Barack Obama

I want to make sure that we have got the best possible strategy to succeed in a very limited aim. And that is to ensure that al Qaeda and its allies cannot launch attacks against the U.S. homeland and U.S. interests.

Absolutely. I think it's the most profound decision that I have made since I have been president. And I think about it every day.

I think it's important that the way we think about it and the way it's taught is not one in which there's simply a victim and a victimizer and that's the end of the story.

I'd like to see it done sooner rather than later.

I want to make sure that it's changed in a way that ultimately works well for our military and for the outstanding gay and lesbian soldiers that are both currently enlisted or would like to enlist.

Look, I've had conversations with Bob Gates as well as Admiral Mullen about the fact that I want to see this law changed.

I want to make sure that we've got the best possible strategy to succeed in a very limited aim and that is to ensure that al Qaeda and its allies cannot launch attacks against the U.S. homeland and U.S. interests.

Absolutely. And I think it's the most profound decision that I have made since I've been president.

Those are all things that I've seen and witnessed and those are stories that I've heard directly from people who I know.

I want to see this changed.

We are now closer to the goal of health care reform than we have ever been.

We are going to get this done; inaction is not an option.

We've got to figure out ways to rebuild them on a newer, firmer, stronger foundation for our future.

Four in five cities have had to cut services, just when folks need it the most.

I know that this change is possible.

Africans are standing up for this future.

This generation—our generation—has to show that same courage and determination.

We have to do what we can to fight against the kinds of evils that, sadly, still exist in our world.

I continue to believe that even one American out of work is one too many.

Africa is not separate from world affairs.

The world will be what you make of it.

The administration believes that Ghana is a thriving democracy. They have had some successful elections. They have had some economic growth. And -- and they have been able to battle corruption in a way that many other African governments…

I have family members who live in villages -- they themselves are not going hungry -- but live in villages where hunger is real. And so this is something that I understand in very personal terms and if you talk to people on the ground in…

We can either shape our future or let events shape it for us.

Change doesn't happen overnight.