprompter to keep from faultering - isn't that a "rookie?" No one said anything about him being black, or even spoke of race in any form except for Rick.

[shimari]

In Henry VI, Shakespeare appropriately wrote:

When first this order was ordain'd, my lords,
Knights ..... were of noble birth,
Valiant and virtuous, full of haughty courage,
...........
He then that is not furnish'd in this sort
Doth but usurp the sacred name of knight,
Profaning this most honorable order,

[Chills]

FYI for everyone here. A knighthood is not a title of nobility. The lowest title of nobility or Peerage in the UK begins with the title of Baron.
And with the standing ovation, he obviously has the support of Congress.