Charles Rangel: “Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is…”

“Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader and gladly so. How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar. Now, does that sound familiar to what is going on here tonight? This is an historic bill. When Members return in September, they will give back their voting cards and get a rubber stamp, and they can stamp approve, approve, approve, anything the President wants.”