One of the things I think I can bring to the presidency is to make government and public service cool again.

We made America more respected around the world, took on the mantle of leadership in the fight to protect this planet for our kids, and much, much more.

Just as black anger often proved counterproductive, so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze - a corporate culture rife with inside dealing, questionable accounting practices, and short-term greed.

Peace is not just the absence of war. True peace depends upon creating the opportunity that makes life worth living. And to do that, we must confront the common enemies of human beings: nuclear weapons and poverty; ignorance and disease.

Obama said if elected his government would "harness technology to confront the biggest challenges that America faces".

I'm never surprised by controversies that are whipped up in Washington.

Now, anybody who thinks that we can move this economy forward with just a few folks at the top doing well, hoping that it's going to trickle down to working people who are running faster and faster just to keep up, you'll never see it.