Political Quotes

“Mr. President, when President Obama was first elected back in 2008, I can recall the transition period because his transition office was literally next door to my office in the Federal building in Chicago. I can't think of a more exciting time. Here was my colleague in the Senate who had just been elected President of the United States. The whole world was beating a path to his door. Security was at the highest level, and I made a point of not interrupting him--which I would have done regularly when he was my Senate colleague--during this historic and important moment as he prepared to lead America with the blessing and the mandate of the American people. I didn't have a long list of requests--well, I did, but I didn't exercise it--but I spoke to him once or twice about a couple of things I thought might be helpful to the country and to him. I recommended to him one person to appoint to his Cabinet--one person. I urged him to appoint Ray LaHood as America's Secretary of Transportation. I was confident that Ray LaHood would serve America with the same integrity and energy he had shown while serving as a Member of Congress from our State of Illinois. As Secretary Ray LaHood prepares to leave this important Cabinet post, I am pleased but not a bit surprised to be able to say to the President that I was right. He was an excellent choice-- in fact, one of the best ever when it comes to the Department of Transportation. Make no mistake, Ray LaHood is a proud Republican.…”