--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is what I would call old politics…" description: "\"This is what I would call old politics. This is the stuff we're trying to get rid of. Because the problem is, when we start breaking down into conserva..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/barack-obama-17_breaking-down_this-is-what-i-would-call-old-politics-t_1562059.jpg" --- # This is what I would call old politics. This is the stuff… ![“This is what I would call old politics. This is the stuff we're trying to get rid of. Because the problem is, when we start breaking down into conservative and liberal, and we've got a bunch of set predispositions, whether it's on gun control, or its' on health care, any attempt to do health care…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/barack-obama-17_breaking-down_this-is-what-i-would-call-old-politics-t_1562059.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/barack-obama-17_breaking-down_this-is-what-i-would-call-old-politics-t_1562059.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/barack-obama-17_breaking-down_this-is-what-i-would-call-old-politics-t_1562059.jpg) > “This is what I would call old politics. This is the stuff we're trying to get rid of. Because the problem is, when we start breaking down into conservative and liberal, and we've got a bunch of set predispositions, whether it's on gun control, or its' on health care, any attempt to do health care is socialized medicine.” [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. He criticizes entrenched partisan politics that hinder pragmatic solutions, especially in healthcare and gun control. **In simple terms:** Partisan politics block practical reforms. Key Takeaway Seek common ground beyond party labels. Themes politics partisanship policy healthcare gun control Mood frustrated determined critical Type political analytical When to use this quote - legislative negotiations - community health initiatives - bipartisan committees Key Concepts polarization ideological rigidity policy stagnation Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster cross‑party collaboration? - What incentives reduce ideological rigidity? A Different Perspective Compromise may be seen as betrayal by core supporters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breaking down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking-down/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Gun control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun-control/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Health care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-care/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Socialized medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socialized-medicine/) ## Related quotes > [I don't know why anyone would want to do that politics stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/i-don-t-know-why-anyone-would-want-to-do-that-politics-stuff/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [I think we should all focus on who we are, what we want to do, and do it. That is my way. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/i-think-we-should-all-focus-on-who-we-are-what-we-want-to-do-and-do/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [With Barack Obama, we will turn the page on the old politics of misrepresentation and distortion. With Barack Obama we will close the book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/with-barack-obama-we-will-turn-the-page-on-the-old-politics-of-2/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [People in Israel are sick and tired of the old politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-lapid/people-in-israel-are-sick-and-tired-of-the-old-politics/) [Yair Lapid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-lapid/) > [With Barack Obama, we will turn the page on the old politics of misrepresentation and distortion. With Barack Obama we will close the book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/with-barack-obama-we-will-turn-the-page-on-the-old-politics-of/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [“Every now and then you have to get away from that ugly Old Politics trip, or it will drive you to kicking the walls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/every-now-and-then-you-have-to-get-away-from-that-ugly-old-politics/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [I think our basic principle that this is a free market system and that that has worked for us, that it creates innovation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-our-basic-principle-that-this-is-a-free-market-system-and/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Our tired, old politics is tearing at the seams. The Lib Dems have returned to their local roots, just as a more pluralist politics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layla-moran/our-tired-old-politics-is-tearing-at-the-seams-the-lib-dems-have/) [Layla Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layla-moran/) > [If people, whether they are conservative or liberal, left or right, are unwilling to compromise and engage in the democratic process, and are taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/if-people-whether-they-are-conservative-or-liberal-left-or-right-are/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [It is very important for I think those of us who desperately want peace, who see war as, at some level, a break-down, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-is-very-important-for-i-think-those-of-us-who-desperately-want/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [You have to exercise, or at some point you'll just break down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/you-have-to-exercise-or-at-some-point-you-ll-just-break-down/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [When we don't pay close attention to the decisions made by our leaders, when we fail to educate ourselves about the major issues of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/when-we-don-t-pay-close-attention-to-the-decisions-made-by-our-2/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Ultimately, peace is just not about politics. It's about attitudes; about a sense of empathy; about breaking down the divisions that we create for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/ultimately-peace-is-just-not-about-politics-it-s-about-attitudes/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The United States does not have a monopoly on crazy people. It's not the only country that has psychosis. And yet we kill each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-united-states-does-not-have-a-monopoly-on-crazy-people-it-s-not/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“But for a younger generation of conservative operatives who would soon rise to power... They were true believers who meant what they said, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/but-for-a-younger-generation-of-conservative-operatives-who-would/) [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 Breaking down quotes > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/look-at-music-for-what-it-s-worth-around-the-world-and-not-just/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Everything was so designed by Hannibal to break down Will in the first season, until Will's sanity became questionable. It's so much easier to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-fuller/everything-was-so-designed-by-hannibal-to-break-down-will-in-the/) [Bryan Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-fuller/) > [I think the older you get, you start to break down the myth and you get to the dirt of it - and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jena-malone/i-think-the-older-you-get-you-start-to-break-down-the-myth-and-you/) [Jena Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jena-malone/) > [Now is the time to take stock of a painful part of our history. Only then can we move past it. Anything less would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perry-bellegarde/now-is-the-time-to-take-stock-of-a-painful-part-of-our-history-only/) [Perry Bellegarde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perry-bellegarde/) > [Stories set in the Culture in which Things Went Wrong tended to start with humans losing or forgetting or deliberately leaving behind their terminal.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stories-set-in-the-culture-in-which-things-went-wrong-tended-to-start/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't know how to fix a car. If the car breaks down, and the gas tank does not say "E", I'm screwed. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-know-how-to-fix-a-car-if-the-car-breaks-down-and-the-gas-tank/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [You need to understand plant chemistry, be inured to discomfort and awesomely flexible. When something breaks down-the plane, the boat, you just have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kilham/you-need-to-understand-plant-chemistry-be-inured-to-discomfort-and/) [Chris Kilham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kilham/) > [Hey, a guy can hope. I mean, it’s not impossible that a car full of scantily clad sorority girls might break down outside and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/hey-a-guy-can-hope-i-mean-it-s-not-impossible-that-a-car-full-of/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [I see ... a pile of skulls and bones. For the first time since my arrival, what I see before me is too painful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dith-pran/i-see-a-pile-of-skulls-and-bones-for-the-first-time-since-my-arrival/) [Dith Pran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dith-pran/) > [When in some communities selling drugs is so lucrative that that's a pretty big enticement that we have to break down. Part of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-gonzalez/when-in-some-communities-selling-drugs-is-so-lucrative-that-that-s-a/) [Matt Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-gonzalez/) > [People used to make their own clothes, now they buy clothes. People used to take care of their own kids, now they pay other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/people-used-to-make-their-own-clothes-now-they-buy-clothes-people/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [If - and it can be in a movie or in a department store - I hear someone arguing with their child, I break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/if-and-it-can-be-in-a-movie-or-in-a-department-store-i-hear-someone/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [Even the alleged benefits of war, so far as more than alleged, spring from the fact that conflict of peoples at least enforces intercourse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/even-the-alleged-benefits-of-war-so-far-as-more-than-alleged-spring/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [That is the key to history. Terrific energy is expended - civilizations are built up - excellent institutions devised; but each time something goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/that-is-the-key-to-history-terrific-energy-is-expended-civilizations/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) [Browse all 493 Breaking down quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking-down/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This is what I would call old politics. This is the stuff we're trying to get rid of. Because the problem is, when we start breaking down into conservative and liberal, and we've got a bunch of set predispositions, whether it's on gun control, or its' on health care, any attempt to do health care is socialized medicine.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barack Obama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/this-is-what-i-would-call-old-politics-this-is-the-stuff-we-re-trying/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Breaking down" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/this-is-what-i-would-call-old-politics-this-is-the-stuff-we-re-trying/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/barack-obama-17_breaking-down_this-is-what-i-would-call-old-politics-t_1562059.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/barack-obama-17_breaking-down_this-is-what-i-would-call-old-politics-t_1562059.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/barack-obama-17_breaking-down_this-is-what-i-would-call-old-politics-t_1562059.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This is what I would call old politics. This is the stuff we're trying to get rid of. Because the problem…” — 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": "This is what I would call...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/this-is-what-i-would-call-old-politics-this-is-the-stuff-we-re-trying/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/this-is-what-i-would-call-old-politics-this-is-the-stuff-we-re-trying/#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 } } ] } ```