I got to grow up with a mother who taught me to believe in me.

Look, you're not going to get me to say that Democrats don't make mistakes. We do. I mentioned two areas - pension reform and seniority and tenure. I've done both - I've advocated for both. I've advocated for - seek for reform as well.

We stand with President Obama - love doesn't have a color, love doesn't care if you're gay or straight. Love doesn't discriminate.

I don't want to describe either Governor Mitt Romney or the Republicans as stupid, but I will say this - if you look at their platform, the 2012 platform, it looks like it's from another century and maybe even two. It looks like the platform of 1812.

Let me be clear - no one is above the law. Not a politician, not a priest, not a criminal, not a police officer. We are all accountable for our actions.

We're not a homogeneous party, anymore than the Republicans are. But we are a party that I think has a plan to take us forward.

So laying people off is not something I do lightly, it's not something I relish.