The irony, I think, of our political climate right now is that compared to other countries the differences between the two major parties on most issues is not as big as it's represented.

I don't think a system is working when small businesses are gouged and 15,000 Americans are losing coverage every single day.

The fact of the matter is, is that many of you, if you voted with the administration on something, are politically vulnerable in your own base, in your own party. You've given yourselves very little room to work in a bipartisan fashion…

So the question is at what point can we have a serious conversation about Medicare and its long-term liability or a serious question about -- serious conversation about social security or a serious conversation about budget and debt in…

I know there's a question in there somewhere because you're making a whole bunch of assertions, half of which I disagree with.

You may not support our overall jobs package, but if you look at the tax credit that we're proposing for small businesses right now it is consistent with a lot of what you guys have said in the past.

It can't be all or nothing, one way or the other.

But if the way these issues are being presented by the Republicans is that this is some wild-eyed plot to impose huge government in every aspect of our lives, what happens is you guys then don't have a lot of room to negotiate with me.

Let me close by saying this. I was not elected by the Democrats or Republicans but by the American people.

They didn't send us to Washington to fight each other in some sort of political steel cage match to see who comes out alive.

I don't believe that the American people want us to focus on our job security. No, they want us to focus on their job security.

I've proposed that we close tax loopholes that reward companies for shipping American jobs overseas and instead give companies greater incentive to create jobs right here at home.

I've proposed a new jobs tax credit for small business.

I want us to have a constructive debate. The only thing I don't want -- and here I am listening to the American people and I think they don't want either -- is for Washington to continue being so Washington-like.

I ran for President to do what was right for the country.

The only thing I don't want is for Washington to continue being so Washington-like.

We're going to start cutting benefits for seniors.

Bipartisanship, not for its own sake but to solve problems, that's what our constituents, the American people, need from us right now.