US Presidency
2013

I want to lay out my ideas to give the middle class a better shot in the 21st century. And look, I want Republicans to lay out their ideas. If they've got a better idea to bring down college costs that we haven't thought of, let's hear them. I am ready to go. If they've got a better plan to make sure that every American knows the security of affordable health care, then please share it with the class. Raise your hand. But what you can't do is just manufacture another crisis because you think it might be good politics, just as our economy is getting some traction. What you can't do is shut down our government just because I am for opening the government. You can't threaten not to pay the bills this country racked up or to cut investments in education and science and basic research that are going to help us grow. If we're going to manage deficits and debt, let's do it in a sensible way. We can do this if we work together.