Tag: Public Affairs

In the final episode of our video series, Democrat and Republican wax optimistic.

“In all my 20 years of Congress, I never served with anybody who didn’t have the interests of the country at heart. I just hope it doesn’t take another crisis like September 11 for things to have to come together,” Saxby Chambliss said. “In spite of all our problems, our partisanship, we’re still the best form of government of any country.”

“If you look back at the history, people dust themselves up and they look for remedies. I do not lose hope. I’m optimistic,” Wyche Fowler said.

– Chris Schroder, The 100 Companies

“Social media has given rise to the ability of individuals to say anything they want to say irrespective of what the facts are. People make things up. I finally just told my staff, ‘Don’t ever show me another blog. I don’t care if they say something good or bad about me,’” Republican Saxby Chambliss said.

“C-Span gives America the opportunity to hear from members of Congress across the country, and that’s good … but it gives the opportunity for partisan politicians to be partisan to the whole country. It certainly contributes to the House being as partisan as it is.”

– Chris Schroder, The 100 Companies

First-term U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss was on the Senate floor two days after being sworn in when Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy introduced himself.

“Saxby, you are chair of our subcommittee and I’m ranking member. I’ll be in your office tomorrow and we’ll talk about priorities,” Kennedy said. Saxby politely demurred, suggesting they meet in Kennedy’s office instead. Later, Chambliss said Kennedy told him: “That’s not how the Senate works.”

“That sort of set the tone of the difference,” Saxby says in this segment of Across the Aisle. “It gave us an opportunity to work together and provide leadership.”

– Chris Schroder, The 100 Companies