These are serious times, and what’s required by all of us — Democrats and Republicans — is to do what’s right for our country, even if it’s not always what’s best for our politics. I know it may be heresy to say this, but there are things more important than good poll numbers. And on this no one can accuse me of not living by my principles.

BARACK OBAMA, remarks to GOP House Issues Conference, Jan. 29, 2010

“…unless they want every talking head in the media to paint them as extremist racist hatemongers.”