Political Quotes

“Mr. President, it is obvious we are not going to be able to get to the Defense authorization bill this week. However, it is important we get to it as soon as possible after we return. In order to facilitate that, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader, following consultation with the Republican leader, the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 414, S. 3454, national defense authorization. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Mr. McCAIN. Reserving the right to object, and I do so with some reluctance, I remind my colleagues that last year we took up the consideration of the Defense authorization bill without warning. The distinguished chairman of the committee introduced a hate crimes bill which had no business on the Defense authorization bill, filled up the tree, and then, of course, we spent a great amount of time on hate crimes. I have only been a member of this committee since 1987. I have never seen what the chairman of the committee did last year by bringing forth a totally irrelevant and very controversial issue and putting it on the Defense authorization bill. We spent weeks on that when we should have been spending time on defending this Nation. It was a betrayal of the men and women who are serving this country.…”