Political Quotes

“it is an old truism that the best defense is a good offense. We have seen that here this afternoon in a quite effective way because Republicans, unable to defend their misuse of the United States Capitol Police against Democrats meeting in the Ways and Means library, have taken the offense in what I consider a very offensive way against our colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Stark). After the gentleman from California (Mr. Stark) was told to ``shut up'' by another member of the committee, he responded with an insult, perhaps not appropriate, but certainly after significant provocation. To suggest that the gentleman from California (Mr. Stark), a man of 72, surrounded by 20-plus Republican colleagues of lesser age, posed any threat to anyone is ludicrous on its face, and though it is not ordinarily done, since it has been done and incompletely by my colleague, the transcript uncorrected though it is, of the Committee on Ways and Means reflects that after the gentleman from California (Mr. Stark) was told to shut up and he insulted his colleague who made that comment, that he then proceeded to say, come on, come on over here and make me, I dare you. The transcript then reflects that laughter occurred and that thereafter, after additional comments by the gentleman from California (Mr. Stark) that the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) declared recess is over, the classroom has been resumed.…”