Political Quotes

“the Gingrichites took a poll, and now they are scurrying here, there, and everywhere searching for a way to dress up their plan to slash Medicare. The Gingrichites are understandably scared silly that the American public recognizes that what they have in mind is a raid of $305 billion from the Medicare trust fund to fund last month's $345 billion tax break for the privileged few. This week the Gingrichites say, well, Medicare is in such bad financial shape that it needs surgery to survive. Well, I ask, ``Why didn't they think about that last month when they were standing on this floor and they approved a contract tax bill that pulled out $56 billion from the Medicare trust fund?'' That is right, $56 billion from the same fund they now complain is going broke, and, having bled the trust fund, now they intend to start whacking off the benefits for America's seniors. The Gingrichites do not plan to salvage Medicare; they plan to savage it, and I think the American people are smart enough to recognize savagery when they see it, to know the difference between savagery and salvation.”