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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Medals of Freedom Will Go to Milk, Kennedy, Poitier

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(Newser) – This year's Medal of Freedom recipients share a capacity to change the world, President Obama said today in naming the eclectic group. Among the 16 honorees are Sen. Ted Kennedy, slain gay-rights activist Harvey Milk, actor Sidney Poitier, tennis great Billie Jean King, and retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the Los Angeles Times reports.

“These outstanding men and women represent an incredible diversity of backgrounds," Obama said. “Yet they share one overarching trait: Each has been an agent of change. Each saw an imperfect world and set about improving it.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the choice of Milk, saying “it brings great pride to San Franciscans that Harvey Milk will receive this award posthumously. Harvey lived his entire life to create opportunity for others.”

In this Sept. 20, 1973 file photo, Billie Jean King raises her arms after defeating Bobby Riggs.
In this Sept. 20, 1973 file photo, Billie Jean King raises her arms after defeating Bobby Riggs.   (AP Photo)
Sidney Poitier.
Sidney Poitier.   (AP Photo)
Former US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
Former US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.   (AP Photo)
In this June 26, 1978 file photo, then San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk is seen in San Francisco's seventh annual Gay Freedom parade.
In this June 26, 1978 file photo, then San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk is seen in San Francisco's seventh annual Gay Freedom parade.   (AP Photo)
In this file photo from April 1977, San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, left, and Mayor George Moscone are shown in the mayor's office during the signing of the city's gay rights bill.
In this file photo from April 1977, San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, left, and Mayor George Moscone are shown in the mayor's office during the signing of the city's gay rights bill.   (AP Photo)
Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 1984.
Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 1984.   (AP Photo)
Sen. Ted Kennedy.
Sen. Ted Kennedy.   (AP Photo)
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8 comments
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Jayster999
Jul 30, 09 2:17 PM CDT
Should be called the "American medal of leftist achievement". Reply
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-5
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weglad
Jul 30, 09 7:24 PM CDT
Mary Robinson, Desmond Tutu and Stephen Hawking. Hardly beacons of the left wing.
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+4
IN RESPONSE:
kansas1946
Jul 30, 09 11:28 PM CDT
LMAO. I vote this the funniest post of the day award.
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0
kokuaguy
Jul 30, 09 2:46 PM CDT
"Great American Statesman" (G.A.S.) Bush forever tarnished the Medal of Freedom, by awarding it to "slam dunk" George Tenet whose CIA allowed the 9/11 catastrophe and allowed the lies the Iraq War was based on to go unchallenged. Reply
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+5
IN RESPONSE:
Wraith
Jul 30, 09 4:16 PM CDT
I blame GW for ignoring the warning of an impending attack by the CIA then invading an uninvolved country to better help himself and Cheney financially as well as their close friends with very lucrative contracts as well as driving the American Economy off the road and and wrecking it over 8 years. And his long list of war crimes is way to long for this simple venue to handle.
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+7

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Sidney Poitier • Senate • Stephen Hawking • Desmond Tutu • tennis • Ted Kennedy • Sandra Day O'Connor • civil rights • Presidential Medal of Freedom • US Supreme Court • US Senate • Billie Jean King • Jack Kemp • President Obama • Harvey Milk • Nancy Goodman Brinker • Pedro Jose Greer • Joseph Lowery • Joseph Medicine Crow • Chita Rivera • Mary Robinson • Janet Davison Rowley • Muhammad Yunus

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