Patrick's Excellent Adventures

It's back to rehab for Patrick Kennedy. As a teenager, he sought treatment for cocaine addiction.

Now, he's returning.

In his press conference moments ago, Kennedy admitted that he spent time at the Mayo Clinic over the Christmas break for addiction to prescription medication, and painted himself as a victim of the diseases of addiction and depression.

He claims he has no memory at all of what happened on Thursday. So, he's going back to Mayo.

Kennedy took no questions and quickly left the room after reading his prepared statement. While departing, he said in response to some reporter, "I have to stay in the fight."

Obviously, Kennedy is doing the right thing by seeking treatment. He does need help.

Although he said he was taking full responsibility for his actions, it does seem that he may be using rehab as a way to escape the scandal.

I have sympathy for him. He is clearly battling his addictions, and to date, he's done so unsuccessfully. Hopefully, he'll have more success this time.

But Kennedy's run to Mayo shouldn't end this story.

There are far too many unanswered questions.

Kennedy's office said there was no alcohol involved, but today there are reports that Kennedy was consuming alcohol.

According to CBS News:

CBS News reports that Capitol Hill police on Friday were at the Hawk & Dove, a popular Capitol Hill bar, as part of their investigation.

One source told CBS News that an employee at the bar has said he did see Kennedy there.

The Boston Herald reported that a hostess at Hawk & Dove told the newspaper she saw him drinking in the hours before the crash.

"He was drinking a little bit," said the woman, who works at the Hawk & Dove and would not give her name to the paper.

According to the Herald, a bartender at the Tune Inn, which is next to the Hawk & Dove, also said Kennedy was spotted in the Hawk & Dove on Wednesday, but Hawk & Dove manager Edgar Gutierrez said he was working Wednesday night and did not see the congressman. The paper says Kennedy refused to say whether he had been at the bar.

Kennedy was planning to return to Rhode Island on Friday in hopes of defusing the controversy surrounding the Thursday morning crash — including allegations that he got special treatment from police, who did not administer field sobriety tests.

I think the "I don't remember anything" is a convenient ploy for Kennedy. He appears to be laying the foundation to explain what seem to be the lies he made in his previous statements about alcohol and the accident.

Today, he says, "I simply do not remember getting out of bed, being pulled over by the police, or being cited for three driving infractions."

Yesterday, he said in a written statement, "At the time of the accident, I was instructed to park my car and was driven home by the United States Capitol Police. At no time did I ask for any special consideration, I simply complied with what the officers asked me to do. "

WHAT???

One of those statements is a lie.

By highlighting his depression and addiction, his illnesses, I think Kennedy is counting on people responding sympathetically, and letting him off the hook for his behavior.

While Kennedy deserves best wishes for recovery, he doesn't deserve to be treated differently than the rest of us.

The response of the police is especially troubling. Congressmen should be held to the same standard as anyone else who drives a car while impaired.

A price has to be paid.

Kennedy can run to Mayo, but he can't hide from being held accountable for endangering the public safety, and trying to cover up what he did.

It's the misleading statements, his dishonesty, and his failure to be forthcoming that speak to his efforts to avoid taking responsibility.

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I didn't know that Patrick Kennedy's past was so interesting.

He's had a history of "incidents."

The Phenergan/Ambien cocktail matter is just the latest in a series of troubles for the Rhode Island Democrat.

Compiled by the Boston Herald:


March 26, 2000:

A videotape captures Kennedy pushing a 58-year-old airport security guard backward and bumping the metal detector archway at Los Angeles International Airport. The catalyst apparently was that his luggage was too big for carry-on and he was disturbed the guard did not recognize him.



Summer 2000:

The Coast Guard removes a former Hub woman from a yacht for her safety after she and Kennedy had some drinks and a tiff. Kennedy had rented the yacht and trashed it, causing $28,000 in damage.



July 2001:

Kennedy makes remarks to the Pawtucket Times about U.S. Rep. Gary Condit of California. Kennedy says he is guilty of cheating on his wife and in the mysterious disappearance of the Washington intern he was having an affair with.



Wednesday, April 12, 2006:

While watching a demonstration of Impact Gel, a shock-absorbing material, Kennedy takes one to the face when a hammer head flies off the handle and hits him in the mouth. He gets six stitches to his bottom lip at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket and cancels several public appearances.



Saturday, April 15, 2006:

Kennedy tries to turn into a CVS parking lot in Portsmouth, R.I.,, but turns into the vehicle in front of him instead.



Thursday, May 4, 2006:

Kennedy crashes in D.C.