PHOTOS The President and First Lady at Ted Kennedy's birthday celebration (March 8)

[Jackeens]

1

First lady Michelle Obama (L) hugs Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) while Kennedy's wife Victoria (R) applauds as they watch U.S. President Barack Obama make a surprise appearance on stage to help celebrate Kennedy's birthday at a musical tribute at the Kennedy Center in Washington, March 8, 2009.


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U.S. President Barack Obama greets entertainers, including James Taylor (2nd L).


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U.S. President Barack Obama (L) and first lady Michelle Obama join Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) (2nd R) and his wife Victoria (R)...


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U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (L), President Barack Obama (2nd L) and first lady Michelle Obama are pictured alongside U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy (R) during a celebration concert in honor of Kennedy's 77th birthday at the Kennedy Center in Washington, March 8, 2009.


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U.S. President Barack Obama (C) dances alongside his wife Michelle (2nd L) and Vice President Joe Biden (L) during a celebration concert in honor of U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy's 77th birthday at the Kennedy Center in Washington, March 8, 2009.


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U.S. President Barack Obama waves from the stage to the balcony where U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy (not pictured) is seated during a musical tribute in honor of Kennedy's 77th birthday at the Kennedy Center in Washington, March 8, 2009.


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U.S. President Barack Obama (C) leads entertainers including Bill Cosby (L) and James Taylor (R) on stage in a rendition of happy birthday for U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy


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U.S. President Barack Obama (C) leads entertainers including Bill Cosby (L) and James Taylor (R)...


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U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy (C) acknowledges the audience, as they sing happy birthday to him...


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Sorry, that one was a mistake....


:shrug:

[Clio the Leo]

1. Good job keeping it a secret! I didn't see that one reported anywhere! NT

[santamargarita]

43. The fascist media is just doing its job

~

[blaze]

2. Ted looks great in these shots!

Thanks, as always, for the photos!!

[Cha]

3. How Sweet! Thanks, Jackeens~ does anyone

know who those other performers are with JT, shaking hands with Obama?

Is that Natalie Cole for one?

[FrenchieCat]

6. No, Natalie Cole is not pictured!

[Jackeens]

7. James Taylor (left) and Joe Cocker (right) - don't know the woman or the man far right??

[Cha]

12. Joe Cocker! Wow, I just saw him

in "Across The Universe" singing Beatles songs.

Thanks..I've been trying to find out on google to no avail.

[AirmensMom]

13. Joe Cocker?

Looks like Colm Wilkinson to me. :shrug:

[Jackeens]

20. I am SO sorry - you are completely right! It's my fellow Dubliner, Colm Wilkinson - BLUSH!!!!!!!

[AirmensMom]

35. I just love him!

I must have watched Les Miserables in Concert at least 2 dozen times. He's a great Jean Valjean! :loveya:

[Kaylee]

28. I believe that is the opera singer Denyce Graves.

Edit: Yup. I just found a link saying she was part of the line-up.

The talent lineup also included mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves, actress Phyllis Newman, Broadway star Kelli O'Hara and veteran Broadway producer-director Hal Prince. They were accompanied by The Networks Tribute Choir, directed by Rev. Nolan Williams Jr. and the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, conducted by John Williams.

Obama, D.C., fete Ted Kennedy

[Cha]

29. Thank you, Kaylee..

I was looking all over for that earlier. It looks like a beautiful night for them to celebrate Senator Kennedy's Feb 22nd, 77th birthday.

[greatauntoftriplets]

4. Ted Kennedy looks remarkable considering what he is going through.

Happy 77th birthday EMK!

[Olney Blue]

5. Wonderful. Thanks, Jackeens!

[Jackeens]

8. You're more than welcome, Olney Blue!

[FrenchieCat]

9. Happy Birthday, Sen. Kennedy!

Wow.....Pres. Barack appears to be belting it out...which means, he obviously has a good singing voice!

[dalaigh lllama]

19. I wish someone had done a video of that parody he sang back in 2006 about McCain

Here's the words from our witty prez:

(To the tune of “If I Only Had a Brain)
I'm aspiring to greatness, but somehow I feel weightless
A freshman's sad refrain
I could be a great uniter, making ethics rules much tighter
If I only had McCain
I could bring us all together, no storm we couldn't weather,
We'd feel each other's pain
Red and blue wouldn't matter, party differences would shatter
If I only had McCain
Oh why is it so hard, for honest men of good will to agree,
If we ever found a way to strike a deal, would we survive… politically?
When a wide-eyed young idealist, confronts a seasoned realist
There's bound to be some strain
With the game barely started, I'd be feeling less downhearted
If I only had McCain
Still I hope for the better, though I may rewrite my letter
Cause I gotta have McCain

http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2006/04/need_a_laugh_se.html

The whole speech is worth a read. Reminds me a lot of Stephen Colbert's speech at the WH press correspondents' dinner, only sadly, no video.

[immoderate]

37. I heard him sing a few notes on some video -- his voice sounded good.

--imm

[mecherosegarden]

45. Thanks again!

Beautiful pictures of beautiful people!

[Demit]

10. Very nice! Ted K looks really happy. It made me smile just to see all the smiles. Thanks!

[babylonsister]

11. Gorgeous! Thanks again!

:fistbump:

[FrenchieCat]

14. Wonder if PBS is going to cover this......?

Looked like some pretty talented folks on that stage!

[Fire1]

15. Thank you. Great Pics!!

[Top Cat]

16. Thanks for the pics... Teddy looks great

[Beacool]

17. Thanks, nice pics!!!

:hi:

[JohnnyLib2]

18. These pictures made my night.

thanks

[Jackeens]

21. No problem JohnnyLib2, thank you.

[firedupdem]

22. Great Pics!!! Senator Kennedy is cracking Michelle up! These

made me feel better about my sucky ass weekend! Thanks Jackeens!

[karynnj]

23. NECN video of Obama leading the singing of Happy Birthday

Teddy Kennedy looks so happy. http://www.necn.com/Boston/Politics/2009/03/08/Obama-leads-Happy-Birthday/1236564955.html

[femmocrat]

24. Wonderful photos! Where are they from?

I hope this is on TV somewhere. I would love to join in on all the fun.

[Jackeens]

25. Sorry, meant to credit: www.daylife.com n/t

[PopSixSquish]

26. List of Performers and Speakers Via USAToday

Bill Cosby - host

Lauren Bacall, Al Hunt, Phyllis Newman, James Taylor, Bernadette Peters,Frederica von Stade

[Peace Patriot]

27. I'm thinking how sweet it must be for Teddy to greet this particular President.

I remember hearing a newsclip of Teddy on the radio when he came out to California to endorse Obama early in the primary race, just before the CA vote. His voice was hoarse, and he sounded like he was straining--something was wrong--though he spoke with great enthusiasm. But his candidate lost here. It was not a very hopeful moment in the Obama campaign. Part of the reason was that Edwards was still on the ballot, and the anti-Iraq War vote was split mostly between Edwards and Obama. Edwards suspended his campaign a couple of days before the CA vote, but many voters who wanted to vote against the Iraq War didn't get the word, and cast a useless vote for Edwards. Things were about to turn around for Obama dramatically, soon. But it didn't look good for him, as of the CA primary. It seemed that Clinton (who had not disavowed her vote for the Iraq War) had it sewn up. And, frankly, I was surprised that Teddy flew out here. But it certainly interested me more in the Obama campaign.

There are not many people in our national political establishment who I look to for guidance on political issues, and whom I generally trust. Two or three maybe! And Teddy is top of the list. He is true-blue. So, from my perspective, that was a big endorsement. I voted for Obama, but I had wondered about how he waffled around on a lot of issues; I didn't at all like what I read of his in Foreign Policy magazine; he was dead wrong on the South American left; and, basically, he was largely an unknown. But he had spoken out against the war, and he was the last one standing who had done so. I intended to vote for him. Kennedy confirmed my vote. After Kennedy endorsed him, I sent money and got more active.

There was a photo of Kennedy in a Senate hearing a couple of years ago, at which Donald Rumsfeld was testifying about something. It was the end of the hearing, and they were all getting up from their seats. And Kennedy gave Rumsfeld such a look of ferocious, penetrating fury, if looks could kill, Rumsfeld would be dead. I knew then that Kennedy was deeply involved in whatever occurred behind the scenes that ousted Rumsfeld a short time later, and that I think also prevented Bush/Cheney and Rumsfeld from nuking Iran, and possibly declaring martial law here and staying in power (suspending elections - circa 2006). I think what happened is that they were given immunity from impeachment and prosecution, in exchange for their backing down from a putsch (and that's where Pelosi's "impeachment is off the table" came from). But whether that happened or not, Rumsfeld was forced out. And, in the photo I'm thinking of--which I don't have--you can see that intent in Kennedy's eyes. He had absolutely and totally had it with Rumsfeld. And I've since realized that Obama was Kennedy's candidate from early on--he mentored Obama.

Think of what Teddy's been through--both of his brothers assassinated, lots of family troubles, alcoholism, Reaganism, and then this gang of monsters, and their torture and their war and their looting. The legacy of his brothers--JFK who wanted world peace, RFK who wanted to end the Vietnam War--trashed. But Teddy never gave up on public service, and never stopped working for the greater good. And here is his reward, at last--with not much time left for him on this earth. The one he picked out early to bear the great liberal Kennedy legacy forward actually in the White House, and gracing his birthday party.

Hey, Teddy! :grouphug: :patriot: :grouphug: Job well done!

[xenussister]

30. This is my favorite

Besides that last one, of course. That's beyond adorable! Thank you Jackeens!! You're a gem!

I'd love to know what they're laughing about.

[FrenchieCat]

31. Bling Bling Aluminum Steele perhaps?

or The Rock Obama segment from SNL?

[Drunken Irishman]

32. The Irish are tough.

Look no further than Teddy's mom, Rose, who was like 104 when she died.

I have a feeling Uncle Ted will be with us for a while. :)

[Doremus]

33. Youtube vids

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LbTMep9CZQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsg9l0vclqA

[BrklynLiberal]

34. Ted Kennedy is now the absolute image of his mother.

[dflprincess]

36. I always thought he looked a lot like his grandpa Fitzgerald

[BrklynLiberal]

44. Those Fitzgerald genes are obviously very dominant.

Even the grandchildren have the Fitzgerald look..

[Sequoia]

38. It's really grand to see the Democrats smiling again...after 8 years of hell.

[1776Forever]

39. One thing about Barack - He never forgets his friends & gives back as much or more then he gets!

A true Leo the Lion is he!

From one Lion of a leader to another!

[JSK]

40. My shallow remark:

Michelle should make a habit of wearing dark lipstick. She looks great in it.

[Libertyfirst]

41. Thank you. The [pictures make what has been a very tough day wonderful. n/t

[politicasista]

42. Nice pics! Thanks.

:kick: :bounce:

[craigmatic]

46. Teddy looks good