Barack Obama: “Those who are willing to work hard, they've got those rungs on the ladder to have a secure middle class life.”

People need to “rediscover what’s the story we tell about how we’re going to live together, and see each other, and recognise each other, and disagree, and yet, still care for each other”.

I think when we act on that basis, it doesn't always work out, but over time things do get better.

And I will fight for that, even if I don’t always think it’s going to win.

The full weight of the federal government is being brought down on a law-abiding elected official because she has dared to criticize the president.