--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yesterday, John McCain actually said that…" description: "\"Yesterday, John McCain actually said that if he's president that he'll take on, and I quote, 'the old boys network in Washington.' Now I'm not making t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/barack-obama-17_boys_yesterday-john-mccain-actually-said-that_2687107.jpg" --- # Yesterday, John McCain actually said that if he's… ![“Yesterday, John McCain actually said that if he's president that he'll take on, and I quote, 'the old boys network in Washington.' Now I'm not making this up. This is somebody who's been in Congress for twenty-six years, who put seven of the most powerful Washington lobbyists in charge of his…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/barack-obama-17_boys_yesterday-john-mccain-actually-said-that_2687107.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/barack-obama-17_boys_yesterday-john-mccain-actually-said-that_2687107.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/barack-obama-17_boys_yesterday-john-mccain-actually-said-that_2687107.jpg) > “Yesterday, John McCain actually said that if he's president that he'll take on, and I quote, 'the old boys network in Washington.' Now I'm not making this up. This is somebody who's been in Congress for twenty-six years, who put seven of the most powerful Washington lobbyists in charge of his campaign. And now he tells us that he's the one who's gonna' to take on the old boys network. The old boys network? In the McCain campaign that's called a staff meeting. Come, on!” [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. A politician claims to fight entrenched power, yet his own actions reflect the same system he criticizes. **In simple terms:** He says he'll fight the old boys but is part of it. Key Takeaway Beware of hypocrisy. Themes politics integrity power structures Mood skeptical critical Type political analytical When to use this quote - campaign strategy - policy reform - organizational change Key Concepts ethics leadership Questions to Reflect On - Is his critique genuine? - How can one truly challenge entrenched networks? A Different Perspective His claim may be rhetorical, not actionable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Campaigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaigns/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Lobbyists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lobbyists/) [Meetings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meetings/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Twenties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twenties/) [Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday/) ## Related quotes > [The institution of the family has very few friends in Washington. There are lobbyists in Washington for every possible entity, from the possum-growers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/the-institution-of-the-family-has-very-few-friends-in-washington/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) > [I represent poor people, I represent working people. I represent senior citizens. I represent family businesses. I represent people who don't have the wherewithal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-broun/i-represent-poor-people-i-represent-working-people-i-represent-senior/) [Paul Broun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-broun/) > [I took a lot of heat from Republicans when I stepped out of John McCain's campaign after the 2008 primaries. I still supported McCain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/i-took-a-lot-of-heat-from-republicans-when-i-stepped-out-of-john/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [It is about something personal and specific, because when the John McCain campaign in 2008 decided to elevate Sarah Palin from total obscurity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/it-is-about-something-personal-and-specific-because-when-the-john/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [I'm very disappointed with the McCain campaign. In my opinion, it was inept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-broun/i-m-very-disappointed-with-the-mccain-campaign-in-my-opinion-it-was/) [Paul Broun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-broun/) > [Sarah Palin lacked the preparation or temperament to be one heartbeat away from the presidency, but what she possessed in abundance was the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/sarah-palin-lacked-the-preparation-or-temperament-to-be-one-heartbeat/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [The Sarah Palin choice both its timing and the fact that it was her, it was really an audacious strategic move by the McCain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-sarah-palin-choice-both-its-timing-and-the-fact-that-it-was-her/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [It's not because John McCain doesn't care. 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My differences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-honor-we-honor-the-service-of-john-mccain-and-i-respect-his-many/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ I don't take a dime of their \[lobbyist\] money, and when I am president, they won't find a job in my White House. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-don-t-take-a-dime-of-their-lobbyist-money-and-when-i-am-president/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Let's not play games. I was suggesting - you're absolutely right that John McCain has not talked about my Muslim faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/let-s-not-play-games-i-was-suggesting-you-re-absolutely-right-that/) [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 \[Dreams from My Father\]. 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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 Boys quotes > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [Lets face it this world is ruled by girls that why we must away pleases our girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrawesome/lets-face-it-this-world-is-ruled-by-girls-that-why-we-must-away/) MrAwesome > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. 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