Political Quotes

“Short-term political calculations have ruled this House. By that I mean, let us not tell the American people the facts. Let us hide the deficit. Let us hide the problems of Medicare. If we just repeat what people want to hear rather than the truth, we will get reelected. Of course, traditionally that is the way you get reelected. It is so refreshing to be with folks who have come to Congress in the last year and a half, some on the other side of the aisle, relatively few, who are willing to tell the truth to the American people because in my view, that is what defines leaders. I do not think it takes any particular talent to be a politician. Any of us can go hire a pollster, read the poll results and tell people what they want to hear. There is no particular talent in doing that. But to have the courage of your convictions, to have principle, to have political guts to go tell the American people, look, folks, we have to do something, your mother depends on Medicare. Your mother wants to hear the truth. Your mother want to hear a party with ideas, a party with a plan to save Medicare.”