Bill Clinton: “It is time for the Senate to exercise our responsibility, for the Members of this Chamber to decide: What do we owe our…”

“It is time for the Senate to exercise our responsibility, for the Members of this Chamber to decide: What do we owe our constituents, our young men and women in uniform? What do we owe history in terms of our responsibility? We know the answer. Whether we stand up and deny it or not, we know the answer. History is going to judge this period harshly. And I wish we could, as a body, redeem ourselves and redeem this mission, give it a chance for success, with new eyes and ears, with a new way of thinking and leading. I have no idea whom the President might ask to replace the Secretary were he to be asked to leave or resign, but I have to believe that some fresh thinking, some new ideas would make a difference. It is time we put our policy, our chance for success, ahead of politics, that we put wise decisionmaking and new leadership ahead of the status quo. When it is not working, why do we keep digging a deeper hole? So I hope this body would exercise responsibility in the only way open to us, since we cannot have the oversight and accountability the Congress should be demanding. Thank you, Mr. President.”