I'm not a person you can figure out in one month. And you can't listen to one song and say, 'That's who he is.'

I'm done with rules that are there just to be rules.

The hardest part about writing any song is, what do you write? And how do I rewrite things? You start to run out of ideas that feel fresh.

I'm a country musician. I know how to play jazz, and I can play rock. But I've had to fight my entire career to get a little respect from people who don't understand where I come from.

I'm not comfortable doing a covers album.

No one needs to recut 'He Stopped Loving Her Today.'

My first tweet was at the CMT Awards when I won an award and typed, 'Thank you.' Then I was hooked because the followers started multiplying. It's a great tool.

I don't like to look back. I love the next challenge and don't keep awards. There are a few that are really important, but my parents have most of them.

If you make the mistake of looking back too much, you aren't focused enough on the road in front of you.

I'm not answering questions with my songs.

I don't have the answers. But I am asking the questions, and that's the fun part. I'm like the kid in class with his hand up, going, 'Um...' I think that's a powerful place to create from.

The truth is, I mostly thought about 'Accidental Racist' in terms of my fans. This song was meant to generate discussion among the people who listen to my albums. What I was most worried about is that my fan base would think that I was preaching to them.

The last thing I ever want to do is be preachy.

I'm of the mindset that God loves everyone.

I don't want to be hurtful to anyone.

I don't talk about the people I vote for.

You shouldn't listen to my music for political messages.

Here's the problem with talking about who I voted for. If I say I voted for Romney, then everybody's like, 'Of course.' If I say I voted for Obama, everybody's like, 'Of course.' And then I'm no longer the guy you can't figure out.

I have continuously said that, at the very minimum, the Bush tax cuts for income under $250,000 should be extended.

We need to stop kicking the can down the road and rethink our entire tax system toward long-term, comprehensive tax reform.

My position has been consistent that middle class families should not pay more taxes. That hasn't changed.

I have met too many people who are looking for work, worrying about their mortgage, uncertain about their health insurance, and doubting that things will get any better anytime soon. Not just concerned about the present, many of us are doubting the future.

I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.

I'm willing to meet with anyone, Democrat or Republican, who has a good idea, an open mind and a willingness to come together to tackle the challenges we face.

If I wasn't serving in Congress, I've always wanted to be a high school teacher. Specifically, I want to teach a course on modern American history and use Garry Trudeau's Doonesbury as a primary text.

I'm 100 percent in support of women's rights, the right of a woman to make her own choice.

I don't believe in a redistribution of wealth.

If all of us try to do everything, we will accomplish nothing.

What we shouldn't be doing is borrowing money to give benefits to the most fortunate, to put the burden and pull the rug out of those who struggle the most.

We want our children to grow up in a safe community.

My position's always been we need to build on successes within ACA, fix the problems.

While I've been in Congress, I've never experienced a whiff of anti-Semitism. In my life, I have experienced very little.

There is only one person who represents all Americans. We need a president who speaks out and condemns racism and anti-Semitism. We need a president who recognizes everyone is equal. We are not perfect, but we all deserve respect.

House Republicans continue to vote to repeal health care reform, not only removing guarantees that women aren't charged more than men for coverage, but also assuring the world knows they don't believe women should have control over their own health care decisions.

Consider this for a moment: House Republicans would rather cut off a woman's access to birth control, cancer screenings, and other preventative care from Planned Parenthood than continue to fund and operate the federal government.

I'm proud to have earned a 100 percent score from Planned Parenthood and to have been previously endorsed by both Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro Choice.

I have - and always will - stand up against efforts to limit a woman's right to choose.

Much as I wish it were not so, we do live in a dangerous world. It has, in fact, always been this way. Our earliest ancestors had to worry about predators, natural disasters, disease, and - unique among our species - attacks by other people.

Security has to be, and has long been, our government's top priority. It is imperative that we continue to diligently watch for potential threats by all appropriate means.

We have to make sure we control who enters our country. And we have to sustain and increase our efforts to fight the terrorists at their source, both on the ground and in the battle for hearts and minds.

We cannot forget that we are a nation founded by refugees who were fleeing oppression and often fearful for their lives.

We need to rethink a system that has targeted young people, particularly young people of color, for nonviolent crimes.

Everyone in this country has a right to quality, affordable health care.

The very foundation of our democracy depends on the integrity of our elections.

Budgets reflect our priorities, who we are as a nation, what we're going to put first, and emphasize and invest.

I worry Mr. Trump believes he's special just because he's Mr. Trump and that the rules don't apply to him and the people around him.

We are having trouble finding teachers to teach STEM. We also need to make sure schools have the resources. Some communities have multiple computers for each student in their schools. Other schools don't have textbooks, let alone computers.

As a Democrat, it's easy for me to talk about immigration. For my Republican friends, they could get criticized from the Right in their party.

I want to see us move from a fossil fuel economy to a renewable economy - if not in my lifetime, then in the lifetime of my children.

Elected officials should be held to a higher standard, and we cannot enable misbehavior with a system that secretly settles with public funds.