Obama Speaks at Robert Byrd's Memorial Video

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Bill Clinton

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Other bigwigs spoke at the memorial service:

Obama's Schedule July 2 2010

Obama leaves for Andrews Air Force Base at 9:20 am eastern where he'll make a statement at 9:35 am about the monthly jobs report, which is expected to be bad.
He'll then head to Charleston, W.V. to attend Sen. Byrd's memorial.
At 11:30 am eastern, Obama and Biden will both speak. Live audio stream here. Look for a live video stream at msnbc.com.
At 3 pm, Obama heads back to Andrews, where he will leave to meet up with his family at Camp David.
Obama will stay at Camp David until Sunday, when he's expected back to the White House for Fourth of July festivities to be announced.

Obama and Biden to West Virginia for Byrd July 2

Obama and Biden were in West Virginia not too long ago for the coal miners' memorial.

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will deliver remarks at the late Sen. Robert Byrd's memorial service Friday in West Virginia.

Byrd, a Democrat from the Mountain State, was the longest-serving lawmaker in the history of the U.S. Congress. He died early Monday morning at the age of 92.

In a statement Monday, Obama, the nation's first black president, praised Byrd, who was once in the Ku Klux Klan, for having the courage to change. The Hill

Byrd Dies at 92

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Robert Carlyle Byrd, the longest-serving member of Congress in United States history, who spent much of his career as a conservative Democrat and ended it by fiercely opposing the war in Iraq and questioning the state's powerful coal industry, died Monday. He was 92.

"I am saddened that the family of U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., tearfully announces the passing" of the senator, Jesse Jacobs, Byrd's press spokesman, said in a statement.

Byrd died at 3 a.m. at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Va., according to the statement. WVG

Obama's statement:

I was saddened to hear this morning that the people of West Virginia have lost a true champion, the United States Senate has lost a venerable institution, and America has lost a voice of principle and reason with the passing of Robert C. Byrd.

Senator Byrd’s story was uniquely American. He was born into wrenching poverty, but educated himself to become an authoritative scholar, respected leader, and unparalleled champion of our Constitution. He scaled the summit of power, but his mind never strayed from the people of his beloved West Virginia. He had the courage to stand firm in his principles, but also the courage to change over time.

He was as much a part of the Senate as the marble busts that line its chamber and its corridors. His profound passion for that body and its role and responsibilities was as evident behind closed doors as it was in the stemwinders he peppered with history. He held the deepest respect of members of both parties, and he was generous with his time and advice, something I appreciated greatly as a young senator.

We take solace in the fact that he is reunited with his wife of nearly 69 years, Erma; and our thoughts and prayers are with their daughters, their grandchildren and great grandchildren, and all the people of West Virginia who loved Robert C. Byrd.

Byrd, a fiddler at heart:

Sen. Robert Byrd Hospitalized

The office of Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W. Va.), 92, announced Sunday the longest serving senator in history was "seriously ill" and had been admitted to an unnamed Washington-area hospital.

Byrd checked into the hospital with what was believed to be heat exhaustion late last week, and aides believed he would stay just a few days. Instead, more serious issues were discovered. Read more at WaPo

Superdelegates Gates and Pelz for Obama

in the past two days from demconwatch
yesterday: California add-ons William Quay Hays (CA)# and Lou Paulson (CA)#
for Obama today: Added DNC Dwight Pelz (WA) for Obama, Added Sen. Robert Byrd (WV) for Obama, Added DNC Larry Gates (KS) for Obama

Robert Byrd Endorses Obama

take note west virginia. while many of you decided to vote for clinton and edwards (7%), your leaders are endorsing obama. sen. robert byrd of west virgina:

As people all across this great nation know, I have been one of the most outspoken opponents of the Bush Administration’s misguided war in Iraq and its saber rattling around the globe."

With the Bush Administration's latest request to fund this on-going war in Iraq without any attempt to start bringing our troops home, the issue of the upcoming presidential contest has been weighing heavily on my heart. The loss of life continues and the sons and daughters of tens of thousands of American families remain in harm’s way every day.

This Democratic primary campaign has been tough and competitive. I had no intention of involving myself in the Democratic campaign for President in the midst of West Virginia's primary election. But the stakes this November could not be higher."

After a great deal of thought, consideration and prayer over the situation in Iraq, I have decided that, as a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention, I will cast my vote for Senator Barack Obama for President. Both Senators Clinton and Obama are extraordinary individuals, whose integrity, honor, love for this country and strong belief in our Constitution I deeply respect."

I believe that Barack Obama is a shining young statesman, who possesses the personal temperament and courage necessary to extricate our country from this costly misadventure in Iraq, and to lead our nation at this challenging time in history. Barack Obama is a noble-hearted patriot and humble Christian, and he has my full faith and support.