Robert Byrd also collapsed at the same luncheon.
Sens. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., and Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., have been taken from an inauguration luncheon for President Barack Obama this afternoon.
A Capitol police officer stood up at the luncheon and said medical attention was needed, the Associated Press reported.
An ambulance arrived at the Capitol a few minutes ago and Kennedy has since been wheeled out on a stretcher, according to the Associated Press.
UPDATE: Reports now say that Byrd was upset by Kennedy’s collapse and was removed from the chamber.
I’ve been watching the coverage of Kennedy and it seems like no one really knows what happened with Byrd. He has apparently been in ill health, so it isn’t clear whether he “collapsed” or just had to leave the luncheon due to his ongoing poor health.
Byrd’s office is now saying he is fine.
hmm, so Robert Byrd’s “over my dead body” claim may actually come true!
Gentlemen like Byrd don’t mingle with black folks.
This is yet another of those times I question of the wisdom of keeping around decaying, senile leaders in office right up to the very edge of the grave. What is this, the Soviet Politburo? The Vatican?
Let these frail old men retire with some dignity, for pity’s sake.
With this in mind, let’s begin the countdown to a graceful retirement by long suffering Justices Stevens and Ginsburg. 10…9…8…7..
*insert requisite remark about the food here*
Kennedy’s work on Health Care is not done! He must get better. That man has toiled for years and the new President needs him on that one.
It’s telling that one of the people they go to for info is Orrin Hatch of Utah. Teddy gets maligned as a left lib, but the man has reached across the aisles for years.
Why replace a man who’s still effective, and will be doubly so under this administration? I hope he recovers quickly.
Old white guys were always going to be a little starved for attention today.
Seizures are caused by brain tumors. Luckily they are seldom life-threatening in and of themselves — rushing Sen. Kennedy to the hospital was probably unnecessary.
Sen. Byrd may simply have fainted — it’s been an emotional day.
how old are you This Bird Has Flown? Twelve? People change. Talk to one adult and ask me if there isn’t anything in their past that they are ashamed of or that they have changed.
Hell, I used to be a super Catholic who went to daily Mass.
Robert Byrd is a good man. He gave a great speech in an effort to talk Congress out of the Iraq War. He’s also a hell of a good bluegrass musician.
Should have been Dick & Bush collapsing.
Obama’s change vibe is so strong that the old generation actually withers and dies in his presence….
I was surprised to see Kennedy there in the first place. Dapper, nice hat.
Now that there are reports saying that Kennedy is fine, let me just say:
Attention whore.
And so the torch passes.
Never to return.