Oh there's going to be debate because you're dealing with the Bible and religion is supposed to be separate from state and that to me is already a conflict before it even hits the gay issue.

Religion enabled society to organise itself to debate goodness just as Greek drama had once done.

A politician's goal is always to manipulate public debate. I think there are some politicians with higher goals. But all of them get corrupted by power.

I'm out there arguing the Labor case. I will do it anywhere and everywhere that I can. I do it within various communities across Australia where I am able to make a positive contribution. And let me tell you my voice won't be silenced in the public debate because the issue at stake for Australia are so stark.

We mistake politics for legislative debate. You can be passionate without being personal.

We talked about politics constantly in my family growing up in North Carolina. There were always debates. Being of Greek background it's in our blood to drink coffee and talk politics.

I think that you can disagree with people and debate over their positions with issues without engaging in the politics of personal destruction.

Linguistic philosophers continue to argue that probably music is not a language that is in the philosophical debate. Another point of view is to say that music is a very profound language.

There are 435 members of Congress. There's one 'Morning Joe' show. Hopefully we can keep hammering the argument that you can disagree with other people and have debates but remain civil.

For the life of me I don't understand what honest motive there is in putting this in front of this body to philosophically debate marriage on a constitutional amendment that is not going to happen and which is enormously divisive in all of our communities.