The Bill of Rights existed long before President Obama was elected, and as long as I’m a U.S. Senator, I will fight to protect the basic rights and liberties that belong to all of us as American citizens.

I think it's a mistake to downgrade and say surveillance is no big deal. It is a huge deal that we are collecting millions of Americans phone calls and that someone can go to a keyboard and put your name in and search it without a warrant.

I think if we ban certain religions, if we censor the Internet, I think that at that point the terrorists will have won.

Are you so afraid that you are willing to trade your freedom for security?

I don't think we're doing an adequate vetting process of those who are coming to our country.

The great and abiding lesson of American history, particularly the Cold War, is that the engine of capitalism - the individual - is mightier than any collective.

I'm the third of five children.