Kennedy doing better after being rushed to hospital

Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) was conscious and speaking
Tuesday afternoon after being rushed from a lunch honoring President Obama.

Kennedy suffered from what was described by several
attendees as a seizure. He was whisked away by an ambulance to Washington
Hospital Center.

{mosads}According to ABC News, Kennedy’s son Rep. Patrick Kennedy
(D-R.I.) has described his father’s condition favorably, noting that the
senator was awake and speaking.

Some of Kennedy’s friends, who had accompanied him to the
ambulance, also said that they spoke to the Massachusetts senator before he was
taken away.

“He was very aware and very conscious and resistant to
any help,” said Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.). “He’s in a good state.”

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), one of Kennedy’s best friends
in the Senate, also walked to the ambulance with the Massachusetts lawmaker and
reported that he was talking.

Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), the dean of the Senate, was
so upset about Kennedy’s health troubles that he also had to be taken out of
the lunch.

According to accounts from congressional staffers and
lawmakers present at the lunch, Kennedy, who was at the same table as Byrd,
began having convulsions and his eyes rolled back in his head. Several
witnesses said they believed Kennedy suffered a seizure.

Congressmen who were seated at Kennedy’s table said the
senator was talking, laughing and sharing jokes when his teeth suddenly
clenched and his hands shook, with the entire episode lasting about two minutes
before medical personnel swooped in and took him to the Rayburn Reception Room.

Those attending the lunch held a moment of silence for
Kennedy as he was wheeled out by emergency personnel. Reporters were then
allowed onto a balcony overlooking the lunch.

Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), who was at the table, said
that when President Obama heard of the incident, he rushed to the Rayburn room
to check on Kennedy and acknowledged the incident in his remarks at the lunch.
“First of all, I know that, while I was out of the room, concern was expressed
about Teddy,” Obama said. “He was there when the Voting Rights Act passed;
along with John Lewis was a warrior for justice; and so I would be lying to you
if I did not say that, right now, a part of me is with him,” Obama said,
referencing the Georgia lawmaker.

“And I think that’s true for all of us. This is a joyous
time, but it’s also a sobering time. And my prayers are with him and his family
and Vicki.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) asked for a
brief moment of thought or prayer for Kennedy on the Senate floor.