Just how did Ted Kennedy ‘survive’ such a scandal?

» On the occassion of his death,  we ponder how ‘Chappaquiddick’ would be handled today.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts has died at the age of 77. He is remembered in obituaries as the “Lion of the Senate,” and as being, in President Obama’s opinion, “The greatest United States Senator of our time.”
Kennedy did indeed have a dramatic impact on politics in our country, and he did bring to life many important pieces of legislation.

Also briefly touched upon in obituaries is the infamous 1969 Chappaquiddick incident, where Kennedy drove his car off a bridge after a party. In the car with him was Mary Jo Kopechne. Kennedy survived, Kopechne died.

Kennedy denied being drunk and claims to have tried numerous times to rescue Kopechne, but to no avail.

The truly bizarre part of the incident is the fact that Kennedy did not report the accident to police until the next morning. He ended up pleading guilty to leaving the scene of an accident.

Kennedy haters often point to this incident as being indicative of the man. Supporters generally assume his explanation of the incident to be true.

Regardless, it is interesting to note that this scandal, which in the present day would have ruined almost any politician, did not stop Kennedy from winning seven more terms in the Senate.

This raises a question: Just how in the world did Kennedy manage it? Was it the Kennedy legacy? After the tragic death of his brothers John and Robert, he was all the nation had left of “Camelot.”

Was it his political acumen? He was known for being able to draw bipartisan support to many of his projects, and he was clearly a strong senator.

Or was it that in a time before 24-hour news stations and the draw of constant scandal, the public just weren’t as concerned with what politicians did outside of politics?

Today, no crime, marital betrayal or indiscrete sex act escapes the prying eyes of the populace. We do not tolerate much deviation from supposed societal norms. So, if Chappaquiddick happened today, would Kennedy’s career have been dead before it even started?