When you're running for the presidency, then you've got to expect it. And you've just got to kind of let it -- you know, you know. That's what you got to do.

I do think it's important to recognize that it's not helping that person who's sitting at the kitchen table, who is trying to figure out how to pay the bills at the end of the month.

I revere the American flag. And I would not be running for president if I did not revere this country. This is -- I would not be standing here if it wasn't for this country.

Because the commander-in-chief sets the mission, Charlie. That's not the role of the generals.

But let me be very clear about what I meant because it's something that I have said in public. It's something that I have said on television, which is that people are going through very difficult times right now.

Well, I not only have pledged not to raise their taxes, I have been the first candidate in this race to specifically say I would cut their taxes.

What I have proposed is that we raise the cap on the payroll tax because, right now, millionaires and billionaires don't have to pay beyond... $106,000 a year.

the alternatives, like raising the retirement age or cutting benefits or raising the payroll tax on everybody... those are not good policy options.

I don't want to go there, basically.

Well I think there's no doubt that I can see how people were offended. It's not the first time that I have made a statement that was mangled up. It's not going to be the last.

He spent the day in Washington, D.C., and Washington, Pennsylvania, a medium-sized town just south of Pittsburgh -- most of his remarks today targeting John McCain's economic plan.