Richard K. Armey: “This is a matter, with me, of the heart. These children are so special, so precious, so deserving of the same…”

“This is a matter, with me, of the heart. These children are so special, so precious, so deserving of the same opportunity every place in America as everyone else that you must do your best. The gentleman from Colorado knows that. The gentleman from Colorado, in the conversations I have had with him, has told me so many times so clearly how critically important is excellence in public education to the larger mission of educating children in this Nation, how precious and dear is the public school system of this country, and how very proud he is of the schools in Colorado. Now, when we feel passionately about something, when we truly care about something, when, in fact, it is something that really is a flame in our heart, we will oftentimes express that. And sometimes we will express it in such a manner as to put ourselves in harm's way, Mr. Speaker. I can tell you, I was the first Member of Congress ever to prove that I am able to shoot myself in the foot while I have it in my mouth. But I never said something in a clumsy manner that I did not care about.”