On his way out the door, the disgraced lawmaker took some parting shots at liberals: “If conservatives don?t stand up to liberalism, no one will.” (Also: Some Democrats walked out on the speech.)

Tom DeLay via Think Progress:

In preparing for today, I found that it is customary in speeches such as these to reminisce about the good old days of political harmony and across-the-aisle camaraderie, and to lament the bitter, divisive partisan rancor that supposedly now weakens our democracy.

Well, I can?t do that because partisanship, Mr. Speaker, properly understood, is not a symptom of democracy?s weakness, but of its health and its strength, especially from the perspective of a political conservative.

Liberalism, after all, whatever you may think of its merits, is a political philosophy and a proud one with a great tradition in this country, with a voracious appetite for growth. In any place or any time on any issue, what does liberalism ever seek, Mr. Speaker? More. More government, more taxation, more control over people?s lives and decisions and wallets.

If conservatives don?t stand up to liberalism, no one will.

Link

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