It takes a lot of strength to let go.

When it comes to the American dream, no one has a corner on the market. All of us have an equal chance to share in that dream.

Republicans and Democrats have used accounting gimmicks and competing government analyses to deceive the public into believing that 2 + 2 = 6. If our leaders cannot agree on the numbers, if 'facts' are fictional, how can they possibly have a substantive debate on solutions?

You always hear 'black Republican,' but you never hear 'white Democrat.' We've got to get beyond the labels and stereotypes. Other people have hang-ups about it. I don't.

Education is a bipartisan issue that concern all communities of color and should be first, last and always about the student learning.

Most of all, however, critics of black conservatives say we've forgotten where we came from. I may forget a federal budget number or, God forbid, to set the alarm clock for my weekly 6 a.m. flight to Washington, but I know exactly where I came from.

Americans are hungry for a discussion on policy solutions to the problems in their communities that work.