I think there's no higher calling in terms of a career than public service, which is a chance to make a difference in people's lives and improve the world.
The most critical thing in a negotiation is to get inside your opponent's head and figure out what he really wants.
Raising the debt limit on some levels is a ministerial act. It doesn't involve any new spending.
The challenge for any government is how do you do two things at the same time. How do you put money forward for things like the payroll tax holiday, for things like getting a jump-start on infrastructure, for building schools, and make the decisions for long-term deficit reduction.
From the very beginning the president [of USA] had two very important principles that had to be reconciled. One principle is that every woman should have the right to all forms of preventive health care, including contraception. The other is that we need to respect the religious liberties which are the cornerstone of American life.
The issue of providing women all forms of preventative health care has been and remains very important. The, the importance of protecting religious liberties in this country has been important to the president and will always be.
If you look at the cost of providing health insurance, it actually doesn't cost more to provide a plan with contraceptive coverage than it does without.
If you have a student who graduates from college and they don't have a job, they are now able to stay on their family health plan.
If you don't define the problem you'll never reach a painful solution.
I think there is a shared sense of urgency in Washington on fiscal issues.
I think that for the next short period of time, our No. 1 priority is Congress needs to do its work and extend the payroll tax cut.
Historically, the responsibility for voting on the debt limit has gone to the party in the majority.
Every president since George Washington has taken executive privilege seriously. Every Republican president has.
Europe is trying to get its fiscal house in order.
Most Americans want health insurance.
I can't speak to the differences within the Catholic Church.
