Paul Begala

Weiner's behavior was abhorrent, inappropriate. He lied to the public. He lied to his wife. He seems untrustworthy. He didn't use good judgment.

He's got to get right with his wife, who's a friend of mine, and she's a remarkable woman.

I do think, actually, public figures have a right to a private life. They don't have a right to lie to the public, to Wolf Blitzer, to their staff, to their constituents. And that's what Congressman Weiner did.

When the Dow drops 279 points in a day, the career-ending scandal could be the governor of New Jersey, who is taking a state helicopter apparently yesterday to go to see his kid's baseball game.

I think he did a very good job. I think Wolf is right. I think he gave Wolf a very good interview, answered every question the best that he could.

This is a health care system for tens of millions of Americans. The Republicans, in the words of the 'Wall Street Journal', no liberal organ, want to essentially end Medicare and put insurance companies in charge, which will cost seniors…

I think the only reason he put it out is I think what Ed's reporting has been, Ed Henry's reporting from the White House, that he just kind of personally probably wants to see this over, because politically this is a good issue for him.

There were serious mainstream Republicans who were feeding this. Why? Because they want to delegitimize this president. They don't want to fight him on ideas and issues.

No, no. It was a mistake to release it today. He didn't wait. He released what is legally recognized by Hawaii and the federal government as his certificate of live birth, as his birth certificate.

I think he's just honestly doing it for the reasons he states. He cares about the country. He wants to put him behind him.

What this did do was I think delegitimize the Republicans. It put Republicans on the spot.

No, no. It was a mistake to release it today.

I was proud of our president today for standing up saying I will not let you destroy Medicare to give tax breaks to the rich.

Ryan's plan is worse than doing nothing. The Congressional Budget Office looked at this and said, compared to doing nothing, the Ryan plan increases the debt even more over the first 10 years because he front-loads all these tax cuts for…

He can't do enough to stop this Paul Ryan budget. It would destroy Medicare to give tax breaks to the rich.

Mr. Ryan wants to eliminate Medicare as we know it.

I was proud of our President today for standing up saying I will not let you destroy Medicare to give tax breaks to the rich.

The Clinton economy -- the Clinton Democrats balanced the budget. The Bush Republicans created this deficit.

If tax cuts for the rich created jobs, we wouldn't be in this mess.

Look, he can't do enough to stop this Paul Ryan budget. It would destroy Medicare to give tax breaks to the rich.

The President tried to make an honest cut at the deficit by saying, duh, we have to cut spending and raise taxes.

This guy has got real principles, where he's not going to allow Paul Ryan and the Republicans to end Medicare as we know it in order to pay for tax cuts for the rich.

If Speaker Boehner can deliver his caucus, many of whom got elected not to compromise, if he can get them to vote for a compromise, I think that would be pretty remarkable.

The president of the United States always looks good when he can rise above the partisan fray or kind of resolve a partisan legal difference.

I thought we were heading for a government shutdown, almost for certain.