In one way I was happy he won, because he has a softer approach to the world than Romney, but I am also disappointed because he said so little about Afghanistan in his campaign. We don’t know what his plans are. All we know is that the American troops are going to leave, and everyone is very scared what will happen to us then.

One issue I’ve never been conflicted about is taxes. I wasn’t sent to Washington to raise anybody’s taxes to pay for more wasteful spending and this election doesn’t change my principles. This election was a disappointment, without doubt, but let’s be clear about something: the House is still run by Republicans, and Republicans still maintain a robust minority in the Senate. I know some people out there think Tuesday’s results mean Republicans in Washington are now going to roll over and agree to Democrat demands that we hike tax rates before the end of the year. I’m here to tell them there is no truth to that notion whatsoever.

America, I believe we can build on the progress we’ve made and continue to fight for new jobs, and new opportunity, and new security for the middle class. I believe that we can keep the promise of our founders: the idea that if you’re willing to work hard, it doesn’t matter who you are, or where you come from, or what you look like, or (who) you love. It doesn’t matter whether you’re black, or white, or Hispanic or Asian, or Native American, or young or old, or rich or poor, able, disabled, gay or straight — you can make it in America, if you are willing to try.

I believe that we can seize this future together, because we are not as divided as our politics suggest. We’re not as cynical as the pundits believe. We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions, and we remain more than a collection of red states and blue states. We are, and forever will be, the United States of America, and together, with your help and God’s grace, we will continue our journey forward and remind the world just why it is that we live in the greatest nation on Earth.