Robert Smith Quotes

DeKlerk had just become president of South Africa which was enmeshed in a brutal system of apartheid—racial separation with the 10% white population controlling the 90% black majority. The black political parties were illegal and net even recognized and there was no negotiation at all. The country was a world pariah, boycotted by many in the world including much of the Untied States. When De Klerk became president no one had any idea that he would make such a radical break with the past. However, he announced the lifting of the ban on the Black political parties, and the release of Nelson Mandela who had served 26 years in prison, and then made this famous statement which led to the modern state of South Africa. DeKlerk and Mandela shared the Nobel peace prize for their remarkable achievement.

This is an important political quotation because it illustrates one of the major reasons that Congress was so gridlocked at the time and passed hardly any legislation at all. Farenthold was a relatively new Congressman supported by the Tea Party extreme conservatives. He had no Congressional legislative experience and viewed the House / Senate Conference Committee process more like a Middle East rug bazaar than a serious democratic process of constructive legislation. The position that he wants to take to the Conference Committee which is “livable” to him is not only unlivable to the majority of the Senate, but unlivable for a large part of his own House of Representatives, His position is so extreme that most Senators and many House members on the Conference Committee do not even bother to attempt to negotiate from there. Experienced Congressional legislators realize that negotiation can only take place between realistic options. Otherwise no legislation gets passed which was at that time, OK with most of the Tea Party supporters.

As the Majority Leader of the House, Eric Cantor had to resolve conflicts and for coalitions that will compromise to get anything done. However, the Tea Party movement didn’t want any compromises even if it meant shutting down the government and defaulting on the national debt. They ran against conservative Republicans in the Republican primary elections campaigning that the incumbent made and facilitated compromises with Democrats. In some districts like Eric Cantor’s there were enough primary voters who agreed. Terry was explaining the message that the other conservative politicians received.