Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy gave the kind of speech that makes people want to stand up and cheer. He's always been a smooth talker, but he threw a little bit of Howard Dean's barbaric yawp into the mix, and the result was explosive.
Here's Teddy railing against the Republicans tacking on more and more amendments, which are slowing down the passage of an increase in the minimum wage:
At about three minutes into the video, Kennedy turns up the volume and says how he really feels. By the end of the seven-and-a-half-minute clip, you're ready to cue up the Rocky theme. If you don't have time to watch the whole clip, here are three of the major arrows Kennedy aimed at opponents of the minimum-wage bill:
"What is the price that you want from these working men and women? What cost? How much more do we have to give to the private sector and to business? When does the greed stop?, we ask the other side."
"What is the price that the workers have to pay to get an increase? What is it about working men and women that you find so offensive?"
"This is filibuster by delay and amendments! I've been around here long enough to know it when I see it - and smell it."
The "smell" bit was especially clever. As for arguments against an increase in the minimum wage, which hasn't risen nationally in 10 years, all Bostonist can say is you try to live on $5.15 an hour for a week, especially in a state as expensive as Massachusetts. Massachusetts minimum wage is $7.50 an hour, which is higher than the national rate.


