SharonA, what I meant by "using the same yardstick" is that an act of negligent homicide -- IF that's what Chappaquiddick was -- seems to be judged more harshly by our media and the public at large than, say, starting an unjustified war, authorizing torture of captured people (who in many cases were guilty of nothing), allowing hundreds (or more) people to die unnecessarily in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina by administrative negligence or indifference, contributing to the suffering and death of people by financial fraud (e.g., Enron), etc., etc.    Many of our governmental policies place the obscene profits of "health insurance" corporations above the lives and well-being of our citizens, including those who pay (sometimes a LOT) for that insurance.   There is more than one way to contribute to the death of a person. Drunk driving is one. Business and political policies that disregard human rights and needs for the sake of huge wealth and power are others. : )