Political Quotes

“when I came to Congress years ago, I had no idea that one of the major issues I would face and be involved in was the tobacco industry. Now, I knew what tobacco had done to my family. I lost my father when he was 53 years old. He died of lung cancer. He smoked two packs of cigarettes a day. I was just a sophomore in high school when he died. I stood there by his bed at his last breath and thought to myself, I hope I am smart enough to never be addicted to tobacco, because I have seen his young life destroyed by it. I didn't swear to go against the tobacco companies. That sure wasn't the reason I ran for office. But the time came, as a Member of the House of Representatives, when issues started presenting themselves involving tobacco. As they presented themselves, I recalled my personal and family experience with death and disease from tobacco, and I decided to get involved. About 15 or 16 years ago, I introduced a bill to ban smoking on airplanes. I was a Member of the House and didn't know any better, and I was told by the experts: You are going to lose; nobody beats the tobacco lobby; they are too powerful in this town. All of the leadership on both sides of the aisle in the House opposed my amendment. To my great surprise, it passed anyway. It turns out that Members of the House of Representatives, and ultimately Members of the Senate, are frequent fliers. They knew how ridiculous it was to have smoking sections on airplanes and nonsmoking sections.…”