Ted Kennedy

“For me, a few hours ago, this campaign came to an end. For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.”
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“We cannot simply speak out against an escalation of troops in Iraq, we must act to prevent it…There can be no doubt that the Constitution gives Congress the authority to decide whether to fund military action, and Congress can demand a justification from the president for such action before it appropriates the funds to carry it out.”
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“What we have in the United States is not so much a health-care system as a disease-care system.”
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“Don’t sacrifice your political convictions for the convenience of the hour.”
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“Frankly, I don’t mind not being President. I just mind that someone else is.”
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“Integrity is the lifeblood of democracy. Deceit is a poison in its veins.”
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“It’s now clear that from the very moment President Bush took office, Iraq was his highest priority as unfinished business from the first Bush Administration. His agenda was clear: find a rationale to get rid of Saddam.”
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“Make no mistake about it! There is an organized movement against organized labor and it’s called the Bush Administration.”
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“Shamefully we now learn that Saddam’s torture chambers reopened under new management, U.S. management.”
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“The Constitution does not just protect those whose views we share; it also protects those with whose views we disagree.”
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“The Republicans are looking after the financial interests of the wealthiest individuals in this country.”
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“The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die.”
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“There was no imminent threat. This was made up in Texas, announced in January to the Republican leadership that war was going to take place and was going to be good politically. This whole thing was a fraud.”
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“Thus, the controversy about the Moral Majority arises not only from its views, but from its name – which, in the minds of many, seems to imply that only one set of public policies is moral and only one majority can possibly be right.”
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“It has been seven years since my first election to the Senate. You and I share many memories — some of them have been glorious, some have been very sad. The opportunity to work with you and serve Massachusetts has made my life worthwhile.”
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“With Barack Obama, we will turn the page on the old politics of misrepresentation and distortion. With Barack Obama we will close the book on the old politics of race against race, gender against gender, ethnic group against ethnic group, and straight against gay.”
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“The more our feelings diverge, the more deeply felt they are, the greater is our obligation to grant the sincerity and essential decency of our fellow citizens on the other side. . . .
In short, I hope for an America where neither “fundamentalist” nor “humanist” will be a dirty word, but a fair description of the different ways in which people of good will look at life and into their own souls.

I hope for an America where no president, no public official, no individual will ever be deemed a greater or lesser American because of religious doubt or religious belief.

I hope for an America where the power of faith will always burn brightly, but where no modern inquisition of any kind will ever light the fires of fear, coercion, or angry division.

I hope for an America where we can all contend freely and vigorously, but where we will treasure and guard those standards of civility which alone make this nation safe for both democracy and diversity.”

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“I seek the presidency with no illusions”
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“It`s better to send in the Peace Corps than the Marine Corps.”
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“Our values are tarnished when we allow 12 million human beings to live in the dark shadows of abuse as undocumented immigrants”
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“Barack Obama will close the book on race, gender, group against group and straight against gay”
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“When Barack Obama is president, young people will not be committed to a mistake, but to missions worthy of their bravery.”
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“I look forward to returning to the United States Senate with John Kerry in January as we work to get our economy moving again, bring healthcare to all, restore America’s standing in the world, and end the war in Iraq”
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“Make no mistake about it! There is an organized movement against organized labor and it’s called the Bush Administration.”
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“If we set the precedent of limiting the First Amendment, in order to protect the sensibilities of those who are offended by flag burning, what will we say the next time someone is offended by some other minority view, or by some other person’s exercise of the freedom the Constitution is supposed to protect?”
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“Let us reject the counsels of doubt and calculation.”
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“The commitment I seek is not to outworn views but to old values that will never wear out. Programs may sometimes become obsolete, but the ideal of fairness always endures. Circumstances may change, but the work of compassion must continue.”
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“Today, we say the only thing we have to fear is four more years of George Bush.”
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