If we can rebuild Iraq, we can rebuild Illinois and Indiana and if we can do Baghdad, we can do Baltimore.

The Islamic community today is faced with a new version of an old struggle. My late mother used to say it doesn't matter whether you came to this country on the Mayflower or on a slave ship, through Ellis Island or the Rio Grande. We're all in the same boat now.

We must invest in infrastructure development and rebuilding communities to create jobs.

Illinois has less than a 12 percent black population and I won with 55 percent of the vote.

I've always maintained that black people and women suffer from a presumption of incompetence. The burdens of proof are different. It just gets so tiresome.

I was very productive as a senator for my state.

It's not impossible for a woman - a Black woman - to become President.