I think it's time we had a president who carried the same life experiences into the White House as most ordinary Americans.

I grew up in a household that was a labor household. My dad was a Teamster and a milk truck driver. My mother was a secretary. Neither of them got through high school. But they worked hard and they gave me very, very important opportunities to go to school, get a good education.

And the president should be doing more about education than saying, 'Lights, camera, action.'

Democracy is interactive... Its a constant job of information, education, explanation, listening, and interactive communication.

The people I'm honored to represent in Missouri and all over the country want leaders to address their kitchen table everyday problems.

I grew up in the '50s and '60s when Jack Kennedy was president. We would watch him on television. And our teachers always talked about the good things public servants could do. I thought maybe that's something I should do. So when I got out of law school, my wife, Jane, and I became precinct captains.

Politics takes patience, time, listening and endless meetings.