Senator Kerry gets a lot of awards and accolades. I'm guessing other Senators get some, too, but he really seems to get an awful lot of good ones, and recently, there's been a deluge. Certainly, it's important to recognize a job well done, like the Senator's 100% ratings from the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, the American Association of University Women, the Human Rights Campaign and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, all four organizations having recently recognized Senator Kerry's work.
The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law has given Senator John Kerry its highest possible 100% rating, citing his work to help end poverty in America, raise the minimum wage, reduce the cost of college, provide access to affordable housing, his support of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and Head Start, as well as his staunch support of the Development, Relief, and Education for Minors (DREAM) Act.
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) has given Senator John Kerry their highest possible100% rating, citing his work on strengthening hate crimes laws, making college more affordable, addressing the pay gap between men and women, and raising the minimum wage.
The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) has given Senator John Kerry their highest possible100% rating, citing his work on the minimum wage, immigration reform and his opposition to judicial nominees who disregard basic civil rights.
Along with an endorsement of Senator Kerry's senate reelection, the HRC also gave him a 100% rating.
“Senator Kerry has been an outspoken leader for GLBT equality in the United States Senate. Most recently, Senator Kerry’s leadership was crucial to the advancement of legislation to lift the discriminatory HIV travel ban. We are pleased to endorse Senator Kerry for re-election and look forward to working with him on achieving equality for our community,” said Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign.
Pretty impressive stuff. Here's one, though, that has to really hit home. On Friday, the Senator was honored with the First Annual Father Drinan Award, which celebrates those who have maintained "a lifelong history of working for the goals of the Democratic Party, especially with a focus on social justice."
Being the first recipient is quite an honor. But the fact that Sen. Kerry and Fr. Drinan were long time friends had to have made that one especially significant. Sounds like the two had a lot in common.
Kerry focused on Drinan's social activism in Congress, especially his opposition to the war in Vietnam. "He brought to Congress a moral opposition to the war and his testimony against the war became that much more powerful," he said. Drinan was also the first congressman to call for President Richard Nixon's impeachment. However, these early protests were in response to the secret bombings in Cambodia, not the more popularly maligned Watergate scandal, Kerry said. This action showcased the "boldness and uniqueness of this priest in a critical moment in American history." All of this social activism stemmed from his two loves: the Catholic Church and politics, and despite the forced exodus from Congress, Drinan never really left public life. "There was no separation between his political life and his life," Kerry said.
It's got to feel pretty great to receive that kind of recognition, but maybe even more so to have an award bestowed in your honor. In this video, Middlesex County DA Gerry Leone describes the contributions Sen. Kerry has made that lead to the creation of the Senator John F. Kerry Leadership Award, and introduces Senator Kerry in advance of the recognition of three outstanding recipients.
Congratulations to the Senator and to Loretta Lillios, Richard Mucci and Donna Greska, recipients of the Senator John F. Kerry Leadership Award.
