Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I offered an amendment earlier today to curtail congressional parking privileges at Washington airports. The amendment occasioned brief but intense debate in opposition to it. At the time, I chose not to respond to the arguments in opposition to my amendment, although I did not find them persuasive. The Senate has now resolved the matter by rejecting my amendment. I accept that, and I do not desire to continue debate on this subject. However, Mr. President, I would like to address one of the implications in the arguments of the opponents of my amendment. My friend, the Senator from Missouri, argued that my amendment contributed to the public's "corrosive cynicism" for the institutions of our democracy and evidenced a lack of respect for the institution in which I am privileged to serve. I assume that implicit in that indictment is the charge that the author of the amendment lacks respect for the Senate. It is to that charge which I would like to briefly respond.”