I would say this, too. Often I preface statements to other countries where we might be a little critical of the way they're operating.

Just want to follow up a little bit on Mr. Deutch's question a little bit, and I mean this--I know you want to get away from partisan kind of issues but sometimes you can't.

They're going to continue. But I think we are able to really help them--give them solidarity, give them technical support, give them financial support.

I tend to look at this as a glass half full and we may be talking differently 10 years from now.

The support of the American people... is a demonstration of the support coming from the American people.

We can't back off of it, and no amount of money is going to fix it.

That's why it's baffling that the administration has decided that democracy is no longer a foreign policy priority.

We cannot afford cuts to democracy and governance programs right now or, when it's appropriated, fail to implement programs because of directives from the White House or Embassies abroad.

So promoting democracy, helping to advance our democratic values around the world--the work that your three organizations do--should be at the center of our foreign policy.

Attacking the free press, the way I see it, is an attack on democracy.

Our form of government empowers the people.