When I was growing up, my parents always told me that I had to do what I thought was right and not listen to other people. That was hard for me.

But I can tell you another engine for growth and job creation would be comprehensive immigration reform.

I don't think it's at all weakening of the system if people with the same last name put themselves forward to the electorate, when their experiences, their character, and in my case, gender, may be different.

With respect to Iraq, I did favour the continuity of American forces to work with the new Maliki government. They had enormous needs for intelligence, for training on everything from airplanes to more sophisticated ground equipment and the like.