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Blair first in the race to receive Obama’s blessing
Nicholas Cecil05.02.09
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
What an example?
- Stan White, leeds
Groan! And there was I thinking we had seen the last of him.
- Gordo, Birmingham, UK
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
"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
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
Can you imagine Broon's anguish? Bliar got there first again. This cheered me up immensely.
- Keith Price, Luton
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
Crawler
- Syd, sunderland.uk
“We do God's work, we do God's will.."
I cannot find the words to describe Bliar, I am speechless!
- Wen, Oxfordshire
