Political Quotes

“I hope America is watching what is going on on the floor today, and they are paying careful attention to this debate. We hear speaker after speaker from the other side of the aisle say things like, ``It has been done before.'' The majority leader: ``Clear precedent.'' Yeah, there is clear precedent. We know the person who was in the Chair just before comes from the State that actually was the clear precedent: In 1847, when retrocession occurred. You know, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle say this isn't politics. This is about getting voting rights. This is about things like this. I would suggest that perhaps the people watching go to Wikipedia and see what the history is about the support for retrocession back to Maryland. Mr. Speaker, because, you see, this is not Congress's land. This is Maryland's land. Maryland gave it to the United States for the sole purpose of a permanent, Federal enclave. The nerve of hundreds of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle thinking it is their land. It is Maryland's land. And if you want voting rights, it is simple: Do exactly what occurred in 1847 and give the land back to Maryland. But, whoa, wait a minute. That is not what this debate is about, because retrocession has been proposed many times with no Democrat supporters. In fact, the majority leader was in Congress when these bills were proposed. If what he really wants is voting rights, he should have cosponsored the bill. Mr.…”