Thomas Daschle: “I commend Senator Murray for this amendment. I appreciate very much the leadership she has shown in providing a real…”

“I commend Senator Murray for this amendment. I appreciate very much the leadership she has shown in providing a real opportunity to prevent late-term abortions to begin with. That is exactly what this amendment does. I appreciate very much her willingness to step forward. I want to quickly state three things prior to the time that we have the opportunity to hear from Senator Murray more extensively about the importance of this amendment. No. 1, I can recall so vividly on so many occasions over the last couple of years when Republicans cried crocodile tears about legislation that came to the floor without having first gone through committee. Crocodile tears. They did everything but throw things on the Senate floor, they were so upset, every single time somebody would suggest that amendments or bills be offered that had not been considered in committee. Yet right out of the box, one of the very first pieces of legislation presented to our colleagues today is legislation that didn't go through committee. That was rule under rule 14 on the floor. The double standard and the hypocrisy is amazing to me. The second issue I think ought to be stated is that we may be going to war within the next 10 days. I hope not. I have said publicly and privately I hope we never consider war inevitable.”