Submit a Story!

Obama honors Brooke as bridge builder

 

Published 10/28/2009 by Domenico Montanaro at First Read

From NBC's Athena Jones WASHINGTON -- Inspiration, trailblazer, uniter were all words used to describe former Massachusetts Sen. Edward William Brooke as congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle gathered Wednesday in the Capitol Rotunda to honor the first African-American to be elected by popular vote to the U.S. Senate. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell , House Republican Leader John Boehner and Sen. John Kerry joined President Obama at a ceremony to present Brooke with the Congressional gold medal, the highest civilian award presented by the legislative branch. It was an award made possible by legislation introduced by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy , a lifelong friend of Brooke's. Kennedy's widow Vicki Kennedy, was in the audience for today's presentation. The first black president -- a man who made history himself last November -- lauded Brooke as a man who spent his life breaking barriers and ... (link)

Tags:

Related Content
Bowling for Dollars at the White House
jammiewearingfool.blogspot.com 10/28/2009 — So nice to see Barack Obama and his Democrat pals lining their pockets by pimping out the White House.During his first nine months in office, President Obama has quietly rewarded scores of top Democratic donors with VIP access to the White House, ...
Steele Calls For Investigation Of White House Fundraising
tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com 10/28/2009 — The Republican National Committee is up in arms over a Washington Times report that the Obama administration is allegedly using access to the White House as a fundraising tool for the Democratic National Committee, and the RNC is now calling for an ...
On Healthcare, Americans Trust Obama More Than Congress
gallup.com 10/28/2009 — PRINCETON, NJ -- As Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid tries to advance a healthcare reform bill onto the Senate floor, just under half of Americans, 48%, say they trust the Democrats in Congress to change the nation's healthcare system; 52% express ...
GOP calls for probe into donors access to White House
boston.com 10/28/2009 — Republicans are jumping all over a published report today that President Obama -- despite all his talk of cleaning up Washington -- is marketing VIP access to the White House to big campaign donors. "During his first nine months in...  ...
Wow: Obama Rewarding Big Dem Donors Exclusive Access to White House Facilities in Exchange for Large Campaign Contributions Ahead of 2010 Midterm Elections....
weaselzippers.net 10/28/2009 — Chicago-style political corruption comes to the White House..... (Washington Times)- During his first nine months in office, President Obama has quietly rewarded scores of top Democratic donors with VIP access to the White House, private briefings ...
Leftist “comedian” splatters wee-wee on picture of Jesus — Sister Toldjah
todaze Lympian — Knowledge is Power
Obama Gives Donors Special Access: Washington Times — The Huffington Post | Full News Feed
Gibbs Says Obama Hasn't Talked To Reid And Calls Lieberman Questions 'Hypothetical' — TPM Election Central
Pres. Obama Signs National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 2010 — C-SPAN Recent Video
House panel approves Iranian fuel sanctions bill — Reuters: Politics 10/28/2009
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. House of Representatives committee approved legislation on Wednesday that would sanction companies that sell gasoline to Iran, offering President Barack Obama a new tool to wield against Tehran if it remains defiant over ...
Obama gives donors special access, report says — msnbc.com: Politics 10/28/2009
President Barack Obama rewards top Democratic donors with perks, carrying on a practice of past presidents despite his promise  to change Washington, a report shows.
Obama signs $680 billion defense policy bill (AP) — Yahoo! News: Politics News 10/28/2009
AP - President Barack Obama says a $680 billion defense policy bill he signed into law proves that it's possible to change the business-as-usual atmosphere in Washington.
Obama signs bill expanding hate crimes law — CNN Political Ticker 10/28/2009
WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Barack Obama on Wednesday signed a law that makes it a federal crime to assault an individual because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. The expanded federal hate crimes law was added to a $680 ...
Former senator awarded Congressional Gold Medal — CNN Political Ticker 10/28/2009
Washington (CNN) - Edward Brooke, the first African-American elected to the U.S. Senate by popular vote, was honored Wednesday with a Congressional Gold Medal. "At a time when so many doors were closed to African-Americans, others might have ...