Remembering Teddy

" Any impact segment tonight we continue of their coverage of the death of Senator Edward Kennedy and what it could mean for the future of health care reform. Joining us now from New York ABC news chief Washington correspondent George Stephanopoulos who was interviewed Senator Kennedy a number of times. George a look at the the tributes and imploring and -- the last 48 hours. For Senator Kennedy and emotions are running high for shore. What will what we're talking about -- last segment is what the Democrats have been saying about Senator Kennedy obviously laudatory comments many Republicans as well. But the attempt to resuscitate health care reform right now wrapping it in to the belly of advising memory. A Ted Kennedy -- that's that's going to be successful well. I think for so --"

" Only did anything wrong with saying you know let's work on health care pass health care to honor Ted Kennedy's memory because that's we want to -- Sonny fought for. Throughout his 47 years in the Senate."

" I do think there's a chance. And with the passing of senator Kennedy's can at least change that some of that home."

" The debate -- perhaps made a little more civil on the floor of the Senate. And the house I don't think his death those gonna have any significant impact. On what happens on the whole dynamic. Of this debate substantively or where it goes from here."

" They -- poll numbers I just alluded to in previous segment Gallup showing now I knew all time low for Senator Obama -- President Obama today. Down to 50% approval other polls obviously have been lower. The recent days don't think that help them either. Could it could -- could we be seeing a new strategy coming out from the Democratic Party on how to refashion a repackaged yes or -- basically where they're gonna bank."

" No I think there is gonna have to be -- new strategy and I think that's actually. Where the importance of invoking senator Kennedy's memory. Comes from you know when you when you say you wanna have bill and honor Senator Kennedy and you're not speaking. To conservative Democrats chances speaking to Republicans. You speaking a Liberal Democrats are speaking -- progressive Democrats and I think the White House knows. And most Democrats who follow this closely know that if if anything is gonna pass this year. It's gonna have to be -- scaled back version. Of what the president has called for it's pretty clear. Right now that there aren't the votes in the Senate to pass -- public health insurance option as much as a majority of Democrats in the house would like it it's not gonna get through the Senate. Right now and I think that what it would Democrats may try to do is remind. People of another side of the Kennedy legacy that was Kennedy the compromise -- Kennedy the negotiator. The man who was willing. To take a portion an incremental gain. They even if he couldn't get everything he was calling for that's -- Ted Kennedy did. When he helped pass the Americans for disabilities act as we did when he helped. Work with President Bush -- No Child Left Behind in 2003. And that's what's gonna have to happen here."

" That -- you think about what his effective ban on the political landscape I'm talking about America's political viewpoints. Do you think that America itself has been transformed ideologically. In any way by Ted Kennedy. "

" I don't know about ideologically but I think if you look at -- 47 years in the Senate if you look at -- is read his legislative record. 2500 bills drafted 300. Signed into law -- at -- the big debates he was at the center of the civil rights bill that just talked about including the voting rights act expansion. The Children's Health Insurance Program the state Children's Health Insurance Program worked on the senator Orrin hatch. Republican his his involvement on the nature Judy."

" Let's turn yards -- his approval rating when you want to go back we'll try to find is the most recent approval rating. Hint it's not like people he's always a better -- Arkansas. Yeah I like people in Arkansas RRF Colorado's sitting around going. Oh my god thank god we had someone in the Senate who is going out to dinner with like you know they had Jesse homes -- that great I had no cares about that except. Inside the beltway people who focused on this quest for bipartisanship a must of just don't yeah."

" Let's I I think guys are trying to make -- planet -- I don't disagree with you. On that I don't think he was always a polarizing figure. With the public. He he didn't -- in the ideological fulcrum the United States I think he had real impact we dislike."

" Reagan then I mean he didn't have the fact that President Reagan didn't wasn't it probably is really did -- Playlist transform and it would you group."

" Generation I think that's right thinking of Ronald Reagan wasn't transforming figure there's no question about that President Obama to the same thing could take a little -- Ford in the middle -- campaign that is -- he -- president. After all we. Ted Kennedy's impact was as a legislator. First and foremost I think that's where the message of his death has to be targeted right now and as I set I think it's gonna have to be Liberal Democrats in the house who I know. Who absorbed the lesson Ted Kennedy and say let's take what we can get the -- what -- Ted Kennedy's greatest regrets. In his career. Was that he didn't accept the health care proposal. Put four by Richard Nixon. Back in 1972 which was a start towards universal health care and -- back on that moment and said that was a time when Democrat should have compromised."

" The relationship between Ted Kennedy and the clintons obviously year old boss Bill Clinton and he were very different and their approaches to. Issues and problems Ted Kennedy the liberal lion Bill Clinton more of the DLC type -- a moderate Democrat on many issues tell us about that."

" You know they're -- that is true I I think there's no question about that and it was. A real sore spot for President Clinton guys he has you know and he if you haven't read again balls -- Johnson's book on the 2008. Campaign have a terrific blow by blow account of all the phone calls the Bill Clinton may be taken before he. Made that endorsement. Of President Obama than Senator Obama but they also did work together on a lot. Issues including that expansion of the state health insurance program in 1997 I think we're Ted Kennedy actually had the most impact. Was after Democrats lost control. On the house in nineteen 94 he came in. And even though Bill Clinton was moving to the center in a lot of ways is working -- Dick Morris. And trying to -- trying to relate against the -- the Liberal Democrats in many ways. Ted Kennedy also gave him the advice to pick a couple of issues especially an issue like Medicare and and draw the line mayor make the stand there. And make your fight there and that's exactly what Bill Clinton didn't do during the government shut down in nineteen in late."

" There was not a lot of love though loss between a plan -- right."

" I don't think that's exactly right there actually was it was pretty great affection."

" By especially by the end of his presidency between the president and Senator Kennedy I think that's why. -- it hurts so much."

" I want Senator Kennedy ended up endorsing Senator Obama during the campaign. Starts out great to see -- bank account -- next."