Quote(s) of the Week (July 13, 1997)

On Saying It With Conviction…

"I believe that John Huang at some point when I saw him in 1995 expressed an interest in going to work to try to help raise money for the Democratic party, and I think I may have said to someone that he wanted to go to work for the DNC."

--President Bill Clinton, confirming that he helped Mr. Huang get the fundraising job. Washington Times for July 10, 1997. Front page.

 

How About the Second and Tenth Amendments…

"There is not a clause, sentence or paragraph in the entire text of the Constitution that supports the proposition that a local police officer can ignore a command contained in a statute enacted by Congress pursuant to the express delegation of power enumerated in Article I."

--Justice John Paul Stevens is his dissenting opinion of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Brady Act requiring Montana sheriffs to enforce gun control. Washington Post for July 6, 1997. Page C2.

 

On a Victory for the People...

"In this context, the status quo is that which the people have wrought, not that which unaccountable federal judges impose upon them. In the end, if the necessary, but awesome, power of the federal judiciary is to be respected, it must respect the People and their institutions of government – even in the matters most profound."

--Appeals Court Judge Michael Luttig, in a withering 36-page page opinion explaining his decision to overrule lower-court order. That order blocked Virginia’s new abortion notification law from taking effect. Planned Parenthood promptly appealed. Washington Times for July 8, 1997. Page A16.

 

On Moral Costs...

"Government costs too much. This is a moral issue: People have the highest claim to their own earnings, and should be forced to part with their money only for a serious public purpose. Little that goes on in Washington today meets such a standard."

--Doug Bandow, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and a nationally syndicated columnist. Washington Times for July 6, 1997. Page B1.

 

On Cultural Freedoms...

"In addition, my parents encouraged me to speak English. Others may argue that my parents disconnected my culture from me…. I think it is stupid and ignorant for people to think that speaking only English will rip a culture from someone…. Completely giving up one’s culture is of one’s own volition."

--Marilyn Medina, writing in "Official English Does Not Mean Discrimination" in the July 11 issue of Human Events.