Political Quotes

“Today we vote on two very important issues in the great, long, and often difficult march that America has made toward equality. That is one of the greatnesses of this country, that we inexorably move to equality. Sometimes it is painful. Sometimes it is difficult. Sometimes we take two steps forward and one step back. But as the great scholar de Tocqueville wrote, when he visited America in the 1830s: The thing that separates America from all the other countries of the world is equality always prevails. We are dealing with equality on two scores today, in two areas. One is in the military. One of the great things about our military, No. 1, is they defend us and risk their lives for our freedom. But the second is, it has always been an integrating, positive force in America. Any policy that says you cannot serve even though you want to be an American, you are an American, is wrong; bad for our military service and bad for the country. Second, we speak of the DREAM Act. Inevitably, from the time the first settlers came to New York, the English began to displace the Dutch, and the Dutch were upset. But what does America do? We reach out to newcomers and say: Become Americans and contribute to the American dream and work hard. There are always people who have reasons to say no. They always fail. They may not fail this morning, but they will fail because the drive for equality is a great American drive.”