I think people are confused about what the Tea Party is. I mean they were a broad cross-section of Americans who came together concerned about our debt and our spending. And they're interested in constitutional limited government. And so they're not one group of people. They're thousands of small groups all over the country.

It's counterintuitive but the most divisive arrangement is when the same party controls both Congress and the presidency a situation encountered in eight of the past 10 years. With government unified under a single party the minority has the least possible incentive to cooperate with the majority.

I think that if we get back to some basic fundamental principles we can make sure that we resolve the issues. And I think that that's what the Tea Party was all about. It's getting back to a constitutional conservative government. And that is limited but it's also effective and efficient. I think that that's what we'll be able to do.

I have long said there are three distinct groups under the GOP's tent: theological warriors who want to impose their social views on the rest of society Tea Party zealots who say with a straight face that they want the government to get out of their Medicare and remnants of the pro-business moderates.

Power without principle is barren but principle without power is futile. This is a party of government and I will lead it as a party of government.

Obviously a Conservative government will always leave taxes lower than they have been under Labour. Those things go with the territory of the Conservative Party.

'Hello my name is the Republican Party and I got a problem. I'm addicted to spending and big government.' I'd like one of them just to stand up and say that.

I have a message from the Tea Party a message that is loud and clear and does not mince words. We've come to take our government back.

I can't really criticize the Tea Party people because I came into the White House pretty much on the same basis that they have become popular. That is dissatisfaction with the way things are going in Washington and disillusionment and disencouragement about the government.

Government stimulates the democrat party.