True Americanism is opposed utterly to any political divisions resting on race and religion.

I have sung for Americans of every political persuasion and I am proud that I never refuse to sing to an audience no matter what religion or color of their skin or situation in life.

The American way was for commerce personal relationships and religion to be voluntary. No one was forced to participate in something he didn't want.

Religion for better or for worse has been politicized in blatant ways that have seldom been equaled in American elections.

There's a gullible side to the American people. They can be easily misled. Religion is the best device used to mislead them.

The Americans combine the notions of religion and liberty so intimately in their minds that it is impossible to make them conceive of one without the other.

You know I think that President Obama is a person who has a great relationship with a number of people. Colin Powell does too. I think Colin Powell is a fine American a great leader and sees things in President Obama that he agrees with. He's entitled to have his opinion.

I'd had a relationship with a French girl a Japanese girl an American girl a Filippina and she was there all the time - a Lancashire girl. I thought: 'It's a Lancashire girl I was looking for. Why didn't I realize it?'

Sidney Poitier became a star in part by helping black and white Americans negotiate their new relationship in the post-Civil Rights era.

The relationship of black Americans to Obama is sociologically riveting.