Political Quotes

“Madam President, as I came into the Chamber, I saw my friend Arlen Specter standing behind me. There will be other times I will say more about Arlen Specter, but I think it is appropriate to say a few words today about Arlen Specter. After the beginning of the year, he will no longer be with us as a Senator. I have followed very closely his career. I have read his book--he has written a number, but I read the book about his life--and it was fascinating, about his prosecutorial skills in Pennsylvania. We all know of his academic approach to the law in the Senate. When he comes to the floor, he is someone who speaks after having given serious, long thought to what he was going to talk about, as I am sure he will today. I have spoken in recent days with him at great length about something he strongly believes in; that is, making the Supreme Court something the American people can identify with by having cameras in and watching the arguments before the Supreme Court, not having to read a stale transcript but listen to the give-and-take of the lawyers and the Court. As I said, I will have a lot more to say about Arlen Specter at some time in the future, but I have appreciated his astute awareness of the law and his being so good to me. It doesn't matter whether he is a Democrat or a Republican, he is a Senator who I think is exemplary. ____________________”