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Blair first in the race to receive Obama’s blessing
Nicholas Cecil5 Feb 2009
Tony Blair today beat Gordon Brown in the race to be the first British politician to meet US president Barack Obama.
The former prime minister was also showered with praise by Mr Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington.
He said Mr Blair was “an example to so many people around the world of what dedicated leadership can accomplish”.
Mr Blair is very popular in the US and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Giving a keynote address to the prayer gathering, Mr Blair said: “Mr President, we salute you and we wish you well.” He recalled some of his religious experiences and ended his speech: “We do God's work, we do God's will — and by the way, God Bless You.”
Images of a relaxed Mr Blair shaking hands with Mr Obama are likely to rile some of Mr Brown's aides.
Reader views (10)
He really shouldn't be given media time.
- S-M Hearmon, London, UK, 06/02/2009 09:34
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What an example?
- Stan White, leeds, 06/02/2009 07:18
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Groan! And there was I thinking we had seen the last of him.
- Gordo, Birmingham, UK, 05/02/2009 22:34
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Hopefully Obama was being sarcastic when he said that Blair was "an example to so many people around the world of what dedicated leadership can accomplish” - and was in fact referring to Tony starting an illegal war and leaving Iraq, his own country and his own party in chaos.
Alternatively, in the words of The Who's "Won't get fooled again", "meet the new boss, same as the old boss".
- Austen, London, 05/02/2009 18:02
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"the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington."
I thought the US Constitution decreed that there was a seperate between religion and politics and that neither should mix?
- Bob, Cheam, 05/02/2009 17:32
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I am a trifle mystified by this use of religion for publicity purposes when there was no bible to be found when he re-took the oath he mumbled. Perhaps we should send him a matchbox edition so he can carry it at all times.
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, England, 05/02/2009 17:19
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Can you imagine Broon's anguish? Bliar got there first again. This cheered me up immensely.
- Keith Price, Luton, 05/02/2009 17:17
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no surprises that this slimey toe rag of a worm wormed his way in their first. 'We do God's work' ergh no you do Blairs work i.e. line your own pockets and fulfil your own self interests & what exactly is Blairs religious experiences....oh please you become a catholic then 5 mins later you are o so pious. It's a pity our friends in the US cannot see through your veil of lies and deceit - if you are a religious man Blair then be judged when the times comes and I hope I am there to see it!!
- Fly, london, 05/02/2009 16:47
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Crawler
- Syd, sunderland.uk, 05/02/2009 16:43
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“We do God's work, we do God's will.."
I cannot find the words to describe Bliar, I am speechless!
- Wen, Oxfordshire, 05/02/2009 16:38
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