Political Quotes

“I thank Mrs. Hartzler for yielding and for her leadership on this critical issue, which is not just as partisan issue. I am a Democrat. I know this is not a partisan issue--religious liberty. This is not even just a foundational American principle. It is a fundamental human right. Many of the men and women who came to America were fleeing religious persecution and were searching for a place where they could freely exercise their faiths. They had the courage to pledge their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to the cause. As a number of my colleagues have stated, the First Amendment to our Constitution starts with these words: ``Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.'' I used to teach my American Government students that, clearly, this was not freedom to worship--just the freedom to go on Sunday or Saturday or whatever day of the week that you worshiped--but a freedom to exercise religion in the way they see proper. As First Lady Michelle Obama stated at a conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, our faith journey isn't just about showing up on Sunday; it is about what we do Monday through Saturday as well. That is what Americans believe, and we must protect the freedom to exercise our religious beliefs every day of the week. Many millions have had the courage to fight, and many have died to protect our Nation in this constitutional right.…”