Leadership is all about people. It is not about organizations. It is not about plans. It is not about strategies. It is all about people-motivating people to get the job done. You have to be people-centered.

Endeavors succeed or fail because of the people involved.

You don't know what you can get away with until you try.

Another rule I have is: Don't let your ego get tied up in a policy dispute. Otherwise, if things don't go your way, you can end up breaking a relationship with somebody with whom you can't afford to break.

Let me just be candid: My party is full of racists. And the real reason a considerable portion of my party wants President Obama out of the White House has nothing to do with the content of his character, nothing to do with his competence as commander-in-chief and president, and everything to do with the color of his skin. And that's despicable.

Free speech is intended to protect the controversial and even outrageous word; and not just comforting platitudes too mundane to need protection.

The United States is not stingy. We are the greatest contributor to international relief efforts in the world.