[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 8, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H578]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             ODDS AND SODS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. McCotter) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, odds and sods for brunch this morning.
  We have recently seen an ad that played during the Super Bowl that is 
referred to as the halftime ad. It has caused much discussion in this 
country, much of it focusing on the political dimension of the attempt 
to sell cars that were made in my hometown of Detroit.
  First I must admit that I disagree with the premise of the ad, that 
it is halftime in America. For logically, we would then have to 
conclude that the free Republic in which we inhabit will expire before 
its 500th birthday. I refuse to concede that a revolutionary experiment 
in human freedom has any timeline whatsoever. But what I do 
wholeheartedly concur with is the fact that American manufacturing, 
especially our auto industry, is starting to revive. As it does, it 
will continue to form a critical engine of any economic recovery we 
have and will form the basis of ensuring that our American economy 
leads the world. Yet despite this nascent recovery, we must continue to 
watch the horizon for any dangers that may loom to our industrial base 
here at home.
  One of these is the attempt of our strong ally Japan to join the 
Trans-Pacific Partnership initiative. Currently the United States, 
Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam are 
trying to ensure the free flow of goods, including automobiles, amongst 
our Nations. Japan wishes to enter into this partnership which was 
formed. Unfortunately, the time is not right. For Japan, like Communist 
China, continues to manipulate currency, continues to put up nontariff 
trade-entry barriers, and until Japan has restructured and reformed 
itself, their entry into this organization, to this initiative can only 
slow the progress and have a detrimental impact upon our manufacturing 
base.
  I would encourage all to understand the importance--not just to those 
of us who were born and bred in what was once known as the arsenal of 
democracy--to understand the importance of manufacturing. I ask this 
administration and I ask all those involved in this initiative to ask 
Japan to do the right thing before they join us at the table and embark 
upon a greater period of prosperity for our nations.

                              {time}  1010

  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would just like to point out, as I did when 
the ObamaCare legislation on health care was passed: So this is what 
change looks like.
  As an Irish Catholic, I remind my co-religionists and all Americans 
that no government can come between you and your conscience and the 
central tenets of your creed. What we are seeing now is the unfortunate 
fruits of the logical extension of the cesspool of Jean-Jacques 
Rousseau and his civil religion whereby your true religion was 
tolerated as long as it was subservient to the state. That is not what 
this Nation is about. It is a clear violation of your constitutional 
right to freely exercise your religion.
  There is no debate. There is nothing to be worked out. This odious 
regulation must be withdrawn, lest this administration or those who 
support it go back on their word to protect and defend your rights 
under that said Constitution, and, as a practical matter, belie the 
left's myth that they will not enforce their morality on you.

                          ____________________