--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [President Obama] made so many promises…" description: "\"[President Obama] made so many promises. We thought that he was going to be -- I shouldn't say this at Christmastime -- but the next messiah.\" — Barbar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/barbara-walters-7622_free-speech_president-obama-made-so-many-promises-we_2348903.jpg" --- # \[President Obama\] made so many promises. We thought that… ![“[President Obama] made so many promises. We thought that he was going to be -- I shouldn't say this at Christmastime -- but the next messiah.” quote by Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/barbara-walters-7622_free-speech_president-obama-made-so-many-promises-we_2348903.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/barbara-walters-7622_free-speech_president-obama-made-so-many-promises-we_2348903.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/barbara-walters-7622_free-speech_president-obama-made-so-many-promises-we_2348903.jpg) > “\[President Obama\] made so many promises. We thought that he was going to be -- I shouldn't say this at Christmastime -- but the next messiah.” [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Promises can be lofty, but reality often falls short, creating disillusionment. **In simple terms:** Promises may not be kept. Key Takeaway Manage expectations realistically. Themes politics trust disappointment Mood skeptical critical Type analytical journalistic When to use this quote - election campaigns - policy debates - media analysis Key Concepts cynicism public expectation Questions to Reflect On - Do you trust political promises? - How do you verify claims? A Different Perspective Overpromising erodes credibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Free speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-speech/) [Ideology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideology/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Messiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messiah/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) [Promises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promises/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Voting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting/) ## Related quotes > [I think the best thing we can do is sell that idea of smaller government - of fiscal responsibility vs. the Obama record. Obama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-mourdock/i-think-the-best-thing-we-can-do-is-sell-that-idea-of-smaller/) [Richard Mourdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-mourdock/) > [I hate making promises that I thought I could keep like making plans,but then at the last minute being told that I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-making-promises-that-i-thought-i-could-keep-like-making-plans/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Just sleep here.” At my sharp look he laughs. “I’ll take the floor, and I’ll get you to your job on time. I promise.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-hellisen/just-sleep-here-at-my-sharp-look-he-laughs-i-ll-take-the-floor-and-i/) [Cat Hellisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-hellisen/) > [I don't think I can stand any more of Obama's empty promises. He has done NOTHING for this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-think-i-can-stand-any-more-of-obama-s-empty-promises-he-has/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A lot of people in 2008 voted for Obama. I did not vote for him. I voted for a third party. But I believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/a-lot-of-people-in-2008-voted-for-obama-i-did-not-vote-for-him-i-2/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [“We do not know this Messiah solely through the red letters in the gospel texts. We know him in his fullness because we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tish-harrison-warren/we-do-not-know-this-messiah-solely-through-the-red-letters-in-the/) [Tish Harrison Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tish-harrison-warren/) > [Many even see in Obama a messiah-like figure, a great soul, and some affectionately call him Mahatma Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-sharma/many-even-see-in-obama-a-messiah-like-figure-a-great-soul-and-some/) Dinesh Sharma > [“I do not worship a DEAD and buried Christ at Calvary. I worship a ressurected and LIVING Christ in Heaven! Jesus Christ is alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/i-do-not-worship-a-dead-and-buried-christ-at-calvary-i-worship-a/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [As I read, my suspicion that Jesus might really be the Messiah was confirmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-i-read-my-suspicion-that-jesus-might-really-be-the-messiah-was/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I argue that the Jesus of the Gospels is essentially a myth. The Gospels are largely fiction. 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In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reza-aslan/despite-two-millennia-of-christian-apologetics-the-fact-is-that/) [Reza Aslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reza-aslan/) > [I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone! The Savior, yes the Messiah, the Lord has been born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/i-bring-you-the-most-joyful-news-ever-announced-and-it-is-for/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the Messiah?" "No," answered Buddha. "Then are you a healer?" "No," Buddha replied. "Then are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-of-his-students-asked-buddha-are-you-the-messiah-no-answered/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) ## More by Barbara Walters > [Wait for those unguarded moments. Relax the mood and, like the child dropping off to sleep, the subject often reveals his truest self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/wait-for-those-unguarded-moments-relax-the-mood-and-like-the-child/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [When you're interviewing someone, you're in control. When you're being interviewed, you think you're in control, but you're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/when-you-re-interviewing-someone-you-re-in-control-when-you-re-being/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [ \[On being indecisive and changeable:\] On my gravestone I want inscribed: 'On the other hand, maybe I should have lived. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/on-being-indecisive-and-changeable-on-my-gravestone-i-want-inscribed/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [I was the kind nobody thought could make it. I had a funny Boston accent. I couldn't pronounce my R's. I wasn't a beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/i-was-the-kind-nobody-thought-could-make-it-i-had-a-funny-boston/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [ A man cannot be comfortable \[or cannot be made comfortable\] without his own approval. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/a-man-cannot-be-comfortable-or-cannot-be-made-comfortable-without-his/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [But for Muslims, everything that they don't have on earth is what they get in heaven. They can drink, they can have sex. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/but-for-muslims-everything-that-they-don-t-have-on-earth-is-what-they/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [Motherhood is tough. If you just want a wonderful little creature to love, you can get a puppy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/motherhood-is-tough-if-you-just-want-a-wonderful-little-creature-to/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [And I really do believe that the most important thing is the way you live your life on earth. But I think it's enormously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/and-i-really-do-believe-that-the-most-important-thing-is-the-way-you/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [If it's a woman it's caustic, if it's a man it's authority, If it's a woman it's too pushy, if it's a man it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/if-it-s-a-woman-it-s-caustic-if-it-s-a-man-it-s-authority-if-it-s-a/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [I was trying to do everything I possibly could,up until this morning, when I was betrayed, to protect her. 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Fight the big fights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/just-do-your-job-get-in-early-stay-late-and-don-t-complain-fight-the/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [I think most working relationships could benefit by excluding personal matters from the office chatter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/i-think-most-working-relationships-could-benefit-by-excluding/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [Don't confuse being stimulating with being blunt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/don-t-confuse-being-stimulating-with-being-blunt/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [Après ski is my favorite sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/apr-s-ski-is-my-favorite-sport/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [I have affected the way women are regarded, and that's important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/i-have-affected-the-way-women-are-regarded-and-that-s-important-to-me/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) [Explore all 89 Barbara Walters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) ## More Free speech quotes > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. 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No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/when-lehman-brothers-collapsed-on-september-15-2008-and-inaugurated/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [The right to free speech is important but it isn't as important as 'we're all human beings together, let's find solutions together.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/the-right-to-free-speech-is-important-but-it-isn-t-as-important-as-we/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [“It struck me that there is a reason James Madison put freedom of speech and freedom of the press in the very first amendment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-karl/it-struck-me-that-there-is-a-reason-james-madison-put-freedom-of/) [Jonathan Karl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-karl/) > [“On the one hand, freedom of speech guarantees a lack of freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/on-the-one-hand-freedom-of-speech-guarantees-a-lack-of-freedom/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) > [“The tendency to want what has been banned and therefore to presume that it is more worthwhile is not limited to such commodities as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-cialdini/the-tendency-to-want-what-has-been-banned-and-therefore-to-presume/) [Robert B. Cialdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-cialdini/) > [Free speech underpins our democratic society and our universities have a long and proud history of being places where students and academics can express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-williamson/free-speech-underpins-our-democratic-society-and-our-universities/) [Gavin Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-williamson/) > [Heresy is only another word for freedom of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/heresy-is-only-another-word-for-freedom-of-thought/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [Maybe we need a tax credit for the poorest Americans to buy a laptop. 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