Obama To Replace Kennedy At Graduation

Democratic Candidate Will Give Commencement Address At Wesleyan University In Place Of Ted Kennedy

(AP)  Barack Obama has agreed to deliver the commencement address at Wesleyan University in place of Sen. Edward Kennedy, who pulled out Thursday after finding out he had brain cancer.

Kennedy, 76, had planned to address the graduates - including stepdaughter Caroline Raclin - Sunday in Middletown, Conn. The commencement exercises coincide with 25th reunion festivities for his son, Edward Kennedy Jr., who graduated from the school in 1983.

The Massachusetts Democrat decided against making the trip after suffering a seizure last Saturday and undergoing a brain biopsy on Monday. A malignant brain tumor was diagnosed on Tuesday.

As he did immediately after returning home, Kennedy went sailing Thursday. He spoke briefly to reporters at his home in Hyannis Port, saying that he felt "very well" and that the hospital workers had been "just spectacular."

"We received an incredible amount of wonderful notes and letters from friends and colleagues in the Senate, as well as people here in Massachusetts," he said.

The senator said the outpouring of support he received, which included honks and waves from drivers on his way home and hand-lettered signs in his neighborhood, have been "very uplifting, very touching. And I'm grateful for all that."

Obama, who leads in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, said he and Kennedy had talked earlier in the week about the Illinois senator delivering the commencement speech. Kennedy has endorsed Obama in his race against fellow Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton and has campaigned for Obama.

"Considering what he's done for me and for our country, there's nothing I wouldn't do for him," Obama said in a statement. "So I'm looking forward to standing in his place on Sunday, even though I know I won't be able to fill his shoes."

Spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said Kennedy accepted Obama's offer to help "knowing it would be an historic opportunity for the school and all those attending. ... He's enormously grateful to Sen. Obama and the support he's received from all of his colleagues this last week."

Kennedy will not attend the graduation ceremonies, remaining at his family compound on Cape Cod. He returned to Hyannis Port on Wednesday after being released from Massachusetts General Hospital.

The senator will still keep long-standing plans to host Raclin, daughter of his wife, Vicki, at a dinner Saturday night. Also expected at the dinner are her siblings, grandparents and aunts and uncles.

Congress is on a Memorial Day recess next week, although it is unclear when Kennedy will return to Capitol Hill. His doctors are weighing chemotherapy and radiation regimens, but no further announcement is expected from them before midweek.

[eroosevelt08]

I admire Ted Kennedy. Barack Obama is no Ted Kennedy. How disappointing to the graduates!

[eroosevelt08]

I remember when Robert Kennedy was assassinated. It was the night of our senior high school prom. That event told us all of us are mortal. It is a fact of life for those of us, like Hillary Clinton who heard the news live. It was an enlightening and frightening experience for those of us, to acknowledge that we could die at any moment. Any of my peers could have made the same comment Senator Clinton made. It was very ''''present tense'''' for us, not a history lesson. It would be the same as saying John Kennedy was killed when he was starting his re-election campaign in 1963. I heard that news live when I was in junior high. They let school out and told us it was because the President was dead. I happened to see the second 9/11 terrorist attack about 9:15am or so, live on CNN, because they were reporting the first attack. It was chilling and very present tense. At first I couldn''t believe my eyes. Maybe some of you are just too young to have Senator Clinton''s frame of reference and experience.

[vanesa4]

My respect, admiration and best wishes to Senator Kennedy!!! It is no coincidence that he is an Obama supporter: Obama is the present-day flag carrier of practical idealism, as each Kennedy brother has been. It takes courage to carry that flag in the muddy, dirty field of Politics, but none of them can be faulted for lack of courage. More power to Ted Kennedy and Obama!!!

[libh8er]

Q: What do Ted Kennedy and the Chinese have in common?

A: "There Are No More Signs Of Life"

[jack3213]

Obama is not going win. Asking Clinton to join his ticket shows no crediblity to all that he and she have said to others and themselves for the last year- it shows how insincere and deceitful they are to people- and how "desperate" they are to win. And you thought Bush was a liar! LOL.

[chitown639]

I don''''t get Ted. He was willing to go on the sailing competition after his seizure... if anything sailing will get him dizzy right??? but noooo!! he rather sail than address our young ones and the future of America.
What a lame excuse!


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Posted by factsearcher

Ted Kennedy has been serving the PEOPLE for nearly 50 years. Days after finding out he has brain cancer, would you please afford him cherished time to reflect with his family and to decide how best to move forward? Ted Kennedy has done MORE than his share for this country, let someone else take up the cause in his time of need..... :)

[chitown639]

Why is this freaking news? Who gives a rip if he speaks at the Weslayan University graduation!


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Posted by RowdyWicca

Its good for YOU to get use of the idea of following events concerning Obama, since he WILL be your next President!!!! :)

[libh8er]

If anything, this is like Obi Wan passing on the ''force'' to his young black night. Here Ubama, have a free campaign enhancer on me.

If there''s any justice in the world, it would be covered just as if Kennedy did it B$ he found out about the cancer. That is to say, none at all.

[factsearcher]

I don''t get Ted. He was willing to go on the sailing competition after his seizure... if anything sailing will get him dizzy right??? but noooo!! he rather sail than address our young ones and the future of America.
What a lame excuse!

[jack3213]

Not only should Clinton be a "real woman" and support her opponent she should be a lady and accept the inevitable. She is a Senator from NY that has not accomplished anything that qualifies her to lead a country. Obama is a senator for two years and has been associated with American haters and this does not make him experianced, only that he is "popular" because of Bushes rating- Republicans are the better party despite Bush. MCCAIN 2008