As a mother, I - like everyone else - have to fill my gas tank in my car. I have to feed my family. I have to be able to make sure that I can keep a roof over their heads and, with things escalating the way they are, it's very difficult. People are losing their homes.

Cindy McCain

I think it's a right that every American parent should have - choice and competition in education, and choice in schools are most important to me.

Cindy McCain

should-have school thinking

I learned the hard way that not only do you not have to be superwoman, but it's better not to be and not to try to be. What I would like to be is just a good person - someone who tries her best and puts her best foot forward.

Cindy McCain

feet trying way

The strength of women and women's rights around the world are especially important because that affects children and families. And the cascade effect is remarkable.

Cindy McCain

important rights children

In everything I do, my children come first, and my husband. I just think it's so important to maintain family stability.

Cindy McCain

husband children thinking

I believe in the great spirit and intelligence of Americans.

Cindy McCain

i-believe spirit believe

I just want to be who I am. I think all women go through the belief that they need to be superwoman - that to be successful in any way, and I don't necessarily mean in business or anything, but just to be a successful person, you have to be superwoman.

Cindy McCain

successful mean thinking

I brought home a baby without telling [husband John McCain], and he not only took it in stride but loved it, immediately embracing Bridget, who shares John's very dry sense of humor, so she and her dad do pretty well together. If I hadn't taken Bridget out, I think she would have become a prostitute or worse, died.

Cindy McCain

husband mom baby

Our government treats the LGBT community like second-class citizens.

Cindy McCain

lgbt-community government class

Having a strong father, I wanted an older man.

Cindy McCain

strong men father

My husband's the first one to say, "This is not the end of the world." We're doing what we want to do - what we have chosen to do - and we know the risks involved.

Cindy McCain

risk husband world

I rely on some words that actually my husband said to me. He jokes about saying, "You know it's only darkest before it's totally black!" Even in my darkest hour - and my darkest hour was probably when I lost both my parents - I look to him and I see what he has endured, what he has overcome, what he is doing with his life, and just how he's lived his life.

Cindy McCain

black husband parent

If you really want to see change, and have change, you're going to have to get involved.

Cindy McCain

involved get-involved want

I would continue to do the things that I do. I'd get into the field and work, and be an example to other people that you can't rely on the government to be the answer to everything.

Cindy McCain

government fields people

I have very distinct things that I like. I have very distinct opinions. Just because I choose to be a little less overt out on the campaign [trail] doesn't mean I'm anything less than very opinionated and very intelligent.

Cindy McCain

intelligent littles mean

I think Americans are good-hearted, open-minded people and race doesn't enter into this - at all.

Cindy McCain

race people thinking

The secret to a happy marriage is patience and honesty. I really mean that. You have to be patient, you have to be open, and you also have to be available for criticism, too.

Cindy McCain

honesty secret mean

I did learn a great deal about my husband but I also learned something about myself: I made a wise choice. I think he's a good man.

Cindy McCain

husband wise men

I think security is a big issue for people.

Cindy McCain

issues people thinking

BlackBerrys are a wonderful tool. I'm very tenacious about keeping up with my kids, as they are with me.

Cindy McCain

tools wonderful kids

Gweneth Paltrow is a joke. Her life is like taking bullets for a soldier. What a joke! My 2 sons serving in the military should talk to her.

Cindy McCain

military soldier son