Arlen Specter: “the Senate is greatly diminished with the passing of Senator Paul Wellstone. As we see the bouquet of flowers on his…”

“the Senate is greatly diminished with the passing of Senator Paul Wellstone. As we see the bouquet of flowers on his desk, we can see Paul in action, speaking out, speaking up indefatigable on the issues of concern to him. He undertook a very difficult campaign back in 1990 against the odds, against a popular incumbent Senator. He was able to mobilize students, activists, people who believed in what he believed in because he was always a man with a cause. All the time he had a point. He did not mind being a dissenter. People who may be listening to this session of the Senate do not know, but there is a little card at the desk on each side, Republicans and Democrats. When the Senators come in and vote, there is a check. It is not easy, when, say, there are 50 members of the party and 49 checks are on one side, to vote against the 49, to have your name stand out in marked contrast as a dissenter, but Paul Wellstone did not mind that a bit. I believe in the history of our country the dissenters are vitally important, sometimes more important than the majority.”