Political Quotes

“the problem with this legislation is it elevates to the Federal level something that ought to be left to local law. There are plenty of laws that cover demonstrations on the picket line, obstruction on the picket line, intimidation, but this is elevating to the level of a Federal law this sort of conduct only because the target is antiabortion protesters. Mr. Speaker, we do not do that to environmentalists, we do not do that to peace demonstrators, we do not do that for labor disputes, but antiabortion. Mr. Speaker, that is what is wrong with this bill. I have this foolish notion that equal protection of the law means that everybody should be treated equally, but we are not treating labor disputes equally with antiabortion disputes. Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman from Colorado [Mrs. Schroeder] said, when has the ACLU ever been against anybody's rights? I will tell my colleagues, all the time. The unborn child's rights, the basic right to life, the ACLU does not defend over the right of the woman to exterminate her child. Mr. Speaker, physical obstruction is bad, it ought to be punished. But is handing somebody a pamphlet in front of an abortion clinic an obstruction? Do not think there will not be judges that will find that.”