Patricia Ireland

“I don't think you lead by pessimism and cynicism. I think you lead by optimism and enthusiasm and energy.”

“The Violence Against Women Act is so important. It provides money to train the cop on the beat, to train the judges that this is a new day, that we won't tolerate this violence and to know how to deal with it.”

“Jesus never said anything about homosexuality.”

“Stewardesses are still paid so little that in many cases, new hires qualify for food stamps.”

“I come from a Christian faith. I am not going to give you insight into my particular beliefs.”

“We always knew when we took on the issue of violence against women that somehow our opposition would come after us.”

“I've talked to law enforcement officials at the state and local level who say that violence against women is going up. In any case, we think that it's an important issue whether it's going up or not. And we are determined to stop it.”

“There are a lot of people who worked extremely hard in the election who are still organized who know how to do door to door and phone canvassing, who know how to raise money.”

“And of course we are familiar with the English common law rule of thumb that said a man could in fact use a stick no bigger than his thumb to discipline his wife and family.”

“I know that Bush, for political reasons, is going to nominate a minority, a Hispanic man or someone where it will be harder for people on the progressive side to oppose and split some of the traditionally progressive or democratic constituents.”

“Bush's choice of Dick Cheney as his running mate is clear confirmation of the policies he would promote and the nominations he would make to an already closely divided U.S. Supreme Court.”

“I want to reach young women and to get them involved in the mission of the YWCA, economic empowerment of women and girls, and ending racism.”

“The Young Women's Christian Association is nourished by its roots in Christianity and, at the same time, over the years, it's been enriched by beliefs and values from all kinds of places, even, in fact, strengthened by our diversity.”

“The way to be a man if you're a little boy is to be willing to throw your weight around.”

“Advice and consent does not mean rubber stamp in the Senate.”

“I just have that sense this is the reason we got Sandra Day O'Connor on the Court in the first place is because Ronald Reagan was running for President.”

“My answer to those who oppose my appointment as CEO is that this is really a decision of the YWCA. They want to strengthen their grassroots to advocate on behalf of women's and children's empowerment and ending racism.”

“Women are called upon to defend every bit of progress we have made against particularly virulent attack. But we must also hold out a vision, put forth a positive agenda of what women need and want and then move forward toward that dream.”

“More than 10,000 ballots in Miami-Dade County have been rejected by some machine without any opportunity for a human being to take a look. That is just not right.”

“Some of those men in power, we just have to change their faces because we're not going to change their minds.”