Political Quotes

“I want to thank the gentlelady and scholar for yielding to me and putting on this series tonight. Mr. Speaker, just a few weeks ago, on January 12, right here in this Chamber, President Obama proudly declared to the citizens of the United States that the state of our Union is strong. With that, I agree. However, tonight, just as I did in New Orleans on this holiday, I must stand here and give the state of the dream address. So, today, I stand in this Chamber and report to the world that the state of the dream is in disrepair. It is in disrepair because of neglect by some and intentional harms by others. Let me first just state what I believe his dream to be. This is in his own words. In accepting the Nobel Peace Prize, Dr. King said: ``I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits.'' So why do I say that dream is in disrepair? Well, inadequate funding and misguided policies stand as a bar to many kids of color from getting a quality education, just like Bull Connor stood in the schoolhouse doors during the civil rights movement. Why do I say the dream is in disrepair? Because too many African American children have better access to guns and drugs than textbooks and computers. Far too many of them choose guns and drugs. Why do I say the dream is in disrepair?…”