Michael Capuano

“I don't measure people by whether they agree with me or not. I measure them by their sincerity. Sincerity, with as much reality as you can get. Sincerity with toughness, experience, and understanding of the issue - real understanding, not just academic and intellectual understanding. That takes some courage.”

“Who doesn't like the Olympics? Everyone does, but who is going to pay for it?”

“Look, I cannot be a woman of color, you know? And if that's what people care about that's fine. I accept that, I understand that.”

“Most of my friends are not multi-millionaires.”

“If you're going to have a difference of opinion, I think the difference of opinion should be on a matter of substance.”

“I am an elected official, a politician who has been very successful in Washington, in city halls and state houses for my entire career. If somebody wants somebody who needs on-the-job training, then they will not be able to vote for me.”

“We are not going to repeal Obamacare.”

“If we create jobs, it's all for the good.”

“Sincerity with innocence, though cute, though it makes good movies, makes for very bad government.”

“You can go on for days naming former elected officials who are now in the private sector getting paid lots of money for speeches.”

“The policies being enforced are more important than the agency enforcing them.”

“When I say infrastructure it's not just roads and bridges and subways - it's also housing. It's also schools and fire departments and water departments and sewer departments. That's all infrastructure and it's all important. Little by little this country is crumbling and everyone knows it.”

“I wasn't going to say things just to get votes.”

“I judge people on who they are.”

“I'm very proud of my record and I know that it's controversial to some, but I have as high a score as you can get from groups like the National Organization for Women, the NAACP, the League of Women Voters and on and on and on.”

“I think the average voter wants somebody who has the right philosophy and can combine that with the ability to get something done in Washington.”

“I will not deny health care to any single American.”

“All I've ever done in any campaign I've ever been in is just put myself out there and let people be the judge.”

“All government is a mess. Democracy is always messy. It's meant to be messy because smooth, thoughtful, precise, effective government leads to dictatorship. Don't get me wrong, dictatorship is fine - as long as I'm the dictator. But if you're not the dictator, not so good.”

“I am deeply disappointed in the way President-elect Trump attacked Rep. John Lewis, a personal friend and hero to so many Americans.”