The solid middle-class values of hard work responsibility family community and faith my father talked about tirelessly from Iowa to New York he lived at home. The hopes he had for his family and for me he had for all Americans. I think Americans understood this.

You know this idea of going around the world imposing democracy by growing a middle-class a trading merchant class that is independent of your faith is a good notion but we're all partially different - it's no good imposing systems on people that it doesn't suit.

There is no middle ground in Hollywood you're a failure or you're a success. That mentality is wild.

You have to look at the history of the Middle East in particular. It has been one of failure and frustration of feudalism and tribalism.

I know from my own personal experience. I was bullied in middle school and high school and went through my fair share of hard times thereafter. Also one of my really good friends committed suicide when I was in high school.

Whenever something happens that makes me laugh or if I remember something in the middle of the night that I want to share I jot the experience down.

For 25 years it has been my privilege to represent the city of San Francisco and the great state of California to work to strengthen our vibrant middle class to secure opportunity and equality.

We face a choice this election. President Obama is fighting for changes that grow the economy from the middle out and help all Americans succeed - jobs education health reform the DREAM Act equal pay for women. He is moving us forward with opportunity today for prosperity tomorrow. Mitt Romney wants to take us back to yesterday.

Pell Grants are and have been critically important tools in making higher education a possibility for lower- and middle-income students.

In Philadelphia our public safety poverty reduction health and economic development all start with education. We can't grow the middle class if we don't give our kids the tools they need to innovate and invent.