Thomas Daschle: “Having unlimited debate means an opportunity for Senators to be heard for whatever length of time, but it also means an…”

“Having unlimited debate means an opportunity for Senators to be heard for whatever length of time, but it also means an opportunity to protect the minority--the minority being whatever the case may be, whether it is a political minority, ethnic minority, minority on a given issue, regardless. That was really the essence of what the Founding Fathers saw with regard to the delegation of this authority to the Senate to write its rules with an expectation that filibusters, this extended debate, would be part of the deliberative spirit and soul of this body.”