Political Quotes

“I rise, joining my colleagues, on this day during Black History Month to discuss two critical issues that impact every American citizen, voting rights and the need for reform. Mr. Speaker, it is one of the great historic truisms that our right to vote, the ultimate expression of the empowerment of the people and the bedrock of our democracy, is also perhaps the most hard-won right accruing to Americans. The battle to extend the right to vote to every citizen, especially women and African Americans, has shaped much of our Nation's history, and along with the battle to protect the vote has, and continues to, shape and reshape our notions of democracy. Events in Florida this past November remind us that this is no mere intellectual exercise. Unfortunately, events in Florida during the election reflect the fact that we leave the 20th century facing an assault with great parallels to the events which ushered in the century. After the Civil War, our Nation witnessed great movement towards democracy.”