--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I could never be a politician. But as…" description: "\"I could never be a politician. But as uncomfortable as I would be doing so, I have no problem with Obama's long-planned 'change of heart.' This dude's ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/barack-obama-17_better-off_i-could-never-be-a-politician-but-as-unc_2222604.jpg" --- # I could never be a politician. But as uncomfortable as I… ![“I could never be a politician. But as uncomfortable as I would be doing so, I have no problem with Obama's long-planned 'change of heart.' This dude's made huge, measurable strides for gay rights, and if being coy about his plans for gay marriage for a few years was needed to get him elected, then…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/barack-obama-17_better-off_i-could-never-be-a-politician-but-as-unc_2222604.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/barack-obama-17_better-off_i-could-never-be-a-politician-but-as-unc_2222604.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/barack-obama-17_better-off_i-could-never-be-a-politician-but-as-unc_2222604.jpg) > “I could never be a politician. But as uncomfortable as I would be doing so, I have no problem with Obama's long-planned 'change of heart.' This dude's made huge, measurable strides for gay rights, and if being coy about his plans for gay marriage for a few years was needed to get him elected, then so be it. LGBT persons will be better off, and federal same-sex marriage recognition will come sooner because of it.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker acknowledges political strategy while supporting progress for LGBT rights, suggesting pragmatic compromise can yield positive outcomes. **In simple terms:** Political compromise can advance LGBT rights. Key Takeaway Support progress through pragmatic means. Themes politics LGBT rights pragmatism Mood thoughtful hopeful Type inspirational political When to use this quote - legislative negotiations - advocacy campaigns - public statements Key Concepts social change policy election strategy Questions to Reflect On - Is compromise always beneficial for marginalized groups? - How can leaders balance principle and pragmatism? A Different Perspective It may justify compromising on core values for political gain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change of heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-of-heart/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Gay marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-marriage/) [Gay rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-rights/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Lgbt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lgbt/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Recognition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognition/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Uncomfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncomfortable/) ## Related quotes > [On Hillary Clinton, who was an ardent Goldwater supporter in 1964: 'If he'd let his wife run business, I think he'd be better off.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/on-hillary-clinton-who-was-an-ardent-goldwater-supporter-in-1964-if/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [I have been to this point unwilling to sign on to same-sex marriage primarily because of my understandings of the traditional definitions of marriage.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-have-been-to-this-point-unwilling-to-sign-on-to-same-sex-marriage/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I've just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-ve-just-concluded-that-for-me-personally-it-is-important-for-me-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Every single American - gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual, transgender - every single American deserves to be treated equally in the eyes of the law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/every-single-american-gay-straight-lesbian-bisexual-transgender-every/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We are not a nation that says, 'Don’t ask, don’t tell.' We are a nation that says, 'Out of many, we are one.' We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-are-not-a-nation-that-says-don-t-ask-don-t-tell-we-are-a-nation-2/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I was reminded that it is my obligation not only as an elected official in a pluralistic society, but also as a Christian, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-was-reminded-that-it-is-my-obligation-not-only-as-an-elected/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [If you give up on the idea that your voice can make a difference, then other voices will fill the void: lobbyists and special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/if-you-give-up-on-the-idea-that-your-voice-can-make-a-difference-then-2/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I am a fierce supporter of domestic-partnership and civil-union laws. I am not a supporter of gay marriage as it has been thrown about,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-am-a-fierce-supporter-of-domestic-partnership-and-civil-union-laws/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [When all Americans are treated as equal we are all more free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/when-all-americans-are-treated-as-equal-we-are-all-more-free/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Undecided," while running for re-election to state Senate in 1998, in response to an Outlines questionnaire asking, "Do you favor legalizing same-sex marriage?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/undecided-while-running-for-re-election-to-state-senate-in-1998-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [You're the reason why selfless soldiers won't be kicked out of the military because of who they are or who they love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/you-re-the-reason-why-selfless-soldiers-won-t-be-kicked-out-of-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The government has to treat all citizens equally. I am a strong supporter not of a weak version of civil unions, but of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-government-has-to-treat-all-citizens-equally-i-am-a-strong/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I've called on Congress to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act to help end discrimination to help end discrimination against same-sex couples in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-ve-called-on-congress-to-repeal-the-so-called-defense-of-marriage/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I favor legalizing same-sex marriages, and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-favor-legalizing-same-sex-marriages-and-would-fight-efforts-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. Now, for me as a Christian - for me - for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-believe-that-marriage-is-the-union-between-a-man-and-a-woman-now/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Better off quotes > [Market society is a game where you win by making sure other people are better off with you than without you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schmidtz/market-society-is-a-game-where-you-win-by-making-sure-other-people/) David Schmidtz > [We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are better off than hired laborers amongst us. How little they know, whereof they speak! There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-know-southern-men-declare-that-their-slaves-are-better-off-than/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [When you are poor, you'll have to think of ways to be better off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zong-qinghou/when-you-are-poor-you-ll-have-to-think-of-ways-to-be-better-off/) [Zong Qinghou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zong-qinghou/) > [You're better off owning 30 percent and having two amazing partners who compliment you and are equally as driven as you are than having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-dyrdek/you-re-better-off-owning-30-percent-and-having-two-amazing-partners/) [Rob Dyrdek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-dyrdek/) > [If you’d just center your thoughts and affections upon the Lord, you’d be better off accidentally than you’ve ever been on purpose!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wommack/if-you-d-just-center-your-thoughts-and-affections-upon-the-lord-you-d/) [Andrew Wommack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wommack/) > [24.9 percent of American children live in poverty, while the proportions in Germany, France and Italy are 8.6, 7.4 and 10.5 percent. And once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hutton/24-9-percent-of-american-children-live-in-poverty-while-the/) [Will Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hutton/) > [There definitely was a time when I was pretty obsessed with my weight, but I'm better off not stressing about my body all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-duff/there-definitely-was-a-time-when-i-was-pretty-obsessed-with-my-weight/) [Hilary Duff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-duff/) > [If you're talking about intellectual and social equality for women, we're not much better off.America is still very much a male-dominated society. Most American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalyn-murray-o-hair/if-you-re-talking-about-intellectual-and-social-equality-for-women-we/) [Madalyn Murray O'Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalyn-murray-o-hair/) > [Business runs hot and cold so the more you're in charge of your own destiny, the better off you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/business-runs-hot-and-cold-so-the-more-you-re-in-charge-of-your-own/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [I know that you're better off making your own products, not just waiting for someone to hand you something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-winslow/i-know-that-you-re-better-off-making-your-own-products-not-just/) [Michael Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-winslow/) > [The best calculation is the absence of calculation. Once you have attained a certain level of recognition, others generally figure that when you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/the-best-calculation-is-the-absence-of-calculation-once-you-have/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [I applaud the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act. This was discrimination enshrined in law. It treated loving, committed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-applaud-the-supreme-court-s-decision-to-strike-down-the-defense-of/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [It's like a rugby team. If you're picking for the World Cup final, you're picking experience with youth. Everything is better off having that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-william/it-s-like-a-rugby-team-if-you-re-picking-for-the-world-cup-final-you/) [Prince William](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-william/) > [The sooner we get started with alternative energy sources and recognize that fossil fuels makes us less secure as a nation, and more dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/the-sooner-we-get-started-with-alternative-energy-sources-and/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [ Any small business owner wears many hats. We \[New View Window Cleaning\] are the salesman, bookkeeper, scheduler, cleaner, customer complaint department, etc. If you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/any-small-business-owner-wears-many-hats-we-new-view-window-cleaning/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) Browse all 465 Better off quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I could never be a politician. But as uncomfortable as I would be doing so, I have no problem with Obama's long-planned 'change of heart.' This dude's made huge, measurable strides for gay rights, and if being coy about his plans for gay marriage for a few years was needed to get him elected, then so be it. 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