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Dodd hopes Kennedy death will quell health care reform discontent
By: Susan Ferrechio
Chief Congressional Correspondent
08/26/09 4:35 PM EDT
Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., said he hopes Sen. Ted Kennedy's death will "remind people to calm down," about health care reform, referring to the town hall meetings on the Democratic plan to reform health care that have drawn angry crowds.
Dodd spoke to reporters Wednesday about the death of Kennedy, 77, who he referred to as his best friend in the Senate. Dodd recalled many visits to his home Kennedy and long sailing trips together, during which Kennedy would lecture Dodd about the need for health care reform.
He was asked by one reporter what he believed would be the impact of Kennedy's death.
"You know, I hope it would remind people to calm down," Dodd said. "This screaming that's going on is not helpful."
Dodd added that he hopes Kennedy's passing will "cause people to take a breath, step back, and start talking with each other again in -- in more civil tones about what needs to be done, because that's what Teddy would do."
He added, "my hope is that those who have strong feelings on this issue will not allow their strong feelings to turn into demagoguery, to turn into, sort of, scathing, blisteral rantings that don't contribute to the ultimate debate and the conclusion, and that is that we as a country need to do better."
Dodd is recovering from prostate cancer surgery. He said Kennedy was the first to call after his operation.
"I came out of surgery, first call, Teddy, saying, 'Welcome to the club,' with cancer and some choice comments which I can't refer to in public about -- about having prostate surgery and what catheters mean to people. So, I mean, just the humor of the guy, even in tough moments is -- that's the kind of friend he could be. He could make you laugh at the moment you thought you could least tolerate it, and would be there at the moment you needed him the most."
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