Republican Senator Who Forged Headline-Making Friendship with Obama Dies from Prostate Cancer

Former Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn, who was recognized for his staunch conservatism and cross-party friendship with former President Barack Obama, died on Saturday. He was 72.

His family confirmed his demise to the Associated Press and The Oklahoman.

Coburn died of problems from prostate most cancers, according to The Washington Post, citing a former aide.

The Republican left his Senate position in early 2015, before the top of his term, after he was again recognized with prostate cancer, for which he underwent surgery in 2011.

He determined to return residence to spend time together with his household, saying then he was “now satisfied that I can greatest serve my very own youngsters and grandchildren by shifting my focus elsewhere.”

In his years as a legislator, Coburn fought to limit the scope of the federal government and strictly opposed abortion access, same-sex marriage and global-warming science.

He decided to enter politics within the 1990s amid the “Republican Revolution” led by former Rep. Newt Gingrich, who championed his “Contract with America” plan that proposed to cut down the dimensions of the federal authorities.

In Congress, Coburn — a former obstetrician in his days earlier than getting into the House of Representatives and, later, the Senate — turned generally known as “Dr. No” for his opposition to federal spending.

“‘Dr. No’ was a drive to be reckoned with within the Senate and a strong advocate for fiscal restraint and liberty,” Sen. Ted Cruz wrote on Twitter on Saturday, mourning Coburn’s demise.

“Seventy-two years was far too few for somebody this sensible, this tireless, and this devoted to serving others,” Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell also wrote on social media. “We stand in prayer together with his beloved wife Carolyn and the whole Coburn household.”

Coburn continued his obstetrician work during his political career, delivering hundreds of babies “at value,” he stated within the face of warnings from the Senate Ethics Committee to stop his personal follow whereas an elected official.

“Alone time, I’m taking good care of ladies who have a need, and I’m going to continue to ship infants,” Coburn told Politico then. “I’m not going to stop.”

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The Senate mourns our good friend Tom Coburn. Seventy-two years was far too few for somebody this sensible, this tireless, and this devoted to serving others. We stand in prayer together with his beloved spouse Carolyn and the complete Coburn family. My full assertion: https://t.co/gNSp5KSc0E

— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) March 28, 2020

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Coburn’s defiance led him to turn into well-respected throughout the aisle, waving off critics of who fearful about his longtime friendship with President Obama.

Obama and Coburn entered the Senate collectively in 2005. In 2009 their friendship briefly turned headline news when the two shared a hug on the Senate flooring following an Obama handle.

Oklahoma newspapers ran the photograph of Coburn hugging Obama on the entrance web page the subsequent day, based on the AP. Afterwards, Coburn defended his friendship.

“I’m not aligned with him politically. I don’t know what individuals back residence in Oklahoma can be fearful about,” he stated then, in accordance with the AP. “However it is advisable separate the distinction in political philosophy versus friendship. How better to affect any person than love them?”

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Coburn was re-elected the subsequent yr and continued to serve in the Senate till January 2015, when he retired amid his cancer analysis — the newest in a collection of health issues courting back many years.

He had been given a 20-percent probability to outlive a melanoma analysis in the 1970s, which he overcame and was inspired by to review drugs, in accordance with the Publish. He attended medical faculty at the University of Oklahoma, graduating in 1983.

In 2003, Coburn was recognized with colon cancer before he stepped again from politics following his 2015 pancreatic cancer analysis.

He is survived by spouse Carolyn and three daughters, in line with The Oklahoman.

“As impressive because it was to see Tom work in the Senate, politics by no means defined him,” McConnell’s Saturday statement read. “Elected office was just one part of a driven life that had already included rising a family business and delivering hundreds of babies as a legendary hometown obstetrician. His deep faith and his countless capacity to the see the great in others made him a beloved pal to so many.”

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