Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, let me just say in summary that one of the great remarks made when our country was founded about this body is, ``Here, sir, the people govern.'' We represent the people. We are a representative democracy. I do believe people of America, the good, decent people we represent, are affronted and offended by the venomous attacks made on people's religion, on their ethnicity, on their race, on their color, and I think we have every right to speak out institutionally, collectively, not to forbear the legal right to say what you say, but the moral right to say what they said. Nobody has the right to insult people, the moral right. They may have the legal right. They have the legal right. We said, ``Go ahead and burn the American flag.'' I resisted that, but if that is symbolic speech, certainly actual speech ought to be protected, and it is protected. However, we do not have to turn the other cheek and become accessories by silence, by inaction, ratify through inaction. Scripture tells us, ``For every idle word, man must render an account.'' It is well said that for every idle silence, man should render an account. We should not remain silent even in the face of this egregious, poisonous, venomous attack on all that is decent in our land.”