Political Quotes

“First of all, I want to say to my colleague from Massachusetts that I very much have enjoyed the conversations we have had, and perhaps more so when we have been in disagreement because I think we have brought out a number of important points on a variety of issues. So I always appreciate his views. Secondly, since the Senator has specifically referred to the points I have made, let me just respond in one way. I don't gainsay the argument that people who have a deep belief in trying to pursue a particular human right or other goal believe that getting together in the international community and talking about these things is a useful exercise. It is hard to argue in the abstract with that proposition, so I can understand the letters that would be written. The hard reality is, however, that there are nation states such as China that do like to sign up to these organizations and gain the reputation for doing good things while, in fact, not doing things, as I pointed out. So to some extent it can serve the opposite goal of giving cover to countries that really have no intention of acting in good faith or in good ways that we have demonstrated as the United States, and that is one of the problems here. I do acknowledge, and I will not use any more of the Senator's time, but when one of two things is true, either it is fairly meaningless or it is really meaningful. I don't think that we can make both arguments as arguments in support of our signing up to the treaty.”