Pelosi: Thomas Jefferson ‘Has Tears in His Eyes’ the Filibuster Is Stopping Us from Nationalizing Elections

EXCERPT:

PELOSI: "So I asked our colleagues in the Senate, respectfully, for what they think the filibuster means, to compare that, to weigh the equities against our democracy. Because nothing less is at stake than our democracy. This is about suppressing the vote. It's about nullifying the election, which Dr. King talked about that day. Nullifying the election. It is about just doing so many things to be obstacles to participation. That's wrong. The truth is, that's wrong. And this family and John Lewis, and so beautifully that this bill is named for him, but the first bill, he wrote the first 300 pages of what is now called Freedom to Vote. And as has been indicated by the king family, this bill is supported by all of the Democrats, House and Senate. It's just the filibuster in the way. So, in a way, if you really, truly want to honor Dr. King, don‘t dishonor him by using a congressional custom as an excuse for protecting our democracy. We have no right to honor this family, to visit the monument. Imagine, 36 years old, someone left this earth in such a way that he has a monument on the mall along with Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson — all of them with tears in their eyes for the departure from our democracy that is happening right now, unless the truth is acknowledged and this legislation is passed.”