Gilbert Gutknecht: “Isn't that really the story of America? The naysayers and the pessimists and the cynics have never prevailed. In the…”

“Isn't that really the story of America? The naysayers and the pessimists and the cynics have never prevailed. In the long run, it is the optimists, the believers, the ones who really get out, roll up their sleeves and get it done. I know there are a lot of pessimists and naysayers here in Washington We read about them in some of the media sometimes. But the truth of the matter is, the American people believe that it can, and will, and must be done. There are people in this town who think it is absolutely impossible for this Congress to pass a balanced budget reconciliation this fall. They think it is impossible for us to save Medicare. They think it is impossible for us to pass a welfare reform that is really built on work and personal responsibility and strengthening families. They say it cannot be done, but the American people, the interesting thing in the town meetings I have had, they know it can be done. They believe it can be done. That is what has made this country work. It is that spirit that I think is not only going to help us get through this particular period in our history, but will help us chart our course in the 21st century. What the American people want is to get back to some of those old-fashioned things, as was mentioned earlier. They want more personal responsibility and less Government responsibility. They want more personal control and they want less Government control.”