Bipartisan Quote by Barack Obama
“The programs that have been discussed over the last couple days in the press are secret in the sense that they are classified but they are not secret in the sense that when it comes to phone calls every member of Congress has been briefed on this program. With respect to all these programs the relevant intelligence committees are fully briefed on these programs. These are programs that have been authorized by broad bipartisan majorities repeatedly since 2006.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Press Briefing on National Security, 2015
Classified programs are known to Congress members and intelligence committees, despite being secret to the public.
In simple terms: Officials are briefed on secret programs; the public isn’t.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the gap between public knowledge and classified briefings.
Themes
government
transparency
security
politics
Mood
informative
critical
Type
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- media reporting
- citizen advocacy
- legislative hearings
Key Concepts
classified information
oversight
public trust
Questions to Reflect On
- Should citizens demand more transparency?
- How can oversight be strengthened?
A Different Perspective
Public may distrust secrecy, limiting accountability.
![“That is another theme in the book [Dreams from My Father]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we get the black to see through the eyes of the white? Or the citizen to see through the eyes of the immigrant? Or the straight to see through the eyes of the gay? That has…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00d/barack-obama-17_black_that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams_10185.jpg)
