Barack Obama: “We have had a long and important debate, but now is the time for action.”

I hope this center will serve as an affirmation of just how special, how precious our democracy truly is.

Listen, hypocrisy is progress.

This idea that any suggestion or criticism that America was anything other than perfect is unpatriotic... is a suggestion that you hate your country.

People aren't looking for perpetual anger and division. They are looking for fairness and common sense and mutual respect, that deep in our gut, we want to find a way to turn towards each other again, not further away.