Ted Kennedy challenged President Carter in the 1980 primary

[DefenseLawyer]

I guess he wasn't a good Democrat either.

[Ed Suspicious]

1. The argument they'll make is that the challenge lead to the Carter loss. Lesson learned. I say

bullshit to that.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

10. I remember being astounded that

Ted Kennedy for President offices still remained open LONG after the convention was over. That seems like the definition of sabotaging one's own party and ensuring victory for the other side.

[navarth]

2. score.

[elleng]

3. There were LOTS of complaints about that at the time,

as you might imagine (in case you weren't around at the time.) And many blamed him (and likely still do) for the result = reagan. Democrat/Not-Democrat was not among the complaints.

[jfern]

5. Kernnedy might have done better in the general election

[DefenseLawyer]

6. But no one says Ted Kennedy wasn't a good Democrat

As far as I know.

[elleng]

8. which was, presumably what he thought,

notwithstanding existence of an incumbent potus. I recall thoughts at the time: 'It's his time.'

[jfern]

4. And he was probably a more serious primary challenger than Bernie was talking about

[JI7]

7. i love TEd Kennedy but i don't think he was being a good dem by doing that

[elleng]

9. You and many others.

[saltpoint]

11. I supported Ted Kennedy's

challenge. Still do.

[Hekate]

12. ....Heeeere's Ronnie!

Ted Kennedy was a great man, but this was a monumental mistake. We got Ronald Reagan because of that.

Only idiots call for a sitting Democratic president to be primaries by another Democrat. Teddy never did that again, but too damn bad for the country that he did it at all.

[TheBlackAdder]

14. We DID NOT get Reagan because of Ted Kennedy's challenge. The rise of the Moral Majority!

.


When Phyllis Schlafly's Stop-ERA movent successfully stalled the ratification of the ERA, there was a national Christian movement afoot that was completely structured and ready for mobilization in 1980 to usher in Ronald Reagan. The MM remained powerful for about a decade afterwards.


The rise of the Anti-Abortion movement also found support within this group and it created a powerful juggernaut. 45% of the people who were against the ERA were women, as most were from evangelical quarters.

.

[Fearless]

13. He ended up giving the key note address at the DNC that year...

It is, in my not so humble opinions, one of the most accurate and poignant speeches of a generation.

Listen it to and I dare you to tell me that he wasn't what a democrat was supposed to be.