I do not want to see the Republican party ride to political victory on the Four Horsemen of Calumny-fear, ignorance, bigotry and smear.
The Senate has been debased to the level of a forum of hate and character assassination sheltered by the shield of congressional immunity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote criticizes the Senate for devolving into a space where hatred and personal attacks thrive under the protection of congressional immunity.
Margaret Chase Smith's quote reflects her profound disillusionment with the political climate within the Senate, suggesting that it has become a venue where decorum and constructive debate have been replaced by animosity and personal attacks. The mention of 'congressional immunity' implies that these behaviors are enabled by the protections that allow senators to speak without fear of retribution, highlighting concerns about accountability in political discourse.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech addressing political reform, one might quote this to highlight the need for civility in politics.
More from Margaret Chase Smith
All quotes βOne of the basic causes for all the trouble in the world today is that people talk too much and think too little. They act impulsively without thinking. I always try to think before I talk.
Smears are not only to be expected but fought. Honor is to be earned, not bought.
Every human being is entitled to courtesy and consideration. Constructive criticism is not only to be expected but sought.
Moral cowardice that keeps us from speaking our minds is as dangerous to this country as irresponsible talk.
Greatness is not manifested by unlimited pragmatism, which places such a high premium on the end justifying any means and any methods
Similar quotes
Politicians will talk strategy and tactics and policies and programs until they're blue in the face, or you strangle them and they turn blue.
Our real battlefield today is Asia and our real battle is the one between democracy and communism. . . . We have to prove to the world and particularly to downtrodden areas of the world which are the natural prey to the principles of communist economics that democracy really brings about happier and better conditions for the people as a whole.
The passions, therefore, not the reason, of the public would sit in judgment. But it is the reason, alone, of the public, that ought to control and regulate the government. The passions ought to be controlled and regulated by the government.
Of course the Republicans have long wanted to privatize Social Security and destroy it. But Social Security has been the most important and valuable social program in the history of the United States.
I would like to ask the many Filipino people to pray together, to help each other so that we will be able to preserve the democracy we restored 20 years ago.
The public affairs of the union are spread throughout a very extensive region, and are extremely diversified by the local affairs connected with them, and can with difficulty be learnt in any other place, than in the central councils, to which a knowledge of them will be brought by the representatives of every part of the empire. Yet some knowledge of the affairs, and even of the laws of all the states, ought to be possessed by the members from each of the states.