The Democrats have this high level of expectation of what government can do.

I'm a little nervous about public funding. It's better than what we got now.

People in the White House work hard, whatever administration. They get rewarded in psychic income, a sense that they are involved in something bigger than themselves, that it's important.

Once I accuse you of racist, I have demonized you, and it means any future collaboration, cooperation between us is a sign of my moral deficiency, if I would deal with someone like that. It's a terrible thing to do.

I think this was as good a Democratic Convention [ this was my 24th convention] as I have seen since the 1976 convention, which nominated Jimmy Carter.I just thought it was a spectacularly successful convention. I don't think Hillary Clinton's speech was spectacular, but I don't think she's a spectacular speaker.

There is nothing more basic to our democracy than the right to participate in electing our political leaders.

They're still a subject beholden to special interests, but at least they have a national constituency. At least they have to think about national majorities.