Never a dull moment in the People's Republic of Mass. I see:
www.newsmax.com
Wednesday March 22, 2000 2:15 AM EST
Ted Kennedy Challenged on Chappaquiddick -- Finally
A wealthy Republican businessman challenging Sen. Edward M. Kennedy is raising the ghost of Mary Jo Kopechne in his bid to unseat the veteran Massachusetts Democrat.
Jack E. Robinson III, who officially announced his candidacy Tuesday, blamed Kennedy for leaking stories about Robinson's own past troubles and said, "What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander."
Robinson said three generations of Americans "really don't understand what happened in 1969," when Kopechne died after a car driven by Kennedy plunged off a bridge and into the water at Chappaquiddick on the resort island of Martha's Vineyard.
Kennedy survived the accident but did not summon help for hours. Experts said Kopechne might have been saved if help had arrived quickly, and said Kennedy was criminally negligent for not doing so. Kennedy eventually pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of leaving the scene of an accident. Critics complained Kennedy escaped more serious criminal charges because of his political influence.
"There is a candidate that's actually been convicted of a crime, and that's not me," Robinson said in Tuesday's Boston Herald.
The paper reported Tuesday that a second woman has come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against the GOP hopeful.
Identified only as Ann-Marie, the woman told the Globe that she had a blind "date from hell" with Robinson four years ago, and that he "forcibly French-kissed me, sticking his tongue in my mouth." The woman said she was not attracted at all to Robinson and did not want to "experience these disgusting, invasive kisses."
Robinson said he had expected more "malicious allegations" about him to become public. He blamed earlier leaks from the Kennedy camp for calling attention to a drunken driving incident in 1985 and charges that he forced himself sexually on a former girlfriend in 1997.
The drunken driving charge was dismissed after Robinson passed a breathalyzer test. The former girlfriend obtained a restraining order against him, but it was lifted after the two agreed to avoid each other.
Kennedy spokesman Will Keyser said Robinson's claim the senator's camp leaked those incidents to the public were "ridiculous."
At his news conference Tuesday, Robinson defended his personal life, saying: "I am not a womanizer. I am not a groper."
Robinson said he was willing to put his background out in public for all to see and allow the voters to decide whether he's qualified to serve.
Meanwhile, Republican Gov. Paul Cellucci has withheld his endorsement of Robinson. The governor said he wanted to "wait and see" how Robinson answers allegations of domestic sexual abuse against him.
"He strongly denies it," Cellucci said, "so let's give him a chance to state his case."
--UPI-- |
