Political Quotes

“I rise to oppose the nomination of Senator Jeff Sessions to be Attorney General. I thought very carefully about this matter and about what it means to oppose a colleague. We had an unusual night last night, where one of our Members was ordered to stop speaking as she explained her opposition. Comments that would have been allowed regarding any other Cabinet nominee were ruled unacceptable because this nominee also sits in this body. I voted to overturn that ruling and restore my colleague's speaking privileges because I was of the opinion that the constitutional duty to advise and consent on nominations should allow for debate. But whatever my opinions about the ruling, I do have to acknowledge that standing on the floor to speak in opposition to a colleague is not an everyday occurrence. We do disagree every day, all of us, even within our own caucuses on matters of policy, but there is something more personal about taking the floor to take a position regarding a sitting Senator who has been nominated for a Senate-confirmable position. I know Senator Sessions well. We served together on the Armed Services Committee. We attend a weekly Senate Prayer Breakfast together. We have taken codel trips together. I consider Senator Sessions a friend, and I respect that he has been repeatedly sent to this body by the voters of his State, but while we can and should be friends, strive to be friends, in this Chamber, we are not ultimately here about friendship.…”