Sen. Edward Kennedy diagnosed with malignant brain tumor

WASHINGTON – Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), the lion of Senate liberals, has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, doctors announced today.

In a statement, doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital said the 76-year-old senator, who has served in the Senate since 1962, has suffered no additional seizures since a weekend incident that landed him in the hospital.

“Over the course of the last several days, we’ve done a series of tests on Sen. Kennedy to determine the cause of his seizure,” said Dr. Lee Schwamm, vice chairman of the hospital’s department of neurology, and Dr. Larry Ronan, Kennedy’s primary care physician. “He has had no further seizures, remains in good overall condition, and is up and walking around the hospital.”

The doctors said that “preliminary results from a biopsy of the brain identified the cause of the seizure as a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe.” Noting that “the usual course of treatment includes combinations of various forms of radiation and chemotherapy,” the doctors said decisions about his care will be finalized after further testing.

“Sen. Kennedy will remain at Massachusetts General Hospital for the next couple of days according to routine protocol,” said the statement. “He remains in good spirits and full of energy.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada read the press release to Democratic senators during their weekly luncheon today. Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska described the reaction as stunned silence. Sen. Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont said later, “I’m having a hard time remembering a day in my 34 years here that I felt this badly.”

Afterward, Reid told reporters that the Senate stands “as a body and certainly as a Democratic family” in sending prayers.

“My heart dropped when I heard the news,” said Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). Noting that he has “great physicians, a loving and beautiful wife in Vicki, and the indomitable Kennedy spirit,” Feinstein said, “I look forward to the day when Sen. Kennedy is back on the Senate floor, giving one of his famous stem-winder speeches. I hope that day will be soon.”

The news was also announced at the weekly Republican luncheon, where Sen John W. Warner of Virginia said senators immediately bowed their heads and said a prayer.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), spoke to reporters briefly, saying that news of Kennedy’s illness was met with sadness throughout the country. “Sen. Kennedy has been a fighter all his life,” she said, noting that she’d learned the news from his son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island. “I know that his fighting spirit will hold him in good stead now.”

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama called the news “heartbreaking.” Kennedy, in endorsing Obama on Jan. 28, hailed Obama’s “courage” in opposing the war in Iraq from the beginning and Obama’s outreach to a new generation. Kennedy has stumped vigorously for Obama, and the candidate recalled on MSNBC that the 76-year-old senator was invigorated by being in the political arena.

“When he gets on the stage – he’s got that bad back and other ailments – but when he gets on the stage, it’s magic,” Obama said. “That voice comes out from deep inside him. You can feel history coursing through him.”

New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Obama’s rival for the Democratic nomination, issued a statement calling Kennedy “one of the greatest legislators in Senate history.”

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), in a statement, said he hopes Kennedy will make a full recovery. “I have described Ted Kennedy as the last lion in the Senate, and I have held that view because he remains the single most effective member of the Senate,” he said.

At the White House, President Bush issued a statement saying, “Laura and I are concerned to learn of our friend Sen. Kennedy’s diagnosis.” Calling Kennedy a man “of tremendous courage, remarkable strength and powerful spirit,” Bush said their prayers are with the family.

Kennedy was first elected to the Senate to finish the term of his brother, John F. Kennedy, who had become president in 1961. He was re-elected in 1964 and for seven more terms. “Teddy” became an uber-uncle to the children of his slain brothers – President Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963, and Robert F. Kennedy, assassinated when he was running for president in 1968.

A staunch champion for education and healthcare, Kennedy’s personal troubles – a car accident on Chappaquiddick Island in which a young woman, Mary Jo Kopechne drowned – marred his reputation. And a run for the Democratic nomination against incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter in 1980 made the Massachusetts senator infamous for not having a ready answer to newsman Roger Mudd’s question about why he was running for president.

But in the last 20 years, Kennedy has reached across the aisle to partner with Republicans such as Arizona’s John McCain on issues such as immigration.

“Ted Kennedy is a passionate advocate for equality and has worked to lift up all of America’s families throughout his distinguished career in public service,” said Sen. Patty Murray (D.-Wash). Calling Kennedy “a personal mentor to me and a tremendous partner on issues from education to workers’ rights to healthcare,” Murray said that Kennedy “approaches every obstacle with tremendous courage, poise and resolve. And I know his tremendous heart and spirit will prevail now.”

Sen. John F. Kerry, the Democrats’ 2004 standard bearer, told senators at the luncheon that he had been in touch with his Massachusetts colleague and that Kennedy remained optimistic.

“Ted Kennedy and the Kennedy family have faced adversity more times … with more courage and more grace than most families have to,” Kerry told reporters. “Every one of us knows what a big heart this fellow has. He’s helped millions and millions of people – from the biggest of legislation on the floor to the most personal.”

“This guy is one unbelievable fighter,” said Kerry, who saw the senior senator over the weekend and reported that he is asking questions about his treatment options. “We’re pulling for our pal,” said Kerry. “He is determined to fight this.”