Political Quotes

“I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I will start by thanking the leadership on the Committee on Oversight and Reform for marking up this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3976, which would rename a post office in my hometown of Detroit after the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. As was mentioned earlier, she was an 18 Grammy Award winner; a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; and the first woman to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She performed at three inaugural events for Presidents Carter, Clinton, and Barack Obama. She was a woman who was respected on both sides of the aisle where President Bush issued her the Medal of Freedom. ``A Natural Woman'' singer, she was more than just a music icon. She was a civil rights advocate who used her platform and voice to advocate for racial equality. I knew her personally and she would talk to me about being a child and having Martin Luther King in her home with her dad discussing policies and what they were going to do to fight together for racial equality. In 1967, Aretha released ``Respect,'' which became a rally cry for racial and gender political movements of the time. Although people remember Aretha Franklin as the ``Queen of Soul'' she was more than just a vocalist. Aretha used her platform to become a beacon of hope for people during the civil rights movement and her voice served as a perfect guiding light.…”