Robert Wexler: “almost a year and a half ago I received and began for me what was the proudest day of my professional life, being sworn…”

“almost a year and a half ago I received and began for me what was the proudest day of my professional life, being sworn in as a Member of the United States House of Representatives. I was elected as a Democrat from the State of Florida. But far more important than being elected as a Democrat, even far more important than being elected as a Floridian, I was an American, an American first and American only. And I came to this Congress with a devotion and a respect of the principles of the United States of America, for the basic freedoms that we enjoy in our Bill of Rights. Then I listened to debate after debate in this House, where I disagreed vehemently with the Speaker with respect to his policies on Medicare, or Social Security, or education or the environment, and I disagreed vehemently at times with the direction that the Republican leadership of this Congress wishes to take this Nation. But never would I dare, never would I dare question the patriotism and the devotion to this country of the Speaker or any Republican Member of the Congress.”