I like to call the ethos I grew up with ‘Oklahoma values.’ But you’d be just as accurate if you said ‘American values.’ Except for our lack of a seacoast, Oklahoma has a little bit of just about everything that’s American. – J. C. Watts
In 1989 when I switched from Democrat to Republican, with God as my witness, not one thing changed about what I believed about one man and one woman in a marriage or about diversity of color. That’s a good thing. – J. C. Watts
Like any group that has endured much, African Americans have created a strong and mutually reinforcing sense of group identity. That’s not a bad thing in and of itself. – J. C. Watts
I’m not driven to get back into politics. It’s not on my top five things to do before I die, but saying that, I may be in politics in the next year or the next ten years. I’ve been on the front line for 12 years, four in state government, eight on the national level. – J. C. Watts
Republicans think that the NAACP is the only voice in the black community. It is a voice in the black community. But it’s not the only voice. – J. C. Watts
One of the Republicans’ major products is dream making. People are dying to get into this country… not out of it. – J. C. Watts
The Republican Party is terrific at determining how a program will impact the federal budget, but we’re not nearly as good as the Democrats in explaining to people how our agenda will directly benefit them and their families. – J. C. Watts
Reparations, I believe, are talked about for political reasons, trying to cater for the purpose of getting votes. If Congress was serious about reparations – in ’93 and ’94 the Democrats controlled the House, the Senate and the White House, and not one single Republican vote was needed for reparations. – J. C. Watts
I think the Republican Party should be a pro-life party. I am pro-life. I do not apologize for that. On the flip side of that coin, the Republican Party has been big enough to allow pro-choice advocates to be heard. – J. C. Watts
When you look at the results that Newt Gingrich got when he was speaker, he got results for the American people. – J. C. Watts
I’m not one that believes that affirmative action should be based on one’s skin color or one’s gender, I think it should be done based on one’s need, because I think if you are from a poor white community, I think that poor white kid needs a scholarship just as badly as a poor black kid. – J. C. Watts
I am willing to compete on my merits and on my character – not with the color of my skin. We talk about being a color-blind society, but I don’t think the political process could actually handle that. – J. C. Watts
I would caution all of us or I would remind all of us that any candidate that we support, they are going to be flawed. – J. C. Watts
I have often said one of the reasons more blacks don’t support Republicans is because they don’t trust the GOP establishment. – J. C. Watts
I embrace my blackness, just as I do my conservatism and my Christianity, but I don’t want to be defined or pigeonholed by any one of the many elements that make up my character. – J. C. Watts
My work in the House of Representatives, at this time in my life, is completed. It is time to return home. – J. C. Watts
The measure of a man is not how great his faith is, but how great his love is. We must not let government programs disconnect our souls from each other. – J. C. Watts
I would love to be associated with some sports organization. I was a journalism major. That’s kind of intriguing, to do something in the political-commentary arena. – J. C. Watts
Serving in Congress has been more than an honor; it has been one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life… It has been a wonderful ride. It has been a wonderful journey. – J. C. Watts
I think you grow wherever God plants you. I hope I’m growing as a person of faith, as a Christian. That should be our number one objective this journey of life. That all starts with a personal intimate relationship with Christ and then being in prayer every single day about all of those things – being tenacious about it. – J. C. Watts
