Political Quotes

“as a former judge and an attorney, I have seen firsthand the corrosive effect on the justice system of lying. Lying under oath is just as wrong when it is committed by your allies as when committed by your adversaries. I agree that no Republican made this President lie, just as no Democrat influenced Newt Gingrich. When the House reconvened after the August recess, after the President's testimony to the grand jury and his statement to the Nation, I was the first Member of this House on either side of the aisle to come to this floor and condemn the President's lying and ask that he be promptly punished. Then, as today, this Republican leadership had a choice: It could either bring us together in a collective condemnation of this conduct, or it could split us apart. Unfortunately, on the eve of an election, it took the latter course, and, in an unsuccessful effort, it tried to exploit this situation to its maximum political advantage. It arrogantly rejected Democratic suggestions for how to conduct this inquiry, and it delayed for weeks getting the inquiry underway. When it finally convened, this same committee that comes today and tells us that this is the most important decision of this House, short of declaring war, failed to meet its burden of proof by calling one single witness who had firsthand knowledge of the facts involved.”