Obama, Kennedy
Include Gays in Endorsement Remarks

Senators Edward Kennedy and Barack Obama both included gays and lesbians in their speeches during the event Monday at which Kennedy endorsed Obama in his presidential bid. Obama's inclusion of LGBT people came while he was discussing the legacy of hope that both John and Robert Kennedy inspired in people: "And it lives on in those Americans -- young and old, rich and poor, black and white, Latino and Asian and Native American, gay and straight -- who are tired of a politics that divides us and want to recapture the sense of common purpose that we had when John Kennedy was president of the United States of America."

The insertion of "gay and straight" was a departure from the script of Obama's "prepared remarks" forwarded to news outlets ahead of the event by his campaign.

Kennedy, who spoke before Obama, made a similar reference to gays and lesbians. "With Barack Obama, we will turn the page on the old politics of misrepresentation and distortion," said Kennedy. "With Barack Obama, we will close the book on the old politics of race against race, gender against gender, ethnic group against ethnic group, and straight against gay." (The Advocate)