Can’t Brooke the Stonewalling

Here’s a demonstration of a brilliant photo op and political tactic today as Obama honored former GOP Senator Edward Brooke in the Capitol rotunda. Brooke was the first African-American ever elected to the Senate in the modern era. Here’s how it sets up politically:

1. Obama centered on American flag

2. Brooke perfectly in line with Lincoln

3. Brook perfectly balanced between Dem and GOP Senate leaders

4. Reid wearing GOP red and McConnell wearing Dem Blue

5. With that driving symbolism of equality, patriotism and bipartisanship at hand, I don’t think McConnell, a historic health care reform battle approaching the end game, was expecting this (via AP report):

“We’ve got to get together,” Brooke said, turning his eyes to Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. “We have no alternative. There’s nothing left. It’s time for politics to be put aside on the back burner.”

Feel free to connect even more dots as there is plenty of symbolism here.

(added correction 5:50 pm PST)

(Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Getty Images. caption: US President Barack Obama (2nd L) joins House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (FROM L), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), former Senator Edward William Brooke (R-MA) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in honoring Brooke with the Congressional Gold Medal in the Rotunda of the US Capitol on October 28, 2009 in Washington, DC. Brooke, a two-term Republican senator from 1967-1979, was the first African-American elected to the senate by popular vote.)