Political Quotes

“That would satisfy an apparent sense of equity but it may put me at a disadvantage in terms of being able to defeat the Senator's amendment, and on this matter I feel very, very strongly about this racial justice provision and I do not wish to yield any rights I have on the floor that could enhance the possibility of my being able to. I realize the Senator has had the votes in the past. I am not one to tilt at windmills. That is why I am willing to limit the time. I realize the last time we had a vote on this the Senator from New York, his position, won roughly 70 to 30. But I would like to have the opportunity to use the rules of the Senate in terms of amendment to be able to make it more difficult for the Senator to win. As the Senator knows, we have always had a great relationship. I have never had anything but respect for him. I will do everything in my power at this moment under the rules to make it difficult for the Senator to win, or at least to decrease his margin. So I will not agree to a UC unless I have the opportunity, if we choose, to second degree the amendment. I apologize to the majority leader. I know how hard he and the Republican leader worked on this. As I said, I do not think in 22 years I have ever done this but this is too important to me.”