Congressman Sanders' Freedom to Read Amendment Motion to Recommit

Statement of Congressman Sanders on 7/9/2004 regarding:

Congressman Sanders' Freedom to Read Amendment Motion to Recommit

Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, let me begin by thanking the 191 Democrats and 18 Republicans who voted for that
important amendment, but I am not going to discuss the substance of that amendment, because that debate took place,
and I respect the people on both sides of that debate.

But what I do not respect is that when we are having a debate about basic American democratic rights and what our
Constitution is supposed to be, I resent bitterly, on behalf of the American people, that the Republican leadership
rigged the game. That is wrong. At the end of nine innings of a baseball game, at the end of nine innings of a baseball
game, the team that has the most runs wins. At the end of the 17 minutes tonight, our side won, and it was not even
close.

Now, what kind of lesson, what kind of lesson are we showing the children of America when we tell them, get involved
in the political process, that we are a free country, that we are fighting abroad for democracy, when we rig a vote on
this floor? Shame, shame, shame.