Political Quotes

“Mr. President, before I get into my speech regarding Senator Sessions, I wanted to talk a little bit about what occurred last night. First, there is no doubt in my mind that the letter written by Coretta Scott King should be read by each and every Member of this Chamber. Regardless of whether you disagree with her conclusions, her standing in the history of our Nation means her voice should be heard. What I took issue with last night and the true violation of rule XIX in my eyes were the remarks shared last night originally stated by Senator Kennedy--not Coretta Scott King--Senator Kennedy. Whether you like it or not, this body has rules, and we all should govern ourselves according to the rules. There is no doubt that last night emotions were very high, and I am not necessarily happy with where that has left us today. The Senate needs to function. We need to have a comity in this body if we are to work for the American people. This should not be about Republicans and Democrats. It is not about us; it is about the American people. If we remember that point as we move forward, our Nation will be able to heal where we hurt. We will be able to disagree without being disagreeable. This should be the norm, not a unique experience in public discourse. Before I decided to give this speech, I had the privilege last night around midnight of having to sit in the Chair and presiding.…”