I don't know one of my friends who is considered a conservative who has not had to go back and thoroughly think through everything. You do a lot of soul-searching - 'cause we are not going to win any popularity contests.

And I don't think that government has a role in telling people how to live their lives. Maybe a minister does, maybe your belief in God does, maybe there's another set of moral codes, but I don't think government has a role.

To define each of us by our race is nothing short of a denial of our humanity.

The truth of the matter is we have become more interested in designer jeans and break dancing than we are in obligations and responsibilities.

The myths that are created about the South, about the way we grew up, about black people, are wrong.

I certainly have some very strong libertarian leanings, yes.

Perhaps some are confused because they have stereotypes of how blacks should be and I respectfully decline, as I did in my youth, to sacrifice who I am for who they think I should be.