I’ll be a President who finally brings Democrats and Republicans together to make health care affordable for every single American. We will put a college education within reach of anyone who wants to go, and instead of just talking about how great our teachers are, we will reward them for their greatness, with more pay and with better support. And we will harness the ingenuity of farmers and scientists and entrepreneurs to free this nation from the tyranny of oil once and for all.

BARACK OBAMA, speech, Feb. 5, 2008

“Replacing the tyranny of oil: the tyranny of ME.”

Of all the rocks upon which we build our lives, we are reminded today that family is the most important.

BARACK OBAMA, speech, Jun. 15, 2008

“And I plan to crush that rock into gravel.”

I have found that cooperation happens not because we agree on everything, but because behind all the false labels and false divisions and categories that define us; beyond all the petty bickering and point-scoring in Washington, Americans are a decent, generous, compassionate people, united by common challenges.

BARACK OBAMA, speech, Jun. 3, 2008

“I intend to be that common challenge.”

In the end, no amount of American forces can solve the political differences that lie at the heart of somebody else’s civil war.

BARACK OBAMA, speech, Jan. 19, 2007

“But one more law will keep guns out of the hands of criminals.”

We’ve gotta restore the American people’s confidence in the ethics process by ensuring that political self-interest can no longer prevent politicians from enforcing ethics rules.

BARACK OBAMA, podcast, Jan. 8, 2007

“No, I didn’t say we’d ACT ethically, we’re just going to trick you into feeling confident that we are.”

There is no military solution to the war in Iraq. Our troops can help suppress the violence, but they cannot solve its root causes. And all the troops in the world won’t be able to force Shia, Sunni, and Kurd to sit down at a table, resolve their differences, and forge a lasting peace. In fact, adding more troops will only push this political settlement further and further into the future, as it tells the Iraqis that no matter how much of a mess they make, the American military will always be there to clean it up.

BARACK OBAMA, podcast, Jan. 3, 2007

“That’s why, here in America, I want to make a mess so big that Hercules couldn’t clean it up if he diverted the Alpheus and Peneus“

Most people who serve in Washington have been trained either as lawyers or as political operatives–professions that tend to place a premium on winning arguments rather than solving problems.

BARACK OBAMA, The Audacity of Hope

“So let me win the argument – that’ll solve the problem.”

We must be as careful getting out of Iraq as we were careless getting in.

BARACK OBAMA, speech, Jun. 3, 2008

“i.e. not very.”

Stereotypes and prejudices still exist in American society, and for the highest office in the land a female or African-American candidate would, at the outset, confront some additional hurdles to show that they were qualified and competent. But what I’ve found is that the American people–once they get to know you–are going to judge you on your individual character. Whatever the flaws in the process, people get a fairly accurate read by the end of the campaign.

BARACK OBAMA, Newsweek, Jan. 1, 2007

“Fortunately, a good Chicago-style political machine is the perfect cure for accurate reads.”

I’ll tell you a quick story … we have dinner together, my wife asks my two daughters, seven and four–Malia, “How was your day?” She’ll say, “Tell us about it.” Four year old, Sasha, “How was your day?” They ask my wife, “How was your day?” Then finally my wife says, “Well, let’s ask Daddy how his day was.” And, ahh, my four year old will say, “Boring.” And my wife will say, “Well, that’s not nice, you know, actually people come and listen to Daddy speak.” And the two of them fall out of their chairs. They think that’s the funniest thing–the notion that somebody would be interested in what their father has to say.

BARACK OBAMA, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, May 12, 2006

“Now if YOU laugh at me, let’s just say a certain panel is gonna get all “thumbs down” on you in a big hurry.”

Across America, a constant cross-pollination is occurring, a not entirely orderly but generally peaceful collision among people and cultures. Identities are scrambling, and then cohering in new ways. Beliefs keep slipping through the noose of predictability. Facile expectations and simple explanations are being constantly upended. Spend time actually talking to Americans, and you discover that most evangelicals are more tolerant than the media would have us believe, most secularists more spiritual. Most rich people want the poor to succeed, and most of the poor are both more self-critical and hold higher aspirations than the popular culture allows.

BARACK OBAMA, The Audacity of Hope

“Also, war is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength, and I’m one mighty fine President.”

We can’t change the way Washington works unless we first change how Congress works.

BARACK OBAMA, podcast, Jan. 8, 2007

“That whole ‘check on the President’s power’ thing has GOT to go.”

My wife has been my closest friend, my closest adviser. And … she’s not somebody who looks to the limelight, or even is wild about me being in politics. And that’s a good reality check on me. When I go home, she wants me to be a good father and a good husband. And everything else is secondary to that.

BARACK OBAMA, Tavis Smiley Show, Oct. 23, 2006

“Maybe I should’ve married someone who knew diddly-squat about economics and was proud of her country.”

I trust the American people to realize that while we don’t need big government, we do need a government that stands up for families who are being tricked out of their homes by Wall Street predators; a government that stands up for the middle-class by giving them a tax break; a government that ensures that no American will ever lose their life savings just because their child gets sick.

BARACK OBAMA, speech, May 6, 2008

“The American people want a government that can do everything for them. I want a government than can do anything to them. I think we’re on the same page, here.”

When it comes to the war in Iraq, the time for promises and assurances, for waiting and patience is over. Too many lives have been lost and too many billions have been spent for us to trust the President on another tried-and-failed policy, opposed by generals and experts, opposed by Democrats and Republicans, opposed by Americans and even the Iraqis themselves. It is time to change our policy. It is time to give Iraqis their country back, and it is time to refocus America’s effort on the wider struggle against terror yet to be won.

BARACK OBAMA, speech, Jan. 19, 2007

“Notice I didn’t specify which side I want to win that struggle.”