Americans do not turn away from duties because they are hard.

The great contest for the presidency is about the future, who can lead, who can get things done.

I talked about the human suffering in Iraq. And I also saw the need to advance a freedom agenda. Imagine a world in which Saddam Hussein was there, stirring up even more trouble in a part of the world that had so much resentment and so much hatred that people came and killed 3,000 of our citizens. I've heard this theory about everything was just fine until we arrived and the stir-up-the-hornet's- nest theory. It just doesn't hold water, as far as I'm concerned. The terrorists attacked us and killed 3,000 of our citizens before we started the freedom agenda in the Middle East.

I think it's very important for people who are serving (in office) to make sure there's a separation of church and state.

Democrats don't want you to know what their tax plans are. They just don't want you to know.

In terms of the economy, look, I inherited a recession, I am ending on a recession.

It says something about our country that people around the world are willing to leave their homes and leave their families and risk everything to come to America. Their talent and hard work and love of freedom have helped make America the leader of the world. And our generation will ensure that America remains a beacon of liberty and the most hope fill society this world has ever known.