Political Quotes

“Madam President, I would like to be recognized for maybe 5 minutes to speak on behalf of the nomination of former Governor Martin O'Malley. Senator Cardin and others have known Martin for a long time; I have as well. I think I met him when he was 18. He was part of an Irish folk group that was performing not just around Maryland or around Baltimore but as far away as Delaware--great places where people would come for great music, Irish music, and maybe a drink or two. Martin, I think, was too young to get in as a customer, but he could come in, apparently, as a part of a troupe and provide entertainment. I knew at that time he was a future Commissioner for Social Security--not really. Seriously, what I did know was he does pretty good harmony. In the jobs he has had since then, he has demonstrated that again and again. He and I both served as Governors of respective States part of Delmarva. We were not Governors at the same time, but very close together. He provided great leadership for our neighboring State of Maryland as Governor for many years, and I was pleased to be not just his colleague but just a friend. The day I was sworn into the House of Representatives a million years ago in 1983, we were told as freshmen at our orientation that Social Security was running out of money and if somebody didn't do something about it, eventually, there would be a haircut, benefits would be reduced.…”