--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can't in any way criticize or at least…" description: "\"We can't in any way criticize or at least indict or impeach administration [of Democratic presidents] for doing what they did.\" — Barack Obama" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/barack-obama-17_administration_we-can-t-in-any-way-criticize-or-at-leas_668399.jpg" --- # We can't in any way criticize or at least indict or… ![“We can't in any way criticize or at least indict or impeach administration [of Democratic presidents] for doing what they did.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/barack-obama-17_administration_we-can-t-in-any-way-criticize-or-at-leas_668399.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/barack-obama-17_administration_we-can-t-in-any-way-criticize-or-at-leas_668399.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/barack-obama-17_administration_we-can-t-in-any-way-criticize-or-at-leas_668399.jpg) > “We can't in any way criticize or at least indict or impeach administration \[of Democratic presidents\] for doing what they did.” [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 argues against criticizing or impeaching Democratic presidents for their actions, suggesting restraint. **In simple terms:** Calls for restraint in political criticism. Key Takeaway Consider fairness before condemnation. Themes politics accountability restraint Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical cautionary When to use this quote - debates on impeachment - media commentary - legislative oversight Key Concepts democratic norms political ethics Questions to Reflect On - When is criticism justified? - How to hold leaders accountable without partisan bias? A Different Perspective Political criticism can be partisan and unproductive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) ## Related quotes > [ FDR, JFK, LBJ \[all Democratic presidents \] we have a pretty long list of presidents who maybe were not entirely forthcoming with intelligence information… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/fdr-jfk-lbj-all-democratic-presidents-we-have-a-pretty-long-list-of/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Obama administration and the Democratic Congress have taken the biggest lurch to the left in policy in American history. There've been no -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-barbour/the-obama-administration-and-the-democratic-congress-have-taken-the/) [Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-barbour/) > [I am far more concerned about policies of the Democratic administration and Democratic Party that infringe on the rights of religious institutions and practices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-i-jenkins/i-am-far-more-concerned-about-policies-of-the-democratic/) [John I. Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-i-jenkins/) > [Ethics knows no party. Those rules should be applied the same in a Republican administration and a Democratic administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/ethics-knows-no-party-those-rules-should-be-applied-the-same-in-a/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [Republican presidents talk about freedom. Democratic presidents talk about equality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/republican-presidents-talk-about-freedom-democratic-presidents-talk/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [Obama does not need to worry as much as past Democratic presidents about being labeled soft on national security - not after giving the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/obama-does-not-need-to-worry-as-much-as-past-democratic-presidents/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [Here is a pretty good rule of thumb for Democratic Presidents: if it didn't work for Franklin D. Roosevelt, who won four terms and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/here-is-a-pretty-good-rule-of-thumb-for-democratic-presidents-if-it/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [Since the emergence of the Republican Party, only two Democratic presidents, Franklin Roosevelt and John Kennedy, have been followed by Democrats, and both FDR…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/since-the-emergence-of-the-republican-party-only-two-democratic/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [Well, I've worked with Republican presidents, obviously, and Democratic presidents since I've had the privilege to remain as mayor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-faulconer/well-i-ve-worked-with-republican-presidents-obviously-and-democratic/) [Kevin Faulconer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-faulconer/) > [Ever since his inauguration, President Trump's political opponents have been pushing to impeach him. They just hadn't found the right excuse. In other words,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharyl-attkisson/ever-since-his-inauguration-president-trump-s-political-opponents/) [Sharyl Attkisson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharyl-attkisson/) > [I think one of the plans the Never Trumpers have if Donald Trump wins is to impeach him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-think-one-of-the-plans-the-never-trumpers-have-if-donald-trump-wins/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The same Republicans who had threatened to impeach Hillary Clinton remained silent when, immediately after his surprise victory, Trump refused to abide by laws…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-cox-richardson/the-same-republicans-who-had-threatened-to-impeach-hillary-clinton/) [Heather Cox Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-cox-richardson/) > [Impeach the President and the Vice President, they are traitors to America, and so are all of their supporters. Impeach! Anyone in congress who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/impeach-the-president-and-the-vice-president-they-are-traitors-to/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [I won't impeach anybody the way they impeached Bill Clinton, for political reasons. No matter how much I don't like his politics, I won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-capuano/i-won-t-impeach-anybody-the-way-they-impeached-bill-clinton-for/) [Michael Capuano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-capuano/) > [Let them impeach and be damned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-johnson/let-them-impeach-and-be-damned/) [Andrew Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-johnson/) ## 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 Administration quotes > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you want to serve in a Trump administration, you're going to serve this country, not yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-spicer/if-you-want-to-serve-in-a-trump-administration-you-re-going-to-serve/) [Sean Spicer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-spicer/) > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [I don't believe anyone that I know in the administration ever said that Iraq had nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/i-don-t-believe-anyone-that-i-know-in-the-administration-ever-said/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [What was unique about me being in City Hall during the Giuliani Administration, I was the only one who wasn't an attorney. I may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/what-was-unique-about-me-being-in-city-hall-during-the-giuliani/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [The Trump administration launched the cruise missile strikes in Syria, an act of war, without a U.N. resolution or Congressional authorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-trump-administration-launched-the-cruise-missile-strikes-in-syria/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The only way I'll ever run a marathon is if I'm involved in the administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/the-only-way-i-ll-ever-run-a-marathon-is-if-i-m-involved-in-the/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [Obama spent the first two years of his administration practicing political unilateral disarmament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/obama-spent-the-first-two-years-of-his-administration-practicing/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [The actions of the University in my case make it abundantly clear that the Administration's rhetoric about Harvard's desire to attract and retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/the-actions-of-the-university-in-my-case-make-it-abundantly-clear/) [Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/) > [In mid-May, the House of Representatives approved the full amount of money that the Veterans Administration said was needed for next year - plus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-hastings/in-mid-may-the-house-of-representatives-approved-the-full-amount-of/) [Doc Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-hastings/) > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [When we criticize in Iran the actions of the government, the fundamentalists say that we and the Bush Administration are in the same camp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/when-we-criticize-in-iran-the-actions-of-the-government-the/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [We will finally complete the biometric entry-exit visa tracking system, which we need desperately. For years Congress has required biometric entry-exit visa tracking systems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-finally-complete-the-biometric-entry-exit-visa-tracking/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) [Browse all 1,855 Administration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We can't in any way criticize or at least indict or impeach administration [of Democratic presidents] for doing what they did.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barack Obama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-can-t-in-any-way-criticize-or-at-least-indict-or-impeach/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Administration" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-can-t-in-any-way-criticize-or-at-least-indict-or-impeach/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/barack-obama-17_administration_we-can-t-in-any-way-criticize-or-at-leas_668399.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/barack-obama-17_administration_we-can-t-in-any-way-criticize-or-at-leas_668399.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/barack-obama-17_administration_we-can-t-in-any-way-criticize-or-at-leas_668399.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We can't in any way criticize or at least indict or impeach administration [of Democratic presidents] for…” — 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": "We can't in any way criticize...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-can-t-in-any-way-criticize-or-at-least-indict-or-impeach/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-can-t-in-any-way-criticize-or-at-least-indict-or-impeach/#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 } } ] } ```