DPCC Co-Chair Cicilline on the Life and Legacy of Senator McCain
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman David Cicilline, Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC), appeared on State of Union with Jake Tapper on CNN to reflect on the life and legacy of Senator John McCain. Cicilline highlighted how Senator McCain's legacy should remind all in Congress of what it means to be a passionate advocate on health care, jobs and wages and of the importance of working in a bipartisan manner to get things done for the American people.Below are excerpts from the interview. Click here to watch the video.
"It's a loss our whole country will feel. I was in college when Senator McCain was first elected, but even for people who didn't know him personally or maybe work with him directly, he was an example to the country of someone who put country first, displayed tremendous courage, incredible integrity, loved his work, passionately believed in the issues that he fought for, but did it in a way that preserved our democracy and strengthened our democracy. I think he is an example to all of us particularly in this moment of what it means to be a statesman, not a politician, because he put our country first. He served our country – and he did it with great courage, he spoke his mind. I think that's an example and inspiration for everyone and we should honor his legacy by conducting ourselves that way.
"I hope John McCain's life and the legacy that he leaves will be a reminder to all of us of the ability to be a passionate advocate: you can fight for healthcare, you can fight to raise family incomes, you can fight for legislation that will create good paying jobs and you can disagree about how you might achieve those objectives but you can disagree without making the person you disagree with an enemy. John McCain showed that in his life, the ability to work across the aisle to get things done for the American people.
"I hope [the spirit of bipartisanship] rather than dying with John McCain it will be a reminder to all of us that the American people expect us to work together in a bipartisan way to get things done and to do what's best for our country and try to put your party or your own position second to what's best for the country.
"I think people will see that John McCain's life epitomized that and he's going to be celebrated and honored and remembered for the great American hero he is and hopefully it will encourage others to recognize that that's the right path, to do what's right for the country, not your political party, to be able to argue forcefully and passionately but not be disagreeing."