Charles Rangel: “And my colleagues, I stand once again to make a plea to our spiritual leaders throughout the United States to be heard…”

“And my colleagues, I stand once again to make a plea to our spiritual leaders throughout the United States to be heard and to speak out against the gridlock that exists here in the United States Congress. I do this feeling very comfortable since we open up our session with a prayer and as everyone can see and many have taken for granted, it says: ``In God We Trust.'' Clearly, the protesters have caused quite a bit of inconvenience for my colleagues and the constituents in New York, but the fact remains that they speak out for a frustration that most all Americans have. Uncertain as to what the future holds for them, many have lost their jobs, their savings, pulled their kids out of school; and they are frustrated that we in the Congress hardly talk to each other because of the depth of polarization. And yet beyond the politics of it all, whether it's Democrats or Republicans, when you think about it, this recession can only be stopped and unemployment lowered by a combination of two things, the reduction of our spending and the raising of revenue in order to increase not only the confidence that people have but the necessity of having economic growth so America can regain its status among civilized nations. Yet we find very little movement here because there's some that have already embarked on the 2012 campaign. They do that even though millions of Americans are suffering painfully, seeking relief now and not waiting until the end of next year.…”