Political Quotes

“I would just like to conclude on a statement that was made as you talk about Americans getting re-involved. Again, when I speak to the students on our steps here at the United States Capitol, I can't think of a better place to tell kids what they have to do. But one of the interesting things, especially when I have seniors in high school and I say, how many of you are registered to vote, I remember one day we had about 100 students out there, and I probably had maybe 20 percent of the kids sheepishly start trying to raise their hands. They were going to put them down and I said, wait a minute, leave your hands up. I said, I want everyone to look at who has their hands up because they're going to be making the decisions for you. I said, if you want to participate in this great experiment, you have got to be registered, you have got to be involved. It kind of goes back to what Benjamin Franklin said. It was reported when he left the Constitutional Convention--it was very contentious--a lot of people think it was just fine and dandy. They showed up in Philadelphia starting in May of 1787 and they wrote this great document. But it was hard-pressed, hard work, and they got it done. And when Franklin left, a woman asked him as he left, she said, Mr. Franklin, what have you given us? And he said, ``A republic if you can keep it.'' I yield back.”