The Weekly Podcast: Congress and 9/11: "We are not Democrats or Republicans. We are Americans"

Can you imagine a time when Democrats and Republicans in Congress not only voted the same way — but said the same thing?

It actually did happen — right after the terror attacks of 9/11

"Today, we join together not as Democrats nor Republicans, but Mr. Speaker, as proud Americans prepared to defend freedom as our forebears did before us."

That was House Democratic Minority Whip David Bonior — September 14th, 2001 ... and from that same day, here's Congressman Jerry Lewis — a Republican:

There is no party. My colleague, Jack Murtha and I working on this Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, know the importance of national strength. But when our people come together, there is no Democrat, there is no Republican. We are the American people.

What was the specific legislation Congress was considering that inspired such bipartisan rhetoric?

Who else — in both the House and the Senate — used that identicial rhetorical construct - "We are not Democrats or Republicans. We are Americans."

And what did Democrats in Congress say about Republican President George W. Bush that day in Congress — three days after the terror attacks.

Find out in the special 9/11 anniversary episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly."

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