Dick Durbin: “there is a lot of talk across this country about the important issues in this Presidential campaign. Some people are…”

“there is a lot of talk across this country about the important issues in this Presidential campaign. Some people are going to try to define those issues on the floor of the House and Senate in the weeks ahead, but the issues in this campaign will not be defined in Washington, not on Capitol Hill. Those issues will be defined in homes across America where families will decide what is important, and they will listen to the candidates for Congress--the House and Senate--and those who are running for President and Vice President. They will listen to hear whether those candidates are responding to their real concerns. There will be an effort here to manufacture issues to try to divert American families from their real concerns. In just a short time, I suspect we will have this rush of proposed constitutional amendments coming to the floor of the Senate. It is suggested one will be on the issue of marriage and one on the flag. Quite honestly, it is very apparent why they are being brought to the floor. I personally think we should pass one law--and do it quickly--which says no one can propose a constitutional amendment in a Presidential election year, certainly not within 6 months of an election. Such proposals are automatically suspect and clearly political.”