--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In 2008, many Democrats and Republicans…" description: "\"In 2008, many Democrats and Republicans believed Hillary Clinton to be a responsible public leader - a firm hand on the wheel, experienced in matters o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/ben-domenech-4128_barack-obama_in-2008-many-democrats-and-republicans-b_1602917.jpg" --- # In 2008, many Democrats and Republicans believed Hillary… ![“In 2008, many Democrats and Republicans believed Hillary Clinton to be a responsible public leader - a firm hand on the wheel, experienced in matters of diplomacy, conflict, and national interest. The 3 A.M. phone call was a question mark with Barack Obama, but not for Hillary Clinton.” quote by Ben Domenech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/ben-domenech-4128_barack-obama_in-2008-many-democrats-and-republicans-b_1602917.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/ben-domenech-4128_barack-obama_in-2008-many-democrats-and-republicans-b_1602917.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/ben-domenech-4128_barack-obama_in-2008-many-democrats-and-republicans-b_1602917.jpg) > “In 2008, many Democrats and Republicans believed Hillary Clinton to be a responsible public leader - a firm hand on the wheel, experienced in matters of diplomacy, conflict, and national interest. The 3 A.M. phone call was a question mark with Barack Obama, but not for Hillary Clinton.” [Ben Domenech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-domenech/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Public perception of leadership can shift dramatically with unexpected events, revealing underlying uncertainties. **In simple terms:** A single phone call changed views on Clinton’s reliability. Key Takeaway Remain aware of how crises expose hidden doubts. Themes politics leadership media crisis management public perception Mood critical analytical Type political media When to use this quote - election campaigns - media strategy - public speaking - crisis response Key Concepts risk perception political narrative trust dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do media narratives amplify isolated events? - What safeguards can leaders use to maintain credibility? A Different Perspective One incident can disproportionately influence long‑term reputations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Diplomacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diplomacy/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [National interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-interest/) [Phone call](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phone-call/) ## Related quotes > [It's absolutely true that people who believed Hillary Clinton would be a decent or even strong nominee need to think why that got that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-chait/it-s-absolutely-true-that-people-who-believed-hillary-clinton-would/) [Jonathan Chait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-chait/) > [Yet the effort to inform the public also encouraged responsible public discussion that succeeded in developing a consensus for the measured approach that many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-berg/yet-the-effort-to-inform-the-public-also-encouraged-responsible/) [Paul Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-berg/) > [The lesson of the Clinton years and of Obama's win of both the nomination and the general election in 2008 is that Democrats need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/the-lesson-of-the-clinton-years-and-of-obama-s-win-of-both-the/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [In 2008, the Democrats made a great effort among African-American voters, and they did increase their turnout considerably, and among Latino voters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-woodruff/in-2008-the-democrats-made-a-great-effort-among-african-american/) [Judy Woodruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-woodruff/) > [ I can tell you is all nine of the people here \[on debates\] would make an infinitely better commander in chief than Barack Obama… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-can-tell-you-is-all-nine-of-the-people-here-on-debates-would-make/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [ President \[Barack\] Obama and Hillary Clinton have engaged in gross dereliction of duty by surrendering the safety of the American people to open borders,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/president-barack-obama-and-hillary-clinton-have-engaged-in-gross/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [You're never going to be able to delve into the character traits of a Michelle Obama or Hillary Clinton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-wright/you-re-never-going-to-be-able-to-delve-into-the-character-traits-of-a/) [Robin Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-wright/) > [“The Wall Street Journal didn’t pull any punches when it described Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton’s role in the deal as “a fiasco” and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/the-wall-street-journal-didn-t-pull-any-punches-when-it-described/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [The U.S. cannot survive another four years of the Barack Obama-Hillary Clinton regime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hoekstra/the-u-s-cannot-survive-another-four-years-of-the-barack-obama-hillary/) [Pete Hoekstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hoekstra/) > [“The more people learn about them (Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton) and how they handle the pressure, the more their support will evaporate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/the-more-people-learn-about-them-barack-obama-and-hillary-clinton-and/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The left - which is run by Obama and Hillary Clinton and the hierarchy in the Democrat Party - is doing everything they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-left-which-is-run-by-obama-and-hillary-clinton-and-the-hierarchy/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [What is Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton done to this country? That the most basic responsibility of an administration is to protect the safety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/what-is-barack-obama-and-hillary-clinton-done-to-this-country-that/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [We need to fix the military, help veterans, our inner cities are a disaster, you get shot walking to the store. We cannot take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-to-fix-the-military-help-veterans-our-inner-cities-are-a/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [ I know both Secretary \[Hillary\] Clinton and President \[Barack\] Obama were very gracious and I respect that a lot in the way they handled… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/i-know-both-secretary-hillary-clinton-and-president-barack-obama-were/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [One of the things we've seen here is how easy it is for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to get distracted from dealing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/one-of-the-things-we-ve-seen-here-is-how-easy-it-is-for-barack-obama/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) ## More by Ben Domenech > [In a healthy republic, there is a need for figures who understand that the presidency is not the be-all and end-all of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/in-a-healthy-republic-there-is-a-need-for-figures-who-understand-that/) [Ben Domenech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-domenech/) > [Much of the media failed to anticipate the potential Trump represented as a disruptive populist force, understand why his supporters trusted him, or offer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/much-of-the-media-failed-to-anticipate-the-potential-trump/) [Ben Domenech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-domenech/) > [Engaging in a sycophantic way with any politician in the short term is tempting. It offers the lure of access and the promise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/engaging-in-a-sycophantic-way-with-any-politician-in-the-short-term/) [Ben Domenech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-domenech/) > [When Barack Obama arrived in Washington, many in the media welcomed him with optimism as a historic figure focused on progressive change. But their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/when-barack-obama-arrived-in-washington-many-in-the-media-welcomed/) [Ben Domenech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-domenech/) > [I think what it really means is a recognition that Donald Trump has the potential to take over the Republican Party and change it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/i-think-what-it-really-means-is-a-recognition-that-donald-trump-has/) [Ben Domenech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-domenech/) > [Gawker thrived on embarrassment and shame, seeking to demolish not just celebrities or politicians but average random people whose sins it would expose for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/gawker-thrived-on-embarrassment-and-shame-seeking-to-demolish-not/) [Ben Domenech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-domenech/) > [And for those of us who have, you know, looked in sort of the established order of the political fray over the course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/and-for-those-of-us-who-have-you-know-looked-in-sort-of-the/) [Ben Domenech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-domenech/) > [It used to be you could just write vaguely conservative things while running a Starbucks - now, you can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/it-used-to-be-you-could-just-write-vaguely-conservative-things-while/) [Ben Domenech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-domenech/) > [It is unhealthy to live in an environment where every aspect of our culture requires a great sort, where creative talents are for some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/it-is-unhealthy-to-live-in-an-environment-where-every-aspect-of-our/) [Ben Domenech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-domenech/) > [Writers who do great work must be coddled and encouraged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/writers-who-do-great-work-must-be-coddled-and-encouraged/) [Ben Domenech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-domenech/) > [I will not apologize ever, for any reason, for publishing the views of people who don't make a living in politics about why they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/i-will-not-apologize-ever-for-any-reason-for-publishing-the-views-of/) [Ben Domenech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-domenech/) > [The first time I watched 'The Magnificent Seven' on TV on a Sunday afternoon, I knew it was going to be a different kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/the-first-time-i-watched-the-magnificent-seven-on-tv-on-a-sunday/) [Ben Domenech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-domenech/) > [The government in Havana is best understood as a cross between violent left-wing radicals and organized crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/the-government-in-havana-is-best-understood-as-a-cross-between/) [Ben Domenech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-domenech/) > [We all consume Netflix and other streaming services in different ways. Sometimes, it's a movie you're really going to focus on; other times, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/we-all-consume-netflix-and-other-streaming-services-in-different-ways/) [Ben Domenech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-domenech/) > [When I was much younger, my siblings and I would routinely tune in to watch 'Bill Nye the Science Guy' on PBS. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/when-i-was-much-younger-my-siblings-and-i-would-routinely-tune-in-to/) [Ben Domenech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-domenech/) [Explore all 115 Ben Domenech quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-domenech/) ## More Barack obama quotes > [In 2008, Barack Obama did a phenomenal job of reaching out to minority groups, to younger people, and a lot of newer voters, Hispanics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-p-bush/in-2008-barack-obama-did-a-phenomenal-job-of-reaching-out-to-minority/) [George P. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-p-bush/) > [There has certainly been ugly, right-wing hatred targeting Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/there-has-certainly-been-ugly-right-wing-hatred-targeting-barack-obama/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [As a Democrat following the 2012 presidential election closely, I was happy to see that South Carolina voted overwhelmingly for Newt Gingrich, a candidate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/as-a-democrat-following-the-2012-presidential-election-closely-i-was/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [Just like Barack Obama, my views on gay marriage have evolved, and now I am a reluctant groom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/just-like-barack-obama-my-views-on-gay-marriage-have-evolved-and-now/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [It has been my honor to support and work with President Barack Obama, a man who has brought courage and character to the presidency.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reid/it-has-been-my-honor-to-support-and-work-with-president-barack-obama/) [Harry Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reid/) > [When the 2008 victory of Barack Obama and the defeat of grumpy old John McCain began looking, um, inevitable, I started fielding inquiries about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/when-the-2008-victory-of-barack-obama-and-the-defeat-of-grumpy-old/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [President Barack Obama is a doer. And we in America will do big things with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hunt/president-barack-obama-is-a-doer-and-we-in-america-will-do-big-things/) [Jim Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hunt/) > [“Been living on this earth for so long now and still don't know what a happy life feels like. I'm ready for a change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-anthony-burkett/been-living-on-this-earth-for-so-long-now-and-still-don-t-know-what-a/) [Jonathan Anthony Burkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-anthony-burkett/) > [“Attacking a lightning rod doesn't make you lightning..." Regarding Barack Obama”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-rafael-cimino/attacking-a-lightning-rod-doesn-t-make-you-lightning-regarding-barack/) [T. Rafael Cimino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-rafael-cimino/) > [Tell me why the limousine fleet has increased by 42 percent since Barack Obama took office. Why are we spending taxpayers' money on that?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-neumann/tell-me-why-the-limousine-fleet-has-increased-by-42-percent-since/) [Mark Neumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-neumann/) > [Trudeau, like President Barack Obama, is a champion of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/trudeau-like-president-barack-obama-is-a-champion-of-change/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [There is the bipartisan pretense that the FBI is the only government agency in Washington that is above reproach. Yet, this is the agency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-fitton/there-is-the-bipartisan-pretense-that-the-fbi-is-the-only-government/) [Tom Fitton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-fitton/) > [Income inequality has gotten worse under President Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/income-inequality-has-gotten-worse-under-president-barack-obama/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [For even the most seasoned observers of American politics, Barack Obama is a phenomenon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lammy/for-even-the-most-seasoned-observers-of-american-politics-barack/) [David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/) > [When Caroline Kennedy endorsed Barack Obama in 2008 as her father's rightful heir, she laid upon him the mantle of Camelot and the enduring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-kelley/when-caroline-kennedy-endorsed-barack-obama-in-2008-as-her-father-s/) [Kitty Kelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-kelley/) Browse all 363 Barack obama quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In 2008, many Democrats and Republicans believed Hillary Clinton to be a responsible public leader - a firm hand on the wheel, experienced in matters of diplomacy, conflict, and national interest. The 3 A.M. phone call was a question mark with Barack Obama, but not for Hillary Clinton.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Domenech" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/in-2008-many-democrats-and-republicans-believed-hillary-clinton-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Barack obama" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/in-2008-many-democrats-and-republicans-believed-hillary-clinton-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/ben-domenech-4128_barack-obama_in-2008-many-democrats-and-republicans-b_1602917.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/ben-domenech-4128_barack-obama_in-2008-many-democrats-and-republicans-b_1602917.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1b/ben-domenech-4128_barack-obama_in-2008-many-democrats-and-republicans-b_1602917.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In 2008, many Democrats and Republicans believed Hillary Clinton to be a responsible public leader - a firm…” — Ben Domenech", "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": "Ben Domenech", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-domenech/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In 2008, many Democrats and Republicans...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/in-2008-many-democrats-and-republicans-believed-hillary-clinton-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/in-2008-many-democrats-and-republicans-believed-hillary-clinton-to-be/#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 } } ] } ```