Byron Dorgan: “I say them, that they should go to ground zero in New York City, the site of these terrorist acts, and talk to the…”

“I say them, that they should go to ground zero in New York City, the site of these terrorist acts, and talk to the firefighters and law enforcement people. They will then understand that those Government employees, those firefighters who lost their lives, were climbing the stairs of those twin Trade Towers even as they were coming down. As that fire broke out in both buildings and people began to evacuate those buildings, those firefighters were going up with full backpacks. People told me--and I read reports--of seeing firefighters on the 20th floor and the 30th floor, nearly out of breath, climbing the stairs of those buildings. Those are public servants providing a public service that is unmeasurable in its value to this country. So when I hear people talk about Government workers in a disparaging way, I say this: There are a lot of people who commit themselves to public service in this country who, every day and every way, every hour, protect this country and stand up for the interests of this country.”