I call the language of political figures, pundits and administrators "the haute couture of language."

People in power have to be careful about what comes out of their mouth. They have to find exactly the right word that can't be attacked.

I call the language of political figures, pundits and administrators "the haute couture of language."

People realize that we're very good at sending people to war, but we're not good at taking care of them. And people are coming back from war now; years ago, they would have been killed, now they're wounded; and they're coming back alive and with post-traumatic stress. So, I think Americans are sensible enough to know we've got to figure out a way to take care of them.

Those in the margins are always trying to get to the center, and those at the center, frequently in the name of tradition, are trying to keep the margins at a distance.

When I was a kid, my grandfather said that "if you say a word often enough, it becomes you." Thinking of that later in life gave me this idea that I could try to become America by learning the words of people from many aspects of the country.

I think some of our most talented people are not going to pick the arts as a way that they're going to spend their lives.