Political Quotes

“One day before the Nation gathers to commemorate Veterans Day, a day that brings all of us together, it saddens me to come to the floor of the House and announce under the leadership of Governor Perry, on November 10 in Texas, the Department of Motor Vehicles board will be voting to authorize a State- issued Confederate license plate. Now, I realize that our work here in the Congress is about passing the jobs bill, which we are advocating to do. But I think it is a disgrace on the history of this Nation that a State-elected agriculture commissioner by the name of Patterson continues to push forward this untimely and ill-fated action. The Confederate flag does not protect or honor Confederate soldiers. You can do that in museums. The symbol of a Confederate flag is that of a Klansman of the late 1880s and early 1900s; the brutality of slavery; the oppression of slavery; the Jim Crowism of the 1940s and 1950s. It's an ugly reminder of the past of our history. It is time to take America forward and Texas forward. I will be in Austin on November 10 opposing that action. I ask all good-faith, well-intended Texans that want to take Texas forward to come and oppose any vote that would issue a Confederate flag. And I make a clarion call to all Americans who would like to drive to Texas, come to Austin and stand up against this dastardly deed. Stand up against promoting slavery and oppression.…”