Political Quotes

“It is unfortunate that an issue as vital to our national security as the war in Iraq gets embedded in Presidential politics. There is an irony that seeing the bumper stickers which say 'United We Stand,' that is more a hope than an expectation. The reason we are at war in Iraq, regardless of all the lint-picking and mistakes and the misjudgments and all the discrepancies, boils down to its simplest terms. The strategic threat from a brutal aggressor that was a challenge to the region as well as to ourselves is a matter of record. And we can debate and argue over this point or that point, but Saddam Hussein was a threat to the region and to the United States, and somebody had to exercise leadership and it devolved upon our President and he has done so. However, I do not propose to talk about that aspect of this many-faceted discussion. Mr. Chairman, I want to talk about the very difficult question of loan versus grant. I can say to the chairman how much I would like to vote for this to be a loan. It makes sense. It is the most defensible position one can take on this issue. But I have come to the conclusion that that would be a mistake and that we should make this a grant, and I will try to tell you my reasons.”