U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse: Politics Has Supplanted Civics

During the Senate Judiciary Committee's confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) presented a "civics lesson." 

"[Somewhere along the way,] we decided to forget what civics are and allow politics to swallow everything," Sasse said in his opening statement. He noted that Democrats on the committee were focusing on political matters unrelated to the confirmation process.

"Huge parts of what we're doing in this hearing would be really confusing to eighth-graders [in civics classes].... So, I think it would be very useful for us to do our civic duty to eighth-graders to help them realize why Judge Barrett is sitting before us today and what the job is she’s being evaluated for."

Before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014, Ben Sasse served as the president of Midland University in Fremont, Neb. He holds degrees in government and American history.

You can read a partial transcript of his October 12 remarks at https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/10/14/sasse-gives-senate-civics-lesson-during-high-court-hearing/

Have a comment or question about the Notable Speeches podcast? Email [email protected].