Ailing Ted Kennedy appears for Senate vote

WASHINGTON (AP) — Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, battling a brain tumor, walked through a wall of applause and into the Senate on Wednesday and cast a dramatic, decisive vote on long-stalled Medicare legislation.

“Aye,” the 76-year-old Kennedy said in a loud voice, smiling broadly and making a thumbs-up gesture as he registered his vote.

Spectators in the galleries that overhang the chamber burst into cheers — a violation of decorum that drew no complaints.

“It’s great to be back. I love this place,” he said after his brief visit.

Kennedy made his way into the Senate on his own power, appearing little the worse for his illness.

He walked into chamber accompanied by Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, his party’s presidential nominee-in-waiting, as well as fellow Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and Kennedy’s son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island.

“I return to the Senate today to keep a promise to our senior citizens, and that’s to protect Medicare,” the senator said in a statement issued by his office as the vote was unfolding.

“Win, lose or draw, I wanted to be here. I wasn’t going to take the chance that my vote could make the difference.”

Kennedy’s dramatic return gave Democrats the impetus they needed to free Medicare legislation from gridlock. It had received 59 votes on an earlier test, one short of the 60 needed to advance. Kennedy made 60, and when Republicans saw the outcome was sealed, several of them joined Democrats to pad the margin. The House already has overwhelmingly approved the measure.

Lawmakers are under pressure from doctors and the elderly patients they serve to void a 10.6 percent pay cut for doctors treating Medicare patients.