Obama invokes Kennedy in health speech

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By Christina Bellantoni

President Obama invoked the late Sen. Edward Kennedy in his health care speech, telling members of Congress and Americans watching across the country that the Massachusetts Democratic senator sent him a letter to be delivered upon his death.

"He expressed confidence that this would be the year that health care reform -- 'that great unfinished business of our society,' he called it -- would finally pass," Mr. Obama said during an address on the topic that has dominated Mr. Obama's presidency this summer.

The president said his friend, who died last month after battling brain cancer, wrote him a letter in May that was received a few days ago.

"He repeated the truth that health care is decisive for our future prosperity, but he also reminded me that 'it concerns more than material things.'" Mr. Obama said.

"'What we face,' he wrote, 'is above all a moral issue; at stake are not just the details of policy, but fundamental principles of social justice and the character of our country,'" Mr. Obama recalled as Mr. Kennedy's widow Vicki sat in the gallery with first lady Michelle Obama, dabbing her eyes as Mr. Obama spoke.

After Mr. Kennedy passed away, some lawmakers proposed renaming the health care bill in honor of the long-time lawmaker who championed the issue for decades.