Thomas Daschle: “I congratulate Senator Robb on his remarks. I thank him very much for sharing them with all of us. These past elections…”

“I congratulate Senator Robb on his remarks. I thank him very much for sharing them with all of us. These past elections brought our caucus nine new members and we hope many new opportunities to address America's priorities. But they also handed us a great disappointment, the loss of our friend and colleague, Chuck Robb. I am appreciative of the opportunity that I had just now to listen to Senator Robb, maybe for the last time on this Senate floor. I had feared he might leave without giving us a chance to thank him for his remarkable service to the Senate. It would have been like him to do so; he is an enormously modest man. In an editorial the day before the election, the Washington Post wrote: Even in the final days of a nip-and-tuck campaign, Senator Chuck Robb seems uncomfortable singing his own praises. While some voters may find this quality refreshing, Senator Robb's reluctance to tout his accomplishments hides them too effectively in a tight race. Chuck Robb's reluctance to promote himself--his commitment to sound policies over sound bites--may have cost him reelection, but they have earned him the respect of his peers and this Nation. In 12 years in this Senate--and for 8 years before that as Lieutenant Governor and then Governor of Virginia--Chuck Robb rarely spoke about himself. He has always been more comfortable speaking on behalf of others--the people whose voices too often are not heard at all.…”