Todd Tiahrt: “during the American Reconstruction period from 1865 through 1877, there was a group of visionaries who were called…”

“during the American Reconstruction period from 1865 through 1877, there was a group of visionaries who were called radical Republicans. They wanted African-Americans to have full citizenship. These radical Republicans were for changes in society and in government. Those who criticized the Republicans were the defenders of the status quo, and that is, once again, the situation today. Republicans are once again being called radical, extremists, mean-spirited by the defenders of the status quo. Why? Because it is Republicans who want to change government; who want to reform the IRS; who want to give back citizens their constitutional right of innocence until proven guilty, instead of being guilty until they prove themselves innocent in an IRS tax audit. Madam Speaker, that is the vision of today's radical Republicans. It is not extreme or heartless. It is just common sense. So when my colleagues hear those words, ``extreme,'' ``mean-spirited,'' ``radical,'' remember once again the so-called radical Republicans paving the way for a brighter future for everyone here in America.”