Duncan Faircloth: “how we vote is not always clear to Americans. For the average citizen it is not easy to keep straight whether a ``yea''…”

“how we vote is not always clear to Americans. For the average citizen it is not easy to keep straight whether a ``yea'' is for or against something--whether it is a vote to pass a bill or table it. It also can be difficult to sort out where their senators stand when a particular vote covers many provisions in one ``package.'' Which provision was the ``yea'' vote for or the ``no'' vote against? But, Mr. President, the vote on cloture of the American Missile Protection Act (S. 1873) this morning is not at all one of those ``confusing'' votes. I can think of no vote where it can be seen more clearly exactly where each senator stands. This morning's vote was black and white. This morning's vote shows who takes the most important function of the Federal Government--national security--seriously. The Senate failed for a second time this year to invoke cloture on the bill. Forty-one Senators, all Democrats, voted against protecting American families from the greatest threat to our homeland. Nothing can be more frightening than the thought of an attack on our homes by another nation using nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons. Not thinking about it or pretending that it won't happen are absolutely not grownup ways to deal with this reality.”