John Kerry: “this is a disturbing debate for a lot of reasons, but I think it is most disturbing because the character of Sam Brown…”

“this is a disturbing debate for a lot of reasons, but I think it is most disturbing because the character of Sam Brown has been impugned with shorthand criticisms and distortions and incomplete context in ways that I really think are not befitting of this institution's quality of debate. I know my friend from Colorado approaches this with serious intent as he does all issues. I respect his personal feelings about the qualifications. Those are legitimate. I certainly do not impugn any motive to my friend from Colorado for his legitimate perception that in his mind Sam Brown is not qualified for this job. I think he is incorrect, and I will show why I think he is incorrect and what judgments we as Senators ought to be applying to Sam Brown as we try to determine whether or not he is qualified. That is certainly a legitimate discourse. But, Madam President, underlying the discourse, as we heard in the most recent speech from the Senator from New Hampshire and from others, is an attack on dissent, a reverse form of political correctness that is not befitting of this institution.”