And the way he talks about it, in settings that surround him with minorities and language that focuses on what the federal government can and should do to help disadvantaged children in particular, seeks to contradict the harsh impressions of Republican leaders that many voters have developed.
Hafez al-Assad, who was president of Syria until 2000 when he died and his son took over, is quoted for an entire section, offering harsh impressions of Israel, including the opinion that it "initiated the 1967 war in order to take even more Arab land".
Ronald L. Kuby, a civil rights lawyer who has represented clients shot and handcuffed by the police, said the practice could leave an impression of harsh treatment, even when a shooting was justified.
Their passionate appeal to end harsh interrogations "made an extraordinary impression on me," he said.
Still, its omission has invigorated critics, in and out of government, who have long contended that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party manipulates economic data for political reasons, papering over harsh realities to create the impression that the economy is recovering from its prolonged malaise.
"Looking to correct an impression that his harsh criticism of the ordinance protecting convicted legislators from losing their seats belittled Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Mr Gandhi heaped praise on Singh, calling him one of two gurus in his life," reports The Times of India.
A harsh, short gliss gives the impression of anger and reproach.
Jennifer Platek, 35, of Weston, who attended Father Bietighofer's Bible study classes, said his harsh tone sometimes gave people the impression that he was angry.
Mr. Resig, 28, came away from the Armory Show with a similar impression, finding it "a little harsh".
Like most of Mr. Johnson's confessions, this one suggested a granite exterior, against which only the harshest tide of feeling ever manages to make an impression.
"Stereotypical impressions are created, that Iran is a harsh place where people struggle for the smallest things in life, where children are prematurely turned into adults," Mr. Naficy said.
