Richard Gephardt: “I certainly rise first with sympathy and condolences for his family. This is a horrible loss to them and we send prayers…”

“I certainly rise first with sympathy and condolences for his family. This is a horrible loss to them and we send prayers of understanding, prayers of comfort for this time of great sorrow in their lives. We all speak today with a very heavy heart and great sadness that this would happen. It is always tragic when we stand here to eulogize a fallen colleague, but it is much more difficult and sad when that colleague is taken from us at the pinnacle of their life, before their time. Sonny Bono brought his wonderful spirit and sense of humor to all of us here in the Capitol, here in the House of Representatives, and a good sense of humor is always bipartisan, and Sonny Bono was. He had a good word for everyone, Republican, Democrat. He had a kind word for everyone. He was never, that I could see, in a bad mood. He was always in a good mood. He was never pessimistic. He was always optimistic. He was always very, very optimistic that we could solve our problems. He brought another great gift. He brought the gift of humor.”