--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's voting rights or it's the…" description: "\"“It's voting rights or it's the filibuster. It's LGBTQ+ rights or it's the filibuster. It's union rights or it's the filibuster. It's civil rights or i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/cori-bush-5312_civil-rights_it-s-voting-rights-or-it-s-the-filibuste_763105.jpg" --- # It's voting rights or it's the filibuster. It's LGBTQ+… ![“It's voting rights or it's the filibuster. It's LGBTQ+ rights or it's the filibuster. It's union rights or it's the filibuster. It's civil rights or it's the filibuster. It's our rights or it's the filibuster. The choice is easy. (3/18/2021 on Twitter)” quote by Cori Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/cori-bush-5312_civil-rights_it-s-voting-rights-or-it-s-the-filibuste_763105.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/cori-bush-5312_civil-rights_it-s-voting-rights-or-it-s-the-filibuste_763105.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/cori-bush-5312_civil-rights_it-s-voting-rights-or-it-s-the-filibuste_763105.jpg) > ““It's voting rights or it's the filibuster. It's LGBTQ+ rights or it's the filibuster. It's union rights or it's the filibuster. It's civil rights or it's the filibuster. It's our rights or it's the filibuster. The choice is easy. (3/18/2021 on Twitter)”” [Cori Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cori-bush/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The filibuster blocks progress on various rights; choosing to eliminate it would simplify advancing those rights. **In simple terms:** Filibuster hinders rights progress; removing it eases change. Key Takeaway Consider reforming the filibuster to protect rights. Themes politics rights legislation filibuster activism Mood urgent concerned Type political activist When to use this quote - congressional voting - civil rights campaigns - LGBTQ+ advocacy - union negotiations - public policy debates Key Concepts democratic process minority rights policy reform Questions to Reflect On - Is the filibuster essential for minority protection? - What alternatives exist for protecting rights? A Different Perspective Changing filibuster rules may affect minority party influence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civil Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-right/) [Civil rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democratic party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-party/) [Democrats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrats/) [Filibuster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filibuster/) [Lgbtq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lgbtq/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/) [Voting rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting-rights/) ## Related quotes > [The filibuster is an affront to commonly understood democratic norms, but then so is the Senate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-hertzberg/the-filibuster-is-an-affront-to-commonly-understood-democratic-norms/) [Hendrik Hertzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-hertzberg/) > [The Founders surely never imagined that a three-fifths majority would be the standard requirement for passing legislation in the upper chamber, and for most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kornacki/the-founders-surely-never-imagined-that-a-three-fifths-majority-would/) [Steve Kornacki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kornacki/) > [We have promised to do better, and no Republican concern should ever be enough to filibuster our own bill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/we-have-promised-to-do-better-and-no-republican-concern-should-ever/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [They say women talk too much. If you have worked in Congress you know that the filibuster was invented by men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-boothe-luce/they-say-women-talk-too-much-if-you-have-worked-in-congress-you-know/) [Clare Boothe Luce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-boothe-luce/) > [The Dream Act and the DISCLOSE Act, to name two, had majorities in both chambers during Obama's first term, but they were filibustered to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/the-dream-act-and-the-disclose-act-to-name-two-had-majorities-in-both/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [In reality, if Democrats truly cared about solutions to our immigration crisis they would have done so long ago - like in 2009, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/in-reality-if-democrats-truly-cared-about-solutions-to-our/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [We've seen filibusters of bills and nominations that ultimately passed with 90 or more votes. Why filibuster something that has that kind of support?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/we-ve-seen-filibusters-of-bills-and-nominations-that-ultimately/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [The filibuster is used more aggressively, so I think doing each individual appropriations bill through regular order would be a home run. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schatz/the-filibuster-is-used-more-aggressively-so-i-think-doing-each/) [Brian Schatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schatz/) > [With all the surgical skill and the vital rays lavished on him he should talk like alike a congressman at a filibuster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-langtry/with-all-the-surgical-skill-and-the-vital-rays-lavished-on-him-he/) Kenneth Langtry > [No one likes the Electoral College, expect perhaps those who were elected because of it. No one likes gerrymandering, except those doing the gerrymandering.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bleyer/no-one-likes-the-electoral-college-expect-perhaps-those-who-were/) [Kevin Bleyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bleyer/) > [In theory, the filibuster helps whichever party is in the minority in the Senate. In practice, it is the Republicans who have disproportionately used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/in-theory-the-filibuster-helps-whichever-party-is-in-the-minority-in/) [Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/) > [If Trump wins, the only thing blocking complete implementation of the programs of Trump, Paul Ryan, the Koch brothers, etc., is the Senate filibuster…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-nairn/if-trump-wins-the-only-thing-blocking-complete-implementation-of-the/) [Allan Nairn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-nairn/) > [“There is another, grimmer history to the filibuster, though, one that carries special relevance for me. For almost a century, the filibuster was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/there-is-another-grimmer-history-to-the-filibuster-though-one-that/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [When you use the word 'filibuster,' most of us in America - and I count myself among them - envision it as the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-merkley/when-you-use-the-word-filibuster-most-of-us-in-america-and-i-count/) [Jeff Merkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-merkley/) > [It seems as though there are Members in this body who want to filibuster just about everything we try to do, whether it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bunning/it-seems-as-though-there-are-members-in-this-body-who-want-to/) [Jim Bunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bunning/) ## More by Cori Bush > [Racism is not just slavery and Jim Crow. It is the daily violence that is enacted on our communities each and every day we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cori-bush/racism-is-not-just-slavery-and-jim-crow-it-is-the-daily-violence-that/) [Cori Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cori-bush/) > [Juneteenth has always been a symbol of freedom deferred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cori-bush/juneteenth-has-always-been-a-symbol-of-freedom-deferred/) [Cori Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cori-bush/) > [Debt collectors should not be able to call, email, or text you to the point of harassment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cori-bush/debt-collectors-should-not-be-able-to-call-email-or-text-you-to-the/) [Cori Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cori-bush/) > [Joe Biden cannot leave the lives of those on death row in the hands of future presidents. If he truly opposes the death penalty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cori-bush/joe-biden-cannot-leave-the-lives-of-those-on-death-row-in-the-hands/) [Cori Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cori-bush/) > [While I cannot speak on behalf of the AAPI community, I do want to say that I stand in solidarity with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cori-bush/while-i-cannot-speak-on-behalf-of-the-aapi-community-i-do-want-to-say/) [Cori Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cori-bush/) > [Our communities deserve a just response to years of disinvestment in our communities that have led to poor health outcomes and crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cori-bush/our-communities-deserve-a-just-response-to-years-of-disinvestment-in/) [Cori Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cori-bush/) > [When I worked in childcare, I could not afford to send my own children to the center where I worked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cori-bush/when-i-worked-in-childcare-i-could-not-afford-to-send-my-own-children/) [Cori Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cori-bush/) > [Every time that I speak on the House Floor or in one of our committee hearings, I begin with the words, 'St. Louis and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cori-bush/every-time-that-i-speak-on-the-house-floor-or-in-one-of-our-committee/) [Cori Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cori-bush/) > [We faced police dogs when we fought for justice for Mike Brown in Ferguson in 2014.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cori-bush/we-faced-police-dogs-when-we-fought-for-justice-for-mike-brown-in/) [Cori Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cori-bush/) > [St. Louis' locally owned restaurants are part of the heart and soul of our city. These restaurants have made St. Louis a destination for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cori-bush/st-louis-locally-owned-restaurants-are-part-of-the-heart-and-soul-of/) [Cori Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cori-bush/) > [Freedom is not simply intended to mean freedom from enslavement. Freedom is an affirmative goal, it is one that promises liberation, safety, and peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cori-bush/freedom-is-not-simply-intended-to-mean-freedom-from-enslavement/) [Cori Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cori-bush/) > [Despite the adversity that George Floyd endured, he was full of life and love for his family, friends, and loved ones. It was in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cori-bush/despite-the-adversity-that-george-floyd-endured-he-was-full-of-life/) [Cori Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cori-bush/) > [As we work to do the most for everyone in Missouri's First District beginning with those who have the least, we have to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cori-bush/as-we-work-to-do-the-most-for-everyone-in-missouri-s-first-district/) [Cori Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cori-bush/) > [The death penalty is an inhumane punishment that disproportionately violates the human rights of Black, brown, indigenous, and other marginalized people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cori-bush/the-death-penalty-is-an-inhumane-punishment-that-disproportionately/) [Cori Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cori-bush/) > [Honoring George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Michael Brown Jr., and too many other Black people taken from our communities by state violence is at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cori-bush/honoring-george-floyd-breonna-taylor-michael-brown-jr-and-too-many/) [Cori Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cori-bush/) [Explore all 101 Cori Bush quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cori-bush/) ## More Civil rights quotes > [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I speak not for myself, but so those without a voice can be heard. Those who have fought for their rights. Their right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/i-speak-not-for-myself-but-so-those-without-a-voice-can-be-heard/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“Why do we apologize for advocating for ourselves? Why do we apologize for taking up space that we are entitled to? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/) Elizabeth Tambascio > [We are a nation of innovators and problem-solvers who sparked revolutions in democratic government, civil rights, communications, flight, rural electrification and technology. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-a-mcchrystal/we-are-a-nation-of-innovators-and-problem-solvers-who-sparked/) [Stanley A. McChrystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-a-mcchrystal/) > [“Mental illness is not something you misunderstand in this era. Get educated because bias is no different than racism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/mental-illness-is-not-something-you-misunderstand-in-this-era-get/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Civil rights leaders are involved in helping poor people. That's what I've been doing all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/civil-rights-leaders-are-involved-in-helping-poor-people-that-s-what/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [I grew up in the early '60s, and there was a lot of civil rights, a lot of unrest in our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herm-edwards/i-grew-up-in-the-early-60s-and-there-was-a-lot-of-civil-rights-a-lot/) [Herm Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herm-edwards/) > [The great paradox of the civil rights revolution is that instead of enforcing and expanding equality before the law, the revolution created differential rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/the-great-paradox-of-the-civil-rights-revolution-is-that-instead-of/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [The world - and America - has been defined by people who haven't necessarily abided by the laws and the rules. Civil disobedience is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/the-world-and-america-has-been-defined-by-people-who-haven-t/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) > [I do not believe that defending traditional marriage between one man and one woman excludes anybody or usurps anybody's civil rights and denies anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-autry/i-do-not-believe-that-defending-traditional-marriage-between-one-man/) [Alan Autry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-autry/) > [Truth is on the side of the oppressed today, it's against the oppressor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/truth-is-on-the-side-of-the-oppressed-today-it-s-against-the-oppressor/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The notion of women being written out of history is as old as the Bible, but it always seems more galling when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thornberry/the-notion-of-women-being-written-out-of-history-is-as-old-as-the/) [Emily Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thornberry/) [Browse all 1,552 Civil rights quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It's voting rights or it's the filibuster. 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