Steve Buyer: “I think you are right. If a ``yes'' vote, I say to the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Istook], on your resolution is for…”

“I think you are right. If a ``yes'' vote, I say to the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Istook], on your resolution is for dignity and the integrity of this body, if that is what a ``yes'' vote means, then if a Republican or a Democrat votes ``no,'' it is the opposite, and if that is what a ``no'' vote is going to mean, then it is going to mean, ``Let us just cover it up, let us make it go away, let us not talk about ethics, because, you know, we have got some other big issues we want to talk about; let us not let any scandals sideline health care, welfare reform, crime,'' whether it is the President or whether it is this body, the kind of let-it-go-away situational ethics stuff. I think that a ``no'' vote or anybody that votes ``no'' on this resolution has a lot of explaining to do when that Congressman or Congresswoman goes back to their district and has to tell their constituents, ``I voted to cover up the scandals in Washington.'' Holy smokes, how are you going to explain that one? That is pretty tough. I think that is what you are referring to when the American people put the heat on this body, that is what is important, and maybe what is occurring right now is we have the Democrat Party has been in control of this body for 40 years. I am 35 years old. They have been in control of this body for 40 years, longer than any other democratic nation in this world. This body has become an undemocratic institution. We need to reign in, reign in character and integrity and dignity.”