Edward Brooke, first black elected U.S. senator, dies at 95

[Formerly Once-Ler]

http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2015/01/03/edward-brooke-obituary/21236067/

Former Massachusetts U.S. senator Edward Brooke, the first African American to be elected to the Senate by popular vote, has died at age 95.

Ralph Neas, a former aide, said Brooke died Saturday of natural causes at his home in Coral Gables, Fla.

"Ed Brooke stood at the forefront of the battle for civil rights and economic fairness. During his time in elected office, he sought to build consensus and understanding across partisan lines, always working towards practical solutions to our nation's challenges," President Obama said in a statement.

The only blacks to serve in the Senate before Brooke were two men in the 1870s when senators were still chosen by state legislatures.

Brooke, a liberal Republican, was elected to the Senate in 1966 and served two terms. He earned his reputation as a liberal after becoming the first Republican senator to publicly urge President Nixon to resign.

"We lost a truly remarkable public servant," says Massachusetts Gov.-elect Charlie Baker. "A war hero, a champion of equal rights for all and an example that barriers can be broken, Sen. Brooke accomplished more than most aspire to."
Former senator Edward William Brooke shakes hands witih

Brooke was honored in October 2009 with the Congressional Gold Medal. At the time, the president described Brooke as "a man who's spent his life breaking barriers and bridging divides across this country."

When he accepted the honor, Brooke lectured both parties to work together to solve problems saying Republicans and Democrats "can do anything" if they set aside partisan politics.

"You've got to get together. We have no alternative," he said. "It's time for politics to be put aside on the back burner."

Historian Dennis Nordin has researched and written about African-American politicians and devoted a chapter to Brooke in his book, From Edward Brooke to Barack Obama: African American Political Success, 1966-2008.

Nordin told The Greenville News that Brooke's political career shows independence from the GOP.

"He didn't follow the party line," said Nordin. "He refused to support Barry Goldwater in 1964 and Richard Nixon's Supreme Court nominees with a racist past."

Brooke said he was "thankful to God" that he lived to see Barack Obama become the nation's first black president.

Lawmakers are taking to Twitter to voice their thoughts and memories about Brooke.

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., the first black ever elected to the Senate from South Carolina tweeted: "Deeply saddened by the loss of Senator Edward Brooke. He was a true trailblazer; those of us who followed cannot thank him enough. #RIP"

[Formerly Once-Ler]

RNC Statement on the Passing of Senator Edward Brooke
https://gop.com/rnc-statement-on-the-passing-of-senator-edward-brooke/

 Chairman Reince Priebus - January 3, 2015

WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus and Co-Chairman Sharon Day released the following message on the passing of former Senator Edward Brooke:
 
"I want to extend my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of former Senator Edward Brooke and to the people of Massachusetts," said Chairman Priebus.

"As the first African American elected to the Senate since Reconstruction and the first African American elected to the office of state Attorney General, Brooke was a pioneer and an inspiration to many. Today, our party and our nation have lost a statesman and a trailblazer."

"Today, we remember the life of Senator Brooke. His family and friends are in our prayers, and we mourn his passing. We should honor and celebrate not only his accomplishments but also those he inspired to pursue a life of public service," said Co-Chairman Day.

[rangerrebew]

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No, Edward Brooke Wasn’t the First “Elected Black Senator”

Posted By Daniel Greenfield On January 4, 2015 @ 9:06 am In The Point | 4 Comments




CBS’ story makes it clear that they know that their headline, “Edward Brooke, 1st black man elected to Senate, dies at 95″ is wrong because they have to hedge it as “Former U.S. Sen. Edward W. Brooke, a liberal Republican who became the first black man in U.S. history to win popular election to the Senate” and then further as “Brooke was elected to the Senate in 1966, becoming the first black man to sit in that branch from any state since Reconstruction”.

In fact there were two Republican senators during Reconstruction. CBS decided that they were illegitimate because they were elected by legislatures, rather than directly elected. That’s an oddball position for a liberal media outlet to take on the Reconstruction. But you can’t expect modern progressives to understand the implications of their politics.

Brooke was actually the third Black senator, all three were Republicans. CBS however decided to go for the clickbait headline. It also ran this as a high profile piece only because Brooke had praised Obama. Senators Revels and Bruce had never praised Obama so they had to be written out of history by CBS.




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URL to article: http://www.frontpagemag.com/2015/dgreenfield/no-edward-brooke-wasnt-the-first-elected-black-senator/

[Formerly Once-Ler]

- FrontPage Magazine - http://www.frontpagemag.com -



No, Edward Brooke Wasn’t the First “Elected Black Senator”

Posted By Daniel Greenfield On January 4, 2015 @ 9:06 am In The Point | 4 Comments




CBS’ story makes it clear that they know that their headline, “Edward Brooke, 1st black man elected to Senate, dies at 95″ is wrong because they have to hedge it as “Former U.S. Sen. Edward W. Brooke, a liberal Republican who became the first black man in U.S. history to win popular election to the Senate” and then further as “Brooke was elected to the Senate in 1966, becoming the first black man to sit in that branch from any state since Reconstruction”.

In fact there were two Republican senators during Reconstruction. CBS decided that they were illegitimate because they were elected by legislatures, rather than directly elected. That’s an oddball position for a liberal media outlet to take on the Reconstruction. But you can’t expect modern progressives to understand the implications of their politics.

Brooke was actually the third Black senator, all three were Republicans. CBS however decided to go for the clickbait headline. It also ran this as a high profile piece only because Brooke had praised Obama. Senators Revels and Bruce had never praised Obama so they had to be written out of history by CBS.




Article printed from FrontPage Magazine: http://www.frontpagemag.com

URL to article: http://www.frontpagemag.com/2015/dgreenfield/no-edward-brooke-wasnt-the-first-elected-black-senator/

Thank you for correcting and clarifying the record.