( – promoted by lowkell)
“I’ve taken an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. When I say that I will not negotiate concessions in response to blackmailers’ threats, I’m fulfilling that oath. I understand, as I regrettably did not in 2011, when I thought I was protecting the nation by making such concessions, that the constitutional order of the United States requires that I send the message loud and clear: government by hostage-taking — saying to the nation, ‘Meet our demands or we’ll hurt America’- cannot be tolerated. It cannot be rewarded.
“So I repeat now what I’ve been saying all year, and the hostage-takers should have no doubt that I mean what I say: I am not going to negotiate with people pointing a gun at our nation’s well-being. Not on this shutdown. Not on the debt ceiling.
“That’s not how government is supposed to work in the United States of America.
“The Constitution gave us elections and a normal legislative process to decide on the laws that govern us. I’m going to protect the Constitution against those who would sweep all that aside and replace it with blackmail.“
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