---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Losing the PR battles, particularly about…"
description: "\"Losing the PR battles, particularly about healthcare, translated into losing his Democratic majorities in Congress, beginning with a Republican landsli..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/barack-obama-17_battle_losing-the-pr-battles-particularly-about_1210874.jpg"
---

#  Losing the PR battles, particularly about healthcare…

![“Losing the PR battles, particularly about healthcare, translated into losing his Democratic majorities in Congress, beginning with a Republican landslide in the midterm election of 2010.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/barack-obama-17_battle_losing-the-pr-battles-particularly-about_1210874.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/barack-obama-17_battle_losing-the-pr-battles-particularly-about_1210874.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/barack-obama-17_battle_losing-the-pr-battles-particularly-about_1210874.jpg)

> “Losing the PR battles, particularly about healthcare, translated into losing his Democratic majorities in Congress, beginning with a Republican landslide in the midterm election of 2010.”

[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.

Political setbacks in policy battles can erode party control, leading to electoral losses.

**In simple terms:** Losing policy fights can cost political power.

Key Takeaway

Focus on building consensus before elections.

Themes

politics elections policy party dynamics

Mood

concerned strategic

Type

political analytical

When to use this quote

- midterm elections
- healthcare reform debates
- party leadership contests

Key Concepts

public opinion legislative strategy campaign tactics

Questions to Reflect On

- How can leaders rebuild majority after a defeat?
- What strategies protect party control during contentious policy fights?

A Different Perspective

Counterpoint: Strong grassroots support can mitigate losses despite policy defeats.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Healthcare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healthcare/) [Landslide Midterm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/landslide-midterm-3668845/) [Landslides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/landslides/) [Losing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing/) [Losing Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing-democratic-3190299/) [Losing Pr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing-pr-3668844/) [Majorities Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majorities-congress-2206297/) [Majority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majority/) [Midterm elections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/midterm-elections/) [Midterms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/midterms/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) [Republican Landslide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican-landslide-3668843/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

## Related quotes

> [Britain, which in the years immediately before this war was rapidly losing such democratic virtues as it possessed, is now being bombed and burned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/britain-which-in-the-years-immediately-before-this-war-was-rapidly/)

[J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/)

> [Elect us, hold us accountable, and make a judgment and then go from there. But I do tell you that if the Democrats win,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/elect-us-hold-us-accountable-and-make-a-judgment-and-then-go-from/)

[Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/)

> [You have to be involved during midterm elections, you have to care about what happens at a school board level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/you-have-to-be-involved-during-midterm-elections-you-have-to-care/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Like a lot of people, I'm interested in public service and want to do as much as I can to change the direction of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thune/like-a-lot-of-people-i-m-interested-in-public-service-and-want-to-do/)

[John Thune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thune/)

> [Now that the midterm elections are over, President Obama has invited congressional leaders from both parties to a meeting at the White House tomorrow.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/now-that-the-midterm-elections-are-over-president-obama-has-invited/)

[Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/)

> [Legislators could easily be out-voted if people voted in midterm elections. The fact that we don't talk about all this stuff \[ abortion rights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/legislators-could-easily-be-out-voted-if-people-voted-in-midterm/)

[Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/)

> [All about midterm elections is turnouts. And turnout is measured by enthusiasm, intensity, how interested are people. And President Obama - candidate Obama had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/all-about-midterm-elections-is-turnouts-and-turnout-is-measured-by/)

[Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/)

> [You can't be too right too soon and win elections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-romney/you-can-t-be-too-right-too-soon-and-win-elections/)

[George W. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-romney/)

> [I am voting in the midterm elections because I believe that when people engage with their local government, it reminds those placed in power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/i-am-voting-in-the-midterm-elections-because-i-believe-that-when/)

[Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/)

> [By their nature, midterm elections favor the out-of-power-party. Its voters tend to be more motivated to show up and swing voters are more likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kornacki/by-their-nature-midterm-elections-favor-the-out-of-power-party-its/)

[Steve Kornacki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kornacki/)

> [ I think that \[Barack Obama\] does say something that's - that is telling on that score, when he talks about the \[George W.\] Bush… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/i-think-that-barack-obama-does-say-something-that-s-that-is-telling/)

[Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/)

> [Kim Kardashian tweeted that she is supporting President Obama in the midterm elections. I think it worked because all of the polls are predicting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/kim-kardashian-tweeted-that-she-is-supporting-president-obama-in-the/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [Being clueless and out of touch is not a recipe for success at the midterm elections. But that only matters if you care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/being-clueless-and-out-of-touch-is-not-a-recipe-for-success-at-the/)

[Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/)

> [Tomorrow is Election Day. It's what they call the midterm elections, and you can cut the indifference with a knife. It's the day Americans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/tomorrow-is-election-day-it-s-what-they-call-the-midterm-elections/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [The Democrats do fine in presidential elections; their problem is they can't get out the vote in the midterm elections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/the-democrats-do-fine-in-presidential-elections-their-problem-is-they/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

## 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 Battle quotes

> [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/)

[Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/)

> [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/)

[Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/)

> [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/)

[Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/)

> [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/)

[Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/)

> [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/)

[Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/)

> [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/)

[Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/)

> [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/)

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

> [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/)

[Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/)

> [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/)

[Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/)

> [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/)

[Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/)

> [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/)

[Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/)

> [It's almost ironic sitting here watching stories about Norm's courageous 'battle' with cancer. He actually did a bit on stage about how stupid that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/it-s-almost-ironic-sitting-here-watching-stories-about-norm-s/)

[Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/)

> [“Other folk thought the Rage was simple bloodlust, a berserk savagery that neither knew nor cared what its target was, and so it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weber/other-folk-thought-the-rage-was-simple-bloodlust-a-berserk-savagery/)

[David Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weber/)

> [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/)

[Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/)

> [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/)

[Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/)

[Browse all 4,526 Battle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Losing the PR battles, particularly about healthcare, translated into losing his Democratic majorities in Congress, beginning with a Republican landslide in the midterm election of 2010.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Barack Obama"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/losing-the-pr-battles-particularly-about-healthcare-translated-into/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Battle"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/losing-the-pr-battles-particularly-about-healthcare-translated-into/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/barack-obama-17_battle_losing-the-pr-battles-particularly-about_1210874.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/barack-obama-17_battle_losing-the-pr-battles-particularly-about_1210874.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/barack-obama-17_battle_losing-the-pr-battles-particularly-about_1210874.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Losing the PR battles, particularly about healthcare, translated into losing his Democratic majorities in…” — Barack Obama",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Barack Obama",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Losing the PR battles, particularly about...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/losing-the-pr-battles-particularly-about-healthcare-translated-into/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/losing-the-pr-battles-particularly-about-healthcare-translated-into/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
