These are our Nation's Leaders?

[deltecs]

Rep. Kennedy Says Mental Health, Drug History Makes Him Stronger Advocate
Tuesday, April 15, 2008

WASHINGTON —  Rep. Patrick Kennedy says his personal struggles to recover from depression, alcoholism and substance abuse have made him a more compelling advocate in Congress for improved mental health care coverage.

The Rhode Island Democrat, a son of Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, played a leading role winning House passage last month on a bill to expand coverage for people needing mental health and addiction treatment.

"My own story gave a lot of my colleagues a comfort level to tell me their own stories, privately," he said in a recent telephone interview with The Associated Press. "In the process it tied them into this debate personally in ways I think that gave traction to this legislation early on."

Kennedy, 40, crashed his car into a Capitol barricade in the middle of the night nearly two years ago, and agreed to a plea deal on a charge of driving under the influence of prescription drugs. He speaks publicly about his own recovery in hopes of ending the stigma of mental illness that prevents people from seeking treatment.

Too bad his father didn't have the same treatment.  Mary Jo would still be alive, and maybe Ted would have been home being a responsible parent.  These are the people we've elected to run our government and make laws.  God help this country cause the voters don't seem to care.

[Dee]

I didn't help elect either one of the jackasses. That's a northern deal, created by northerners. I would not elect a drunk or a dope head knowingly to run my business.
All the crooked politicians down here are sober and clean.