Political Quotes

“Mr. President, as we bring to an end this debate about the accession treaty for Sweden and Finland, I have been listening in my office to my colleagues' comments, and I think it has all been very constructive. But I do have a different view--a view on some points that have been made that I think are wrong--and before this body casts a vote, I think they should understand why. I appreciate Senator Paul's focus on Congress's prerogatives with respect to war powers. Like Senator Paul, I have a deep respect for the critical role that the Constitution assigns to Congress in this area, and I believe our democracy is stronger for it. But I rise to convey that Senator Paul's amendment is unnecessary, unprecedented, and, if adopted, will be deeply damaging to NATO and our relationship with NATO allies. That is why the Foreign Relations Committee, in marking up these treaties, overwhelmingly, in a bipartisan vote, voted down a substantively identical amendment offered by Senator Paul. The amendment before us today is not necessary. There is no question that the North Atlantic Treaty and the Finland and Sweden protocols do not and cannot supersede the Constitution. No treaty can. This is a well-established and well-understood point that the Supreme Court has reaffirmed. The amendment, however, would be deeply damaging to our core national security interests.…”