Obama Calls Kennedy Replacement ‘Excellent Choice’

By The Associated Press
Sep 24, 2009, 11:52 AM
2 Comments

President Barack Obama says the Democrat selected to temporarily replace the late Sen. Edward Kennedy is a “distinguished leader” and an excellent choice to carry on Kennedy’s work.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick named former Democratic Party chairman Paul Kirk to fill the seat. Kirk will serve in the post until a special election in January.

His appointment gives Obama a critical 60th U.S. Senate vote he needs to pass a health care overhaul.

Kirk is a Kennedy family friend who served on the late senator’s staff for eight years and is chairman of the JFK Library Foundation.

Caroline Kennedy, the senator’s niece, called Kirk “a citizen-patriot” and a great friend.

Kennedy’s family says he would have been pleased with the appointment.

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john T. Zelazo

Is this the same Prisident Obama who will not declair reconciliation in the health care fight and give us a great health care bill or is that just one ‘emergency’ that he does not go along with?

Is that the same President Obama who lets his Justice Department go to bat for the Defense of Marriage Act? And the same Obama who hasn’t acted on ending ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’?

Is that the same Paul Kirk who assisted the Dukakis run for president in 1988 after Dukakis sought re-election as Governor in 1986 on the “I will not seek the presidency in 1988″ plank?

Is that the gay community I hear being nailed with another silent spring? Yes, it is time for reconciliation.
Carole Peterson

The President should keep his mouth shut. He sticks his opinion into matters that he shouldn’t. Doesn’t he have enough business matters at the White House to keep him busy? The other presidents didn’t stick their noses where they didn’t belong and neither should he.