Political Quotes

“my Republican colleagues are willing to stand on this floor in support of nominee Gonzales, but the sad fact is they were not willing to stand up and support their own colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith). The gentleman from New Jersey is arguably the most pro-life Member of this House, a true conservative. But that was not enough for this Republican leadership. This good man, who had been on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs for 24 years, was removed of that committee, deprived of his chairmanship, because he spoke out for veterans and their needs. Speaker Hastert received a letter from 10 national veterans' organizations, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Vietnam Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS, Blinded Veterans Association, Jewish War Veterans and Noncommissioned Officers, all urging Speaker Hastert to keep the gentleman from New Jersey as the chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. He was removed. If your leadership can do it to the gentleman from New Jersey, it can do it to you, my friends.”