Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman very much and thank him for his leadership on this issue. And reading these passionate letters, I don't know how anyone could bring us to the brink of disaster where we find ourselves today. I just want to read from the U.S. Department of Labor a simple sentence that I think speaks volumes: ``The unemployment insurance system helps the population most directly affected by recessions, those who have lost jobs through no fault of their own.'' Mr. Levin, you have heard my colleagues speak of the double-digit unemployment in distinctive populations, the young, recent college graduates, African Americans and Latinos who remain at the bottom of the heap, but who are looking for jobs every day. I am reminded of a job fair at the Fallbrook Church in Houston, Texas, where throngs came seeking opportunity and basically refuting the commentary of one Presidential candidate no longer in the race, Mr. Cain, who said if you're broke and if you're unemployed, it's your fault. And now the front-runner, Mr. Gingrich, says that poor children have no role models, their parents don't get up and go to work, they have not seen anybody go to work. How outrageous to speak about those who have lost their job, their children are poor, and they would blame the victim. So I think it is crucial that we pass this legislation; and we have never, Mr. Levin, not passed this legislation when unemployment in our country has been near 9.1 percent.…”