Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I want to just speak briefly on Senator Budd and how thrilled I am to have him as a colleague in the U.S. Senate. I think, if you heard his speech, he mentioned our State motto, ``esse quam videri'': ``to be rather than to seem.'' What you saw here was a rational, reasonable, respectful Member of the Senate. I observed that for years when he was in Congress. Ted Budd and I met back in 2013. I watched him serve the State of North Carolina before he was elected to Congress. I admired the way he carried himself when he was in the House. I have been thrilled to see how well he has hit the ground running here in the Senate. But I will tell you, much like my campaigns--they are not necessarily easy in North Carolina, and, truthfully, Ted was running in a primary. I had two friends running in a primary. The way he conducted himself there was also very rational, very reasonable, very respectful. That is why I think he is a U.S. Senator today. That is the second reason. The primary reason he is a U.S. Senator today relates to a lady named Amy Kate, her son, and two daughters. Now, if it wasn't in violation of the rules, I would look up in the Gallery and thank Amy Kate and her family directly, but that is a violation of the rules, Amy Kate, so I won't do that. But I just want to let everybody know in North Carolina, you have picked a great partner for me to have in the U.S. Senate. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Republican leader. Mr. McCONNELL. Mr.…”