Michael Nutter

“Part of the problem in politics is that people only look at the next four to eight years: kick the can down the road and say, 'Hey, it's the next person's problem.'”

“Politics in Philadelphia is a contact sport.”

“We all pay federal taxes that we send to Washington and it is not unusual that as Americans we would expect some federal investment in the cities and metro areas because we're the ones that are generating the economic activity.”

“Whether it's on the streets of Philadelphia or New York or Chicago or Atlanta or in a classroom in Newtown, Connecticut, people want to be safe.”

“I got elected as the mayor of Philadelphia and yes I am black. But my responsibility is to all the citizens of the city.”

“If you have a deep-seated need to be loved and admired every day, you shouldn't be in politics. You should go work at a pet store.”

“I believe in the critical importance of participating in the political system - from voting to standing for election. It's both rewarding and necessary that men and women of good will and clear thinking engage in honest, open debate.”

“I'm a big supporter of the Second Amendment. But I think I have a First Amendment right not to be shot.”

“I believe that people, regardless of their station in life, should be able to sit down at a table to a meal - inside away from the heat and cold, the rain and the snow.”

“Our economy grows from the middle out, not the top down.”

“I think there is a big difference between expressing the pain and anger that many African Americans and other people of color may feel versus language that I think now crosses the line and goes into hate.”

“I didn't run for mayor to be the caretaker of the status quo.”

“Yes we need enhanced border control. Yes we need to focus our efforts on those who pose a threat to our country. But let's not fall into the trap set by the Tea Party and others who would tell you that every single undocumented individual is a drug smuggler, a terrorist, or a threat to the American way of life. That is simply not true.”

“Vice President Biden is the real deal. He'll give it to you straight. He communicates in a way that I think connects with people at a real level.”

“Somehow, someway, for some people there's an automatic assumption that a mayor who is African-American or some other elected official has to support another African-American.”

“I'm honored to serve as mayor of my hometown where our founders started America with three simple words: 'We, the people.' And when they said 'people' they didn't mean 'corporations.'”

“We need to ban assault weapons. We need to ban the high-capacity clips and magazines. We need serious background information, system upgrade.”

“There is no reason for a civilian to have an automatic weapon.”

“Mayors could never get away with the kind of nonsense that goes on in Washington. In our world, you either picked up the trash or you didn't. You either moved an abandoned car or you didn't. You either filled a pothole or you didn't. That's what we do every day. And we know how to get this stuff done.”

“You get respect when you give respect. That's how you get respect.”