Political Quotes

“As I contemplate the conclusion of this debate, my own judgment is that it has been one of the poorer debates I have witnessed in the Senate. Until this moment, there has been very little participation in it. Frankly, I find that disappointing because, as the Senator from Minnesota pointed out, this is an emergency. I have to think of all of our gay brothers and sisters who may be watching, who cannot follow the confusion of Senate procedure, who will be very disappointed that once again we are thwarted from proceeding on a matter that is, in fact, very important. This is about domestic terrorism and about the Federal Government showing up to work. On a positive note, I say, as Senator Kennedy has said, we will be back and we will find another vehicle and another opportunity to proceed. I hope in the meantime we will reach out to Senator Hatch and others who have legitimate concerns to find ways to incorporate their concerns in an even better bill, and I hope we will do that in the spirit of the great example set in the New Testament. When confronted with a woman who had committed adultery, Christ himself was able to say in the public square he did not condemn, he did not endorse the lifestyle, but he did save a life. I think we ought to do the same as the Federal Government. It is in that spirit I intend to vote to invoke cloture. I yield the floor.”