Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, of all the extreme statements we've heard coming out of the Republican Presidential debates in recent weeks, perhaps none is more alarming than the idea that we should ``cut foreign aid to zero''--even for steadfast U.S. allies, even for critical global health and antiterrorism efforts. We might dismiss this ridiculous assertion as a ``hail Mary'' from a candidate desperate to revive his flagging chances, were it not for the fact that it drew heavy applause from the Republican voters in the audience and eager agreement from the rest of the Republican field, including the presumptive frontrunner. Is this the state of today's Republican Party, the party of internationalists such as Teddy Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, and Ronald Reagan? ``Cut foreign aid to zero?'' Foreign aid has always been an easy target for demagogues, especially during difficult economic times, but the reality is that it is one of the most cost-effective investments our Nation makes. For about 1 percent of our annual budget, it strengthens key allies such as Israel, the Palestine Authority, Afghanistan, and Egypt; it promotes economic development that benefits American companies and creates jobs back home; it helps us respond to humanitarian disasters and supports democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Suggestions that we should ``start at zero'' and ask our allies to come to us hat in hand are simply preposterous. ____________________”