Wellstoning Ted Kennedy: Democrats 'Never Let a Crisis Go to Waste'

"Never let a serious crisis go to waste. What I mean by that is it's an opportunity to do things you couldn't do before."

-- White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

The image is from Carol at No Sheeples Here!, "ChappaquiddiCARE™." And recall JammieWearingFool's comment this morning, that remembrances for Ted Kennedy will be like "a Wellstone memorial on steroids."

And while Michelle Malkin's suggested we put aside "ideological differences" to "mark this passing with solemnity," the Democratic-left wants to both whitewash Kennedy's destructive history and exploit his death for political purposes.

For example, Chris Matthews today described Barack Obama as "the "last brother" of the Kennedy political dynasty; and worse, Matthews is quoted saying, "Jack Kennedy was killed in an open car in Dallas in the midst of the most hated–it’s like the mood we’re in right now." (Even though Jack Kennedy was murdered by a communist who spent time in the Soviet Union.)

Doug Powers responded to Matthews with, "Chris Matthews is Wrong to Say Obama is the Last Kennedy Brother."

Apparently, Andrew Brietbart has let loose with some "invective" against Kennedy, as noted at the Politico, "Not All Kennedy Critics Hold Fire." And Think Progress is all over the story, "Andrew Breitbart Unleashes A Torrent of Invective Against Sen. Ted Kennedy's Legacy On Twitter."

But leftists are conveniently skipping over this tweet:

In this moment I cant but recognize absolute backwardness of media & society. Bush=EVIL. Ted Kennedy=SAINT. Im gonna keep fighin', folks.

See also, Gateway Pundit, "Liberals Smear Eric Cantor & Bash Andrew Breitbart in Kennedy Reports."

Plus, more context from Newsbusters:

I'm all for remembering a man's good qualities upon his death. But not at the price of ignoring—and denying—history. Yet that's just what David Shuster did during today's 4 PM hour on MSNBC when he claimed that Kennedy "didn't dabble in small personal attacks." This of the man who invented the dark political art form of "borking."

And note this, from Kim Priestap, "Will Kennedy's Death Bring About a Wellstone Spectacle for Health Care?":

It seems the left is intent on debasing Kennedy's death with a concerted effort to manipulate the American people into supporting Obama's health care reform. Will it work or will it turn into a Paul Wellstone spectacle with similar results? Considering how pissed the American people are at the left and the Democrats for trying to shove this down their thoats, I have a feeling they won't appreciate this new push for a government take-over of health care recycled and presented to them in Kennedy wrapping. It's crass, cynical, and simply disgusting.

Michelle Malkin has more on that, "The Wretched Excess Begins."

And Gateway Pundit again with, "AP: Obama to Deliver Eulogy at Kennedy Funeral" ("Here we go ...The messiah and the saint").

Well, you get the picture ...

See also, The Anchoress, "Ted Kennedy, Healthcare & Purgatory – More UPDATES" (a super huge Kennedy roundup). And, Nick Gillespie, "Ted Kennedy and the Death (Hopefully) of an Era" (via Memeorandum).