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Tuesday, January 20, 2009 3:23 PM

Kennedy Removed From Lunch

By JAMES A. BARNES

Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) was seen by reporters being taken by wheelchair out of Statuary Hall during a lunch there with members of Congress and President Obama, who expressed concern for the senator during his remarks.

"I know that while I was out of the room, concern was expressed about Teddy," he said. "He was there when the Voting Rights Act passed, along with John Lewis, was a warrior for justice, and so I would be lying to you if I did not say that right now a part of me is with him. And I think that is true for all of us. This is a joyous time, but it is also a sobering time. My prayers are with him and his family."

Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W. Va.), who was at the same table as Kennedy, was also removed from the hall by a medical team.

A congressional staffer who witnessed the event said Kennedy was "convulsing." Very quickly, the staffer said, a member of the Capitol Police stood up and called for medical attention for Kennedy, who was attended to and taken out in a wheelchair. Kennedy is suffering from brain cancer. The entire room stood and there was a moment of silence after Kennedy exited.


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Latest response: Robert GreensteinNovember 20, 2009 3:38 pm