I mean that I think I find the psychology of people more interesting than politics. I think the psychology of politics is more interesting than straight politics.
Politics is a people business. I like people.
I just worry a lot. I'm a worrier. Michelle and Barack are really dear to me. I mean I love them. And I don't want to see them get hurt. Just the nature of politics is hurtful. So every time they are hurt I get hurt. It's a lot to ask of people and it's a lot to see your friends go through. It's hard not to get emotional.
Broadway is such a diverse community. Everybody knows how I believe and everyone believes and it's not a big deal. But in Hollywood if you talk about politics - especially if you're a Republican - or spirituality it's just not something people want to hear about.
I'm not really one of those people who believes that if you're a musician you can just leave that behind and start getting into politics.
People like to do politics with me and they like to do business.
I've done business with people I've met in politics who I went to law school with who I grew up with. Who do you do business with? People you meet in life.
It is important to recognize and politics positive thinking is often the slaves' virtue - something that people do to con themselves about the burden and change being placed upon them.
The sheep-people don't think for themselves anymore. You can say anything and it's the gospel truth and they don't have to go research it or anything and they believe everything the news tells them. People don't go and do their own investigations if it's relationships or politics or anything.
Well a lot of politics is communicating with people and obviously comedy has something to do with that. I've been a producer and led people. Also being a comedian you're under pressure.
If one of my boys was asking me if they should go into politics I'd say there's only one reason to go into public life and that's to help people.
Lenin said that people vote with their feet. Well that's what's happening. They either go or they don't go. It's all politics. It's all demographics.
You know I started my career in politics in 1967. I'm not new to this. I did not just fall off the Christmas tree. I understand the world is complex. I know that there are people out there who want to hurt other people.
Music shouldn't be based around money or politics. Music should be a bunch of people that really do great songs together doing them together for the pursuit of having a good time.
On the show we are not trying to get people to eat their vegetables we are not trying to get people to become Democrats. We are basically trying to encourage people to get involved with public life so that politics isn't left to the wealthy and privileged.
There's people coming in who've never done any politics at all who've never been in a trade union they've never been in a political party they've never done anything but they do feel a kind of urgency.
It seems to be the thing now that young people are getting back into politics.
I look for the humanity in people however big the politics or oppressive the situation may be whether it's subsumed within a human being or between two human beings. I want to help us hold a mirror to ourselves.
I have always hated celebrities lecturing people on politics. So forgive me. But I am passionate about this country. I am equally passionate about the potential of the people who live here.
It's true that it's within the realm of cultural politics that young people tend to work through political issues which I think is good although it's not going to solve the problems.
When we talk about safety and security of the American people politics falls aside pretty quickly.
Newt Gingrich is one of the brightest people in the Republican Party and he's always been a little unorthodox in his approach to politics but that's what makes him Newt Gingrich.
I will go to the next election saying to Australians vote for me vote for the Liberal Party and I will become your PM. So I'm offering myself as the alternative PM - that's one way people describe the Leader of the Opposition - but I'm not in politics for myself to realize a personal ambition.
The only reason to be in politics is public service. There's no other reason. Frankly if that's the best job you can get in terms of money that's too bad you know. Because frankly it's not well paid everyone knows that. So for most people it's a big sacrifice.
Probably the worst time in a person's life is when they have to kill a family member because they are the devil. But otherwise it's been a pretty good day.