When President Obama records history, it will be noted that the Roar of Senator Edward (Ted) Kennedy was a driving force behind his election. As America reviews the Civil Rights Era and changes in the laws supporting civil rights there is simply no other political force more influential than Ted Kennedy.
From his website: The Life of Ted Kennedy
Edward M. Kennedy was the third longest-serving member of the United States Senate in American history. Voters of Massachusetts elected him to the Senate nine times—a record matched by only one other Senator.
President Obama has described his breathtaking span of accomplishment: “For five decades, virtually every major piece of legislation to advance the civil rights, health, and economic well being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts.”
He fought for and won so many great battles—on voting rights, education, immigration reform, the minimum wage, national service, the nation’s first major legislation to combat AIDS, and equality for minorities, women, the disabled and gay Americans.
He called health care “the cause of my life,” and succeeded in bringing quality and affordable health care for countless Americans, including children, seniors and Americans with disabilities. Until the end he was working tirelessly to achieve historic national health reform. He was an opponent of the Vietnam War and an early champion of the war’s refugees. He was a powerful yet lonely voice from the beginning against the invasion of Iraq. He stood for human rights abroad—from Chile to the former Soviet Union – and was a leader in the cause of poverty relief for the poorest nations of Africa and the world. He believed in a strong national defense and he also unceasingly pursued and advanced the work of nuclear arms control.
He was the conscience of his party, and also the Senate’s greatest master of forging compromise with the other party. Known as the “Lion of the Senate,” Senator Kennedy was widely respected on both sides of the aisle for his commitment to progress and his ability to legislate.
Barack Obama issued a presidential proclamation on Wednesday ordering flags to be flown at half-mast on all official US buildings following the death of Ted Kennedy.
"As a mark of respect for the memory of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, I hereby order... that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds," the proclamation said.
The order included flags at "all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels... throughout the United States and its territories and possessions."
Flags must remain at half-mast until sunset on Sunday and be lowered again until sunset on the day of Kennedy's burial, it said. The date of the senator's interment is still to be announced.
Obama's proclamation paid tribute to "not only one of the greatest senators of our time, but one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
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