Cord Byrd: “in his Pulitzer Prize winning book, ``Profiles in Courage,'' Senator John F. Kennedy extolled the virtues of political…”

“in his Pulitzer Prize winning book, ``Profiles in Courage,'' Senator John F. Kennedy extolled the virtues of political courage. ``Surely, in the United States of America, where brother once fought brother,'' Senator Kennedy wrote, ``we do not judge a man's bravery under fire by examining the banner under which he fought.'' For 7 years I have watched and admired the courage of Senator Lincoln Chafee, who sits on the other side of the aisle, and who will be leaving us at the end of the 109th Congress. I have watched and admired his firm stands against his own political party, the Senate leadership, and the Presidential administration as he followed the dictates of his conscience. ``A man does what he must,'' wrote Senator Kennedy, ``in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures--and that is the basis of all human morality.'' This was the basis of Senator Chafee's tenure in the Senate. Senator Chafee was appointed to the Senate in 1999 upon the death of his father, the beloved and respected Senator John Chafee. He immediately proved himself to be, to use an old cliche, a ``chip off the old block.'' Senator Lincoln Chafee proved himself to be a Senator of immense integrity, great dignity, and high principle. And, like his father, he proved himself a Senator of incredible courage. He was the first Senate Republican to oppose the Bush tax cuts in 2001.”