Political Quotes

“today I want to join my colleague from Minnesota and other Senators in talking about our colleague, an American icon, who played an outsized role in our Nation's great story. Navy captain, Congressman, and U.S. Senator, John McCain was first and foremost a patriot. Throughout his whole life, a very prolific life, he lived the motto of his 2008 Presidential campaign, which was simply ``Country First.'' I had the privilege of helping Senator McCain during that 2008 campaign. I was in the private sector then. I took time off to spend about 6 weeks with him, traveling around the country. I was on the campaign trail with a group of his loyal friends, including the first friend, Lindsey Graham. I had known John for many years, but you really get to know somebody in a different way during the intensity and the pressure of a national campaign. I played the role of his opponent, then-Senator Barack Obama, to prepare him for his debates, and I took that role very seriously-- maybe too seriously on occasion. It was my job to get under his skin and prepare him well for the debates, and I did it. Many of my colleagues will tell you he was a fighter and a tough competitor and did not mince words. I was on the other end of that. After some spirited debates, I was very glad that in the real world I was actually on his side. Needless to say, he wasn't happy with me during those debate sessions.…”