Senators Give Kennedy A Standing Ovation As He Returns To Cast Critical Vote On Medicare Bill
Senators Give Kennedy A Standing Ovation As He Returns To Cast Critical Vote On Medicare Bill
Today, the Senate chamber erupted into loud cheers when Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) returned to cast his vote on long-stalled Medicare legislation. Senators gave Kennedy, who has been battling a brain tumor, a long standing ovation. As he registered his vote, Kennedy said in a loud voice, “Aye,” and made a thumbs-up gesture. Watch it:
In a statement today, Kennedy explained his return:
I return to the Senate today to keep a promise to our senior citizens and that’s to protect Medicare.
Win, lose or draw, I wanted to be here. I wasn’t going to take the chance that my vote could make the difference.
Kennedy’s presence was critical. On June 26, the Senate fell just one vote short of the 60 needed to close debate on the Medicare bill, which would have blocked a 10.6 percent cut in Medicare payments to doctors. Today, however, senators — including several Republicans — took Kennedy’s lead and voted to invoke cloture by a veto-proof 69-30. The Senate then passed the bill by unanimous consent. It now goes to President Bush for his signature.
The House strongly passed this bill in bipartisan, veto-proof fashion by nearly 300 votes, and the Senate has now passed it by a veto-proof margin as well. It is now up to the President to sign it into law. I call on him to join Congress in making sure Medicare works better for every American senior and TRICARE works better for our troops.
Congressional leaders have once again decided to put partisan positioning over the well being of millions of our seniors. We should not hold our doctors and seniors hostage to political gamesmanship and political votes. While this bill does meet our obligation to provide proper reimbursements to Medicare physicians, it also rolls back important reforms, increases drug premiums, and places 2.3 million seniors at risk of losing the private health care coverage of their choice.
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God bless you, Senator Kennedy.
I wish we had 99 more like him.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:12 pmNow that’s a true public servant. Great to see Senator Kennedy back.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:14 pmSen. Kennedy can get out of his sick bed for a crucial vote but McDepends hasn’t shown up since April.
All we need to know about who has the best interests of the country at heart.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:14 pmSeriously, this guy is amazing. He is one of the few politicians that actually does care about the people. Bravo, Mr. Kennedy.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:17 pmLooks like the advertising over the recess in some key states scared a few Republicans into changing their minds. Good for Teddy and good for the Medicare system. Here’s to the second override of a Chimpy veto.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:19 pmThanks, Ted.
On a sad note, the FISA bill passed, granting criminals a boost over the law. Obama voted yes and McCain didn’t vote.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:19 pmI predict he will veto it, just to be the pissant that he is.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:21 pmBest dramatic entrance by a Senator ever.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:22 pmOh, man — if only Kennedy had been well enough to return to the Senate on or before June 26.
But hey — he made it today, and for that we should all cheer.
I guess McCain isn’t interested in the senior citizen vote much. Except for the rich ones.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:33 pm“John McCain (R-AZ) was the only senator to miss the vote.”
And Gramps misses another vote again. On what vote? Healthcare. And he was the only Senator who didn’t vote! Take note of that, Obama.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:35 pmHow come the media is give McGrampa free pass after free pass for all these missed votes?
July 9th, 2008 at 5:44 pmMcCain = AWOL
July 9th, 2008 at 5:44 pm.
.
.
~ Prairie, now greying once student librarian
McCain can’t vote anymore. It’s the only way they can attack every vote Obama casts, which they will. For some reason, no one will call McCain on it. Apparently, it’s not nice to question John unless you’re from North Vietnam.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:45 pmso Kennedy wont let a brain tumor keep him from a critical vote… some one remind me…what is McCain doing that was so important?
July 9th, 2008 at 5:46 pmVote Counts:
YEAs- 69
NAYs- 30
Not Voting- John McCain
July 9th, 2008 at 5:46 pmOne of the good guys. It’s good to see Sen. Kennedy.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:49 pmhil_1 Says:
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so Kennedy wont let a brain tumor keep him from a critical vote… some one remind me…what is McCain doing that was so important?
He’s busy doing his comedy stand up routine for the press about killing more brown people.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:50 pmDr. Hussein Matt Says:
How come the media is give McGrampa free pass after free pass for all these missed votes?
Not just for all the missed votes, he gets free passes for everything. I just thought of why (maybe). If they called him on his flips, out-right lies, and missed votes, et al, there would be no race. They couldn’t fill all the air time until the election because there is no other news. They’re being easy on him so that it seems like there’s a race for the Presidency.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:53 pmBob,
I have often thought that but wasn’t gutsy enough to say it on here.Thanks!
July 9th, 2008 at 5:55 pmDon’t forget, McCain, The Most Absent Member Of The Senate, Blasts Congress For Taking A Week Off
July 9th, 2008 at 5:55 pmshoeless Says:
hil_1 Says:
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so Kennedy wont let a brain tumor keep him from a critical vote… some one remind me…what is McCain doing that was so important?
He’s busy doing his comedy stand up routine for the press about killing more brown people.
Shoeless,
Whenever I hear the MSM call him a maverick, I always get a mind picture of ‘Maverick’ McDepends doing karaoke to “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling”. I wonder if it works with McCindy?
July 9th, 2008 at 5:58 pmTanqueray Says:
Leftside Annie Says:
God bless you, Senator Kennedy.
I wish we had 99 more like him.
We do, they are all brain dead!
Only those that caved in on FISA and the few who voted against the Medicare Bill are brain dead. Needed some clarification
July 9th, 2008 at 6:03 pmObama should go after McCain full bore for being the only senator to miss this important vote. Tell your elderly relatives and friends that mccain just gave them the finger.
July 9th, 2008 at 6:07 pmWould someone please garnish McIIIrd’s paycheck for failure to perform?
July 9th, 2008 at 6:26 pmTanqueray, a small favor please. I enjoy the occasional Tanqueray and tonic but after seeing the rotten guano you post I have been buying Bombay. Could you do me a favor and either simply STFU, or change your handle to something that is more representative of your contributions here?
Something like, Pileofdogshit, Slimeyhairballinthe bathroomsink, or Cockroachinthecerealbowl.
Thanks little guy.
July 9th, 2008 at 6:26 pmRUCerious Says:
Would someone please garnish McIIIrd’s paycheck for failure to perform?
I heard McCindy was threatening that very same thing; Johnny Boy might lose a few 100 Mil over that ‘little detail’.
July 9th, 2008 at 6:31 pmhelenahandbasket Says:
Obama should go after McCain full bore for being the only senator to miss this important vote. Tell your elderly relatives and friends that mccain just gave them the finger.
I’m having a hard time getting over Obama’s finger to the 4th Amendment and progressives right now, but I am funny about putting the Constitution and Country above party, unlike how all Republicans do. I no longer have illusions anything will change, whoever gets elected in Nov now. Neither party, except for a few patriots ( which Obama is not numbered in now ) give a damn.
July 9th, 2008 at 6:57 pmAnd Kennedy deserves it.
July 9th, 2008 at 7:42 pmAnd McCain couldn’t care less. What a loser.
July 9th, 2008 at 7:44 pmMcCain is a one-trick pony. He is running on his POW status; he hasn’t a clue about the economy, he doesn’t care about health care for the rest of us, he disses veterans (as he did yesterday), he votes against the interests of all Americans, preferring to vote for his lobbyist supporters.
He is a disgrace. He is a sham. He may even be worse than Bush III.
Kudos to Senator Kennedy.
July 9th, 2008 at 8:44 pmHmmm, I wonder if John McCain’t is one of numerous Republicans (and even a few Blue Dog Democrats) who’ve signed Grover Norquist’s “anti-tax pledge”?
In fact, McCain’t is so pale, I suspect he signed Norquist’s anti-government, anti-democracy, anti-flexibility pledge in his own blood.
July 9th, 2008 at 11:26 pm