Charles Rangel: “Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman. I know from time to time when my party asked me to carry too much weight that morally I…”

“Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman. I know from time to time when my party asked me to carry too much weight that morally I don't believe I can do it, that somehow there are people on our side of the aisle that take the risk and being able to say I did it not because my party asked me to do it, I did it not to be opposed, I did it because it's the right thing to do. Now you have to find the issue; if it's not health care, if it's not education, if it's not national security, how about the opportunity to work, to make a living, to have the dignity, to have the pride, to raise your family, and indeed to pay taxes? This is going to be our last opportunity for this year. Maybe next year there will be a change in the philosophy--if you want to call it that--of the minority and they will work together; but I do hope this idea that on everything we come up with to improve the quality of life for the people of this great Nation, that the opposition can come up with something except 'just say no.'”