Obama: Kennedy "One of the greatest Senators of our time"

THE PRESIDENT: I wanted to say a few words this morning about the passing of an extraordinary leader, Senator Edward Kennedy.

Over the past several years, I've had the honor to call Teddy a colleague, a counselor, and a friend. And even though we have known this day was coming for some time now, we awaited it with no small amount of dread.

Since Teddy's diagnosis last year, we've seen the courage with which he battled his illness. And while these months have no doubt been difficult for him, they've also let him hear from people in every corner of our nation and from around the world just how much he meant to all of us. His fight has given us the opportunity we were denied when his brothers John and Robert were taken from us: the blessing of time to say thank you -- and goodbye.

The outpouring of love, gratitude, and fond memories to which we've all borne witness is a testament to the way this singular figure in American history touched so many lives. His ideas and ideals are stamped on scores of laws and reflected in millions of lives -- in seniors who know new dignity, in families that know new opportunity, in children who know education's promise, and in all who can pursue their dream in an America that is more equal and more just -- including myself.

The Kennedy name is synonymous with the Democratic Party. And at times, Ted was the target of partisan campaign attacks. But in the United States Senate, I can think of no one who engendered greater respect or affection from members of both sides of the aisle. His seriousness of purpose was perpetually matched by humility, warmth, and good cheer. He could passionately battle others and do so peerlessly on the Senate floor for the causes that he held dear, and yet still maintain warm friendships across party lines.

And that's one reason he became not only one of the greatest senators of our time, but one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy.

His extraordinary life on this earth has come to an end. And the ...

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[lthom33]

Ted Kennedy will be greatly missed for his hard work in the Senate to help America be a better place for everyone. He worked on healthcare reform for many years, and I hope someone promised him that it would be passed before he died.

RIP

[alcwt2012]

Everytime Ted Kennedy was smiling, it was time to hide your wallet. I'm with you fenderozzman.

[BrettakaKatana]

@lthom33 oh my mistake i was trying to reference the second murdered brother wrong name lol but yeah i would have went straight to a gun store if that happened to my brothers.

[lthom33]

@BrettakaKatana You've got to be kidding? Ted lived for years with death threats and continued to live a normal life. You don't think that's balls after 2 of your brothers were assassinated? He also has done wonderful things for MA, as well as women. He bucked up against Congress and many Senators to fight for what he believed was right- always the middle class, poor and specially challenged.

[BrettakaKatana]

@lthom33 to bad he didn't have the balls JFK had. oh and RFK

[backwoodsgps]

beautiful vid

his shirt says it all

thank you

[lthom33]

watch?v=AOhtfgQ65Ak

Watch some real news & get educated about California. They wanted Arnold & they got him. Also your tax percentages are wrong. Bush gave the wealthy 2 tax cuts which they took while shipping jobs overseas. That's just criminal. The wealthy steal from the middle-class when a Rep' in office & that's okay. But when a Dem is in office & gives the middle-class a break it's then called "spreading the wealth." Obama has not printed money because it would cause inflation.

[lthom33]

The unemployment numbers you see right now & the economy collapse is the DIRECT result of Bush. Your ignorance is annoying. Obama has been in office for 8 months & the recession hit in 12/07. Figure out the math, Einstein. Also it' obvious you know nothing about CRA which by the way has always done great. Tax cuts for the wealthy hurt the country because billions were not put into the economy. The reason we did so well under Clinton was in part due to taxation rules for all of us.

[alcwt2012]

States are ran by state politicians. Different states have different taxes and regulations the one like Mi, NY, and CA suck right now because of high taxes ran by liberals and are sufferring not because of Bush, DipWAD! The top 1% pay 39%, top 25% pay 83%, and top 50% pay 96%, bottom 50% pay 4% asshole. Taking money from one person and giving it to another is socialism and theft, even by the gov't. Again stupid, Obama has printed money, look it up dipshit, You are the stupidest fucking idiot!

[lthom33]

Likewise - everyone is wrong but FOX according to you assholes. You wouldn't know facts if you stepped in them. All states are suffering because of failed Bush policies -get that straight. You Republicans conveniently forget it & attempt to get others to do the same. This is called a "selective memory." Excuse me but the "rich" need to pay their taxes like everyone else. They've had a free-ride for 8 yrs! AGAIN Obama has not printed any money!

[alcwt2012]

All your ilk does is read lib bloggers and pass it off as logic. Bush 4.5% unemployment, BO 9.7%. enough said. Maybe if you read a business paper like WSJ or Barron's you might have credibilty. Housing and Banking destroyed by Community Reinvestment Act with social engineering polices by Dems, and Greenspan's policies killed the market. It wasn't tax cuts, it was gov't spending and interference that make things worse. Why don't you take an econ course, because you make a fool out of yourself!

[alcwt2012]

Dude, your ignorance is astounding! Of course the state-run media who wear lewinsky autographed kneepads for Obama like you are going to write good things about economy. The fact is all the states ran by liberals are suffering, and Obama's policies are destroying the private sector, and keep taxing the rich see where that gets you. Obama is printing more money at a staggering rate, and we are getting lectured by the Chi-coms how to run our economy. They are laughing in Geitner's face!