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You've got to respect people; you've got to understand where they come from. We know where people in Oklahoma come from - that's why we get along.

Oklahoma has a respect for our neighbors. That's the Oklahoma standard.

The different Washington, D.C.-based groups and the different special interest groups, they all want to be able to pick who they want to be a senator. They don't speak for everyone, and they definitely don't speak for Oklahomans.

In Washington, there's always an effort to label people.

I suppose we're not supposed to judge people.

We had a branding problem. We have allowed ourselves to be branded by our tragedies. If you said 'Oklahoma City,' chances are the next word out of your mouth was 'bombing.'

This is not the time for partisan bickering. This is not the time for politics as usual. Some of us are Democrats. Some of us are Republicans. Some of us are Independents. Above all, we must be Oklahomans first.

I just try not to judge. Don't judge me, and I won't judge you.

I have great respect for Oklahoma's tribal members, and I celebrate their traditions and culture.

Instead of judging people, we need to pray.