--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Obama doesn't know how to be President…" description: "\"“Obama doesn't know how to be President. He doesn't know how the world works. He's incompetent. He's an amateur!”\" — Bill Clinton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e8/bill-clinton-11499_obama_obama-doesn-t-know-how-to-be-president-h_1315370.jpg" --- # Obama doesn't know how to be President. He doesn't know… ![“Obama doesn't know how to be President. He doesn't know how the world works. He's incompetent. He's an amateur!” quote by Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e8/bill-clinton-11499_obama_obama-doesn-t-know-how-to-be-president-h_1315370.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e8/bill-clinton-11499_obama_obama-doesn-t-know-how-to-be-president-h_1315370.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e8/bill-clinton-11499_obama_obama-doesn-t-know-how-to-be-president-h_1315370.jpg) > ““Obama doesn't know how to be President. He doesn't know how the world works. He's incompetent. He's an amateur!”” [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticism highlights perceived inadequacy and lack of expertise in leadership. **In simple terms:** He is seen as incompetent. Key Takeaway Assess leadership competence critically. Themes politics leadership competence Mood skeptical critical Type political analytical When to use this quote - election campaigns - policy debates - media analysis Key Concepts governance public perception Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports or refutes this claim? - How do personal biases affect political judgments? A Different Perspective Criticism may ignore complexities of governance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amateur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amateur/) [Incompetent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incompetent/) [Incompetent Amateur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incompetent-amateur-4366248/) [Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obama/) [President Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-doesn-289724/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Works Incompetent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/works-incompetent-4366249/) ## Related quotes > [ \[Barack\] Obama is an incompetent. He is an incompetent president.He doesn't know what he's doing, he's out campaigning all day long, he talking about… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/barack-obama-is-an-incompetent-he-is-an-incompetent-president-he/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [President Obama is a gifted politician. He is gifted with rhetoric virtuosity. He is gifted with the ability to lie directly to camera without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/president-obama-is-a-gifted-politician-he-is-gifted-with-rhetoric/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [Obama might think of himself as one, but he is not a dictator. We are not a banana republic yet. This is not an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/obama-might-think-of-himself-as-one-but-he-is-not-a-dictator-we-are/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I think people in my district expect me to work with the president. It doesn't mean we have to agree all the time. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-dent/i-think-people-in-my-district-expect-me-to-work-with-the-president-it/) [Charlie Dent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-dent/) > [A President doesn't have a terribly long time to talk to people who are not really on the agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-leinsdorf/a-president-doesn-t-have-a-terribly-long-time-to-talk-to-people-who/) [Erich Leinsdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-leinsdorf/) > [In a president, character is everything. A president doesn't have to be brilliant... He doesn't have to be clever; you can hire clever... You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/in-a-president-character-is-everything-a-president-doesn-t-have-to-be/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [The idea that the president doesn't interfere in law-enforcement investigative matters is one of our deep normative expectations of the modern presidency. But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/the-idea-that-the-president-doesn-t-interfere-in-law-enforcement/) [Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/) > [ \[On Ronald Reagan:\] The President doesn't want yes-men around. When he says no, we all say no. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-dole/on-ronald-reagan-the-president-doesn-t-want-yes-men-around-when-he/) [Elizabeth Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-dole/) > [Democracy means that anyone can grow up to be president, and anyone who doesn't grow up can be vice president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/democracy-means-that-anyone-can-grow-up-to-be-president-and-anyone/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [War should always be the absolute last resort. That's why these crippling sanctions, which Bibi Netanyahu says we should continue, which, if I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/war-should-always-be-the-absolute-last-resort-that-s-why-these/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [They've got a Jobs Council that never meets. A Democratic Senate that doesn't act. A President who doesn't believe and a Vice President who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-g-stemberg/they-ve-got-a-jobs-council-that-never-meets-a-democratic-senate-that/) [Thomas G. Stemberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-g-stemberg/) > [Five years ago, when I was elected, I had the feeling that the president doesn't have much to do. I've realized, though, that this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pratibha-patil/five-years-ago-when-i-was-elected-i-had-the-feeling-that-the/) [Pratibha Patil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pratibha-patil/) > [“Have you surpassed the rest? Are you the president? It doesn't matter. They will more than arrive there, every one, and still pass on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/have-you-surpassed-the-rest-are-you-the-president-it-doesn-t-matter/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [The President doesn't ring people out of the blue, so you know you've done something well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-howard/the-president-doesn-t-ring-people-out-of-the-blue-so-you-know-you-ve/) [Tim Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-howard/) > [I've seen firsthand that being president doesn't change who you are. It reveals who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/i-ve-seen-firsthand-that-being-president-doesn-t-change-who-you-are/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) ## More by Bill Clinton > [I believe that those who promote discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or any other grounds are gravely mistaken about the values that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/i-believe-that-those-who-promote-discrimination-on-the-basis-of/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [When our memories outweigh our dreams, we have grown old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/when-our-memories-outweigh-our-dreams-we-have-grown-old/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [If you are for smaller government, then our candidate is for you. We are for better government and smaller government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/if-you-are-for-smaller-government-then-our-candidate-is-for-you-we/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [In a world darkened by ethnic conflicts that tear nations apart, Canada stands as a model of how people of different cultures can live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/in-a-world-darkened-by-ethnic-conflicts-that-tear-nations-apart/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [“That depends on what your definition of 'is' is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/that-depends-on-what-your-definition-of-is-is/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [Why would anyone make a hard decision again? What if we had immediate recall of every teacher, every preacher? What if kids could recall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/why-would-anyone-make-a-hard-decision-again-what-if-we-had-immediate/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [“There is nothing wrong in America that can't be fixed with what is right in America.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/there-is-nothing-wrong-in-america-that-can-t-be-fixed-with-what-is/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [“You are carrying the future of America in your heart and your mind. So live your dreams and remember, whatever you choose to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/you-are-carrying-the-future-of-america-in-your-heart-and-your-mind-so/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [It depends upon what the meaning of the word 'is' means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/it-depends-upon-what-the-meaning-of-the-word-is-means/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [“If you live long enough, you'll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you'll be a better person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/if-you-live-long-enough-you-ll-make-mistakes-but-if-you-learn-from/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [Individual character involves honoring and embracing certain core ethical values; honesty, respect, responsibility . . . Parents must teach their children from the earliest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/individual-character-involves-honoring-and-embracing-certain-core/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [“In other words, our constitution was designed by people who were idealistic but not ideological. There's a big difference. You can have a philosophy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/in-other-words-our-constitution-was-designed-by-people-who-were/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [There are large numbers of people who simply don't have the values and vision necessary to be part of an inter-dependent world. They think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/there-are-large-numbers-of-people-who-simply-don-t-have-the-values/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [She could do any job. Let me just say this, I've never known anybody in politics that was more able than her -- including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/she-could-do-any-job-let-me-just-say-this-i-ve-never-known-anybody-in/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [No government really rooted in limited, parliamentary democracy should have the power to make its citizens fight and kill and die in a war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/no-government-really-rooted-in-limited-parliamentary-democracy-should/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) [Explore all 59 Bill Clinton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) ## More Amateur quotes > [“The amateur doesn't appreciate the need for experimentation. He wants his experts to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner-2/the-amateur-doesn-t-appreciate-the-need-for-experimentation-he-wants/) [B.F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner-2/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [My father was a GP; my mother was a teacher and amateur actress. My father was a bit of a storyteller, but the acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciaran-hinds/my-father-was-a-gp-my-mother-was-a-teacher-and-amateur-actress-my/) [Ciaran Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciaran-hinds/) > [I did a musical when I was 17, an amateur show, and I loved it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taron-egerton/i-did-a-musical-when-i-was-17-an-amateur-show-and-i-loved-it/) [Taron Egerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taron-egerton/) > [Every artist was first an amateur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-artist-was-first-an-amateur/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“The definition of a professional is one who does a job well even when they don't like it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-sheinwald/the-definition-of-a-professional-is-one-who-does-a-job-well-even-when/) [Alan Sheinwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-sheinwald/) > [I think most amateurs dread playing a 180-plus-yard par 3 even more than a hard par 4. Part of it is psychological: You think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/i-think-most-amateurs-dread-playing-a-180-plus-yard-par-3-even-more/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [I read a lot of 'Nancy Drew' books as a kid and considered myself a bit of an amateur detective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-cain/i-read-a-lot-of-nancy-drew-books-as-a-kid-and-considered-myself-a-bit/) [Chelsea Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-cain/) > [Professionalism is environmental. Amateurism is anti-environmental. Professionalism merges the individual into patterns of total environment. Amateurism seeks the development of the total awareness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/professionalism-is-environmental-amateurism-is-anti-environmental/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [You count a man's U.S. Amateur titles after he starts winning professional majors. That's something any intelligent golf writer with a sense of history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-jenkins/you-count-a-man-s-u-s-amateur-titles-after-he-starts-winning/) [Dan Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-jenkins/) > [Most amateurs are so worried about mis-hitting the shot or hitting it off line, they don't make an aggressive move. You'd be surprised how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-bradley/most-amateurs-are-so-worried-about-mis-hitting-the-shot-or-hitting-it/) [Keegan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-bradley/) > [Amateur boxing is one of the safest sports around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-calzaghe/amateur-boxing-is-one-of-the-safest-sports-around/) [Joe Calzaghe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-calzaghe/) > [“Amateur: One reckless enough to risk being interesting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-barringer/amateur-one-reckless-enough-to-risk-being-interesting/) [David Barringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-barringer/) > [Time management is probably the biggest thing I've had to learn to deal with being on the PGA Tour, whether it be media or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-fowler/time-management-is-probably-the-biggest-thing-i-ve-had-to-learn-to/) [Rickie Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-fowler/) > [When people buy, rescue, or otherwise acquire a dog from unscrupulous breeders or amateur rescue groups, they are making a decision with ethical consequences.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-katz/when-people-buy-rescue-or-otherwise-acquire-a-dog-from-unscrupulous/) [Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) [Browse all 352 Amateur quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amateur/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Obama doesn't know how to be President. 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