Contrary to current cynicism about past golden ages the abstraction known as 'the intelligent layperson' does exist - in the form of millions of folks with a passionate commitment to continuous learning.

I think we need leadership that helps us remember that part of what we are about is caring about more than the person right next to us but the folks across the way.

My folks were raised pure prohibitionist. They were very good people with high moral standards - but very repressed. There was no hugging and kissing in my home.

When I get old I'm going to the old folks' home. I don't want to be one of those guys who's hanging around the house bothering the kids. But not just any old folks' home. I want the whole top floor.

More than anything else I want the folks back at home to think right of me.

Let me tell you never before in the history of this planet has anybody made the progress that African-Americans have made in a 30-year period in spite of many black folks and white folks lying to one another.

America enjoys the best health care in the world but the best is no good if folks can't afford it access it and doctor's can't provide it.

I'm up here in Cleveland tonight and there are a lot of folks who are concerned about it. Twenty-five percent of the people up here get their health care through religious organizations and so that religious freedom issue is very important to them.

Many smart folks seem to think that if you just get your metaphors and messages right you'll win. That if you start describing what you favor as a 'moral value' - 'affordable health care is a moral value' etc. - then you'll appeal to red-state voters.

When it comes to the health of our families Barack refused to listen to all those folks who told him to leave health reform for another day another president. He didn't care whether it was the easy thing to do politically - that's not how he was raised - he cared that it was the right thing to do.