Ted Kennedy caught in another scandal!

[JaJae]

Wow, this election year is really turning up the heat.

Hot Air » Blog Archive » The Kennedy KGB letter Updated with info about the NIE leak

Originally Posted by Bryan provides cliffs

That document is a memo [KGB Memo] regarding an offer made by Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts via former Senator John Tunney, both Democrats, to the General Secretary of the Communist Party, USSR, Yuri Andropov, in 1983. The offer was to help the Soviet leadership, military and civilian, conduct a PR campaign in the United States as President Ronald Reagan sought re-election. The goal of the PR campaign would be to cast President Reagan as a warmonger, the Soviets as willing to peacefully co-exist, and thereby turn the electorate away from Reagan. It was a plan to enlist Soviet help, and use the American press, in unseating an American president.

KGB Letter Outlines Sen. Kennedy's Overtures to Soviets, Prof Says -- 10/20/2006

In his book, which came out this week, Kengor focuses on a KGB letter written at the height of the Cold War that shows that Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) offered to assist Soviet leaders in formulating a public relations strategy to counter President Reagan's foreign policy and to complicate his re-election efforts.

The letter, dated May 14, 1983, was sent from the head of the KGB to Yuri Andropov, who was then General Secretary of the Soviet Union's Communist Party.

In his letter, KGB head Viktor Chebrikov offered Andropov his interpretation of Kennedy's offer. Former U.S. Sen. John Tunney (D-Calif.) had traveled to Moscow on behalf of Kennedy to seek out a partnership with Andropov and other Soviet officials, Kengor claims in his book.

At one point after President Reagan left office, Tunney acknowledged that he had played the role of intermediary, not only for Kennedy but for other U.S. senators, Kengor said. Moreover, Tunney told the London Times that he had made 15 separate trips to Moscow.

....

Specifically, Kennedy proposed that Andropov make a direct appeal to the American people in a series of television interviews that would be organized in August and September of 1983, according to the letter.

"Tunney told his contacts that Kennedy was very troubled about the decline in U.S -Soviet relations under Reagan," Kengor said. "But Kennedy attributed this decline to Reagan, not to the Soviets. In one of the most striking parts of this letter, Kennedy is said to be very impressed with Andropov and other Soviet leaders."

...

In the long run of history, Kengor believes it is evident that Reagan's policies were vindicated while Kennedy was proven wrong. In fact, as he points out in his book, Kennedy himself made a "gracious concession" after Reagan died, crediting the 40th president with winning the Cold War.

Ouch. I doubt this will get much media attention. But it is pretty troubling to hear a US senator was in contact with the KGB to try to oust an American president and attempted to spread propaganda on our own soil with the Russians during the Cold War.

I can't wait for more scandals to start coming out. This is all getting pretty interesting. Rove seems pretty confident in the Republicans this election. I wonder what else is gonna come out just before elections.

[R-Type]

Am I happy about this? No. Am I surprised? No. Does that mean the Reagan admin wasn't also busy spewing its own misleading propaganda to both US and Soviet populations? No.

I agree though that it's an interesting race.

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by R-Type

Am I happy about this? No. Am I surprised? No. Does that mean the Reagan admin wasn't also busy spewing its own misleading propaganda to both US and Soviet populations? No.

I agree though that it's an interesting race.

I wasn't old enough to have an opinion on Reagan during the Cold War. Just going by what I've read about him, I'd have to agree. He did his part. But Reagan is dead. And this is a scandal coming out now just after the Foley incident. I wonder if it'll pick up much coverage. I doubt it.

[R-Type]

I wasn't either (born in 77). My parents didn't like him because of his fear mongering, but from what I understand there was a lot of that going around then, from both parties. Anyway, I know that's just their opinions I'm going on.

[JaJae]

Very valid opinion in my book.

[6SpeedTA95]

I dont find it surprising that kennedy would be involved in this shit. I dont find it surprising that they media isn't covering it. This would destroy democrats and ted kennedy and the media can't have that. But they'll talk about every book or rumor that hurts republicans

[KatKanPlay]

The letter, dated May 14, 1983, was sent from the head of the KGB to Yuri Andropov, who was then General Secretary of the Soviet Union's Communist Party.

In his letter, KGB head Viktor Chebrikov offered Andropov his interpretation of Kennedy's offer. Former U.S. Sen. John Tunney (D-Calif.) had traveled to Moscow on behalf of Kennedy to seek out a partnership with Andropov and other Soviet officials, Kengor claims in his book.

At one point after President Reagan left office, Tunney acknowledged that he had played the role of intermediary, not only for Kennedy but for other U.S. senators, Kengor said. Moreover, Tunney told the London Times that he had made 15 separate trips to Moscow.

There is no scandal here. The fact of the matter is the US had enough nuclear weapons to destroy the world 36 times over and the Soviet Union 24 times the world over. There was much diplomatic fervor at the time. Although Reagan is credited with winning the Cold War he had help with Polands uprising for solidarity as well as Mikhail Gorbachev's "glastnost" and "perestoika". It was a common fear at the time that Reagan might tend to be a little trigger happy and provocative..

In the long run of history, Kengor believes it is evident that Reagan's policies were vindicated while Kennedy was proven wrong. In fact, as he points out in his book, Kennedy himself made a "gracious concession" after Reagan died, crediting the 40th president with winning the Cold War.

That pretty much says what needs to be said.....

[avsp]

This astounds me.

I'd be worried if media didnt pick it up, ifs its verifible.

I dont see how it would dramatically hurt the dems except Kennady, ..., but then I'm almost certainly missing something

The fear-mongering at the time was largely fronted the Committee on the Present Danger (connected with the 'team b' effort), which still exists.

Infamous TV ads featured 'the bear in the woods'.

It was also frequently alleged that the Soviets were behind a network of international terrorism. History now shows that most of the evidence for this was CIA 'black propaganda'. The bizare thing was that the CIA started to believe its own hype, ..., alledgedly.

Committee on the Present Danger - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Either way if Kennady really did this he surely is finally well f*cked

[avsp]

Originally Posted by KatKanPlay

There is no scandal here. The fact of the matter is the US had enough nuclear weapons to destroy the world 36 times over and the Soviet Union 24 times the world over. There was much diplomatic fervor at the time. Although Reagan is credited with winning the Cold War he had help with Polands uprising for solidarity as well as Mikhail Gorbachev's "glastnost" and "perestoika". It was a common fear at the time that Reagan might tend to be a little trigger happy and provocative..



That pretty much says what needs to be said.....

Can't we ONLY look at the action from the perspective of the time

And even though there was enourmous worry at Reagans bellicose posturing at the time, to secretly seek to co-ordinate, in a self-serving manner, a PR campaign in alliegence with the Soviets was surely close to treason, wasnt it?

Kennedy could have just as easily been public about seeking 'detante' with Moscow & publically embraced Andropov etc

[WickedLou9]

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

I dont find it surprising that kennedy would be involved in this shit. I dont find it surprising that they media isn't covering it. This would destroy democrats and ted kennedy and the media can't have that. But they'll talk about every book or rumor that hurts republicans

I don't think it would do much of anything.

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

I don't think it would do much of anything.

Isn't this a bit more serious than a guy having dirty instant message conversations with 17 year olds?

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by KatKanPlay

There is no scandal here.

Sure there is. The memo from the KGB points out Kennedy and Tunney. Other Democrats were on board, but weren't named. It leads us to believe that the two who were really pushing for this and making it happen were Kennedy and Tunney. And it states Kennedy was the man who was doing the negotiating.

In his letter, KGB head Viktor Chebrikov offered Andropov his interpretation of Kennedy's offer.

Kennedy was the big dog behind this. What does our number of nuclear weapons have to do with this?

Fact is, Kennedy was orchestrating a covert government takeover with the help of the KGB during the Cold War. As a senator he was attempting to undermine US policy and introduce KGB propaganda to the nationm in an effort to oust the president... again during the Cold War.

This would equate to a Democrat being in office and a Republican senator secretly making deals with al Qaeda to oust the Democratic president through terrorist propaganda. How is that not a scandal?

[6SpeedTA95]

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

I don't think it would do much of anything.

Kennedy conspiring wiht the Soviets to alter the outcomes of US elections? Yeah thats nothing

[KatKanPlay]

Originally Posted by JaJae

Sure there is. The memo from the KGB points out Kennedy and Tunney. Other Democrats were on board, but weren't named. It leads us to believe that the two who were really pushing for this and making it happen were Kennedy and Tunney. And it states Kennedy was the man who was doing the negotiating.



Kennedy was the big dog behind this. What does our number of nuclear weapons have to do with this?

Fact is, Kennedy was orchestrating a covert government takeover with the help of the KGB during the Cold War. As a senator he was attempting to undermine US policy and introduce KGB propaganda to the nationm in an effort to oust the president... again during the Cold War.

This would equate to a Democrat being in office and a Republican senator secretly making deals with al Qaeda to oust the Democratic president through terrorist propaganda. How is that not a scandal?

Nuclear weapons had everything to do with everything political at the time.

The big fear was that Reagan's brand of neoconservatism would very well lead us into nuclear war with Russia.
This particular time in history HAS to be included as part of the context. Your daily life has never been effected by the Cold War. The nuclear arms race was one of the scariest times in human history. The United States was deemed a Super Power because of its nuclear arsenal as well as Russia.

I think the next step here is to nail down the authenticity of the memo. If it’s real, then the story is obviously very significant. If it’s not real, there’s no story here at all.

What most likely will come of this is the need for diplomacy at the time and the efforts towards diplomacy by these Senators to expose Reagan's lack of diplomacy.

I say bring on the evidence and if true, crush Ted Kennedy finally and forever. I just highly doubt this will happen, and I certainly see no gain for the republican agenda come voting day. Only time will tell....

[SoFlaJDM]

the voters wont give a shit... kennedy still wins

[6SpeedTA95]

Originally Posted by KatKanPlay

Nuclear weapons had everything to do with everything political at the time.

The big fear was that Reagan's brand of neoconservatism would very well lead us into nuclear war with Russia.
This particular time in history HAS to be included as part of the context. Your daily life has never been effected by the Cold War. The nuclear arms race was one of the scariest times in human history. The United States was deemed a Super Power because of its nuclear arsenal as well as Russia.



What most likely will come of this is the need for diplomacy at the time and the efforts towards diplomacy by these Senators to expose Reagan's lack of diplomacy.

I say bring on the evidence and crush Ted Kennedy forever if proved to be treason, I just highly doubt this will happen, and I certainly see no gain for the republican agenda come voting day. Only time will tell....

So now we're taking away credit from Reagan where credit is due because why? The guy clearly was instrumental in ending the cold war. Where there other factors in play? Absolutely, would the soviets had fallen eventually? Yes but he sped up the process by about a decade according to unbiased historical accounts. Even liberal accounts give him credit here...

Now people are defending Ted Kennedy for being a traitor?

[6SpeedTA95]

Originally Posted by SoFlaJDM

the voters wont give a shit... kennedy still wins

my assumption would be the voters there are unaware...the media there will blatantly lie to keep from criticizing kennedy.

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by KatKanPlay

Nuclear weapons had everything to do with everything political at the time.

The big fear was that Reagan's brand of neoconservatism would very well lead us into nuclear war with Russia.
This particular time in history HAS to be included as part of the context. Your daily life has never been effected by the Cold War. The nuclear arms race was one of the scariest times in human history. The United States was deemed a Super Power because of its nuclear arsenal as well as Russia.



What most likely will come of this is the need for diplomacy at the time and the efforts towards diplomacy by these Senators to expose Reagan's lack of diplomacy.

I say bring on the evidence and if true, crush Ted Kennedy finally and forever. I just highly doubt this will happen, and I certainly see no gain for the republican agenda come voting day. Only time will tell....

This isn't about Reagan or nuclear weapons. This is about Kennedy getting in bed with the KGB to kick out Reagan and advance political power of the Democrats during the Cold War. Reagan had his faults. But two wrongs don't make a right.

[WickedLou9]

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

Kennedy conspiring wiht the Soviets to alter the outcomes of US elections? Yeah thats nothing

He wasn't trying to alter anything. He was trying to influence the voters to vote for someone else other than Reagan.

Any politial ad is intended to influence the outcome of an election.
The man conspired to run TV commercials. It's not like he was giving away state secrets. I don't see this as a big deal.