--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Barack Obama treated too lightly the…" description: "\"Barack Obama treated too lightly the people and forces determined to destroy him. They spat in his face and didn't even get ticketed for a misdemeanor...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26b/bill-moyers-2625_barack_barack-obama-treated-too-lightly-the-peo_2888880.png" --- # Barack Obama treated too lightly the people and forces… ![“Barack Obama treated too lightly the people and forces determined to destroy him. They spat in his face and didn't even get ticketed for a misdemeanor.” quote by Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26b/bill-moyers-2625_barack_barack-obama-treated-too-lightly-the-peo_2888880.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26b/bill-moyers-2625_barack_barack-obama-treated-too-lightly-the-peo_2888880.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26b/bill-moyers-2625_barack_barack-obama-treated-too-lightly-the-peo_2888880.png) > “Barack Obama treated too lightly the people and forces determined to destroy him. They spat in his face and didn't even get ticketed for a misdemeanor.” [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Obama faced intense opposition and personal attacks but remained resilient. **In simple terms:** He was harshly criticized yet persisted. Key Takeaway Stay resilient amid criticism. Themes politics resilience public scrutiny leadership adversity Mood determined reflective Type political motivational When to use this quote - campaign trail - public office - media interviews - protest movements Key Concepts Power dynamics media influence personal integrity Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain composure under personal attacks? - What strategies help turn criticism into motivation? A Different Perspective Criticism can undermine mental health if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Misdemeanors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misdemeanors/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Many people who help me encounter a lot of resistance from other people and from forces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/many-people-who-help-me-encounter-a-lot-of-resistance-from-other/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“I still can't picture what he does in his every day life when he's not busy with school or misdemeanors or me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenna-yovanoff/i-still-can-t-picture-what-he-does-in-his-every-day-life-when-he-s/) [Brenna Yovanoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenna-yovanoff/) > [I won't decriminalize misdemeanors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zohran-mamdani/i-won-t-decriminalize-misdemeanors/) [Zohran Mamdani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zohran-mamdani/) > [In today's world, when many of yesterday's fashionable habits are today's misdemeanors, we should rejoice that a chocolate dessert can bring so much innocent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desaulniers/in-today-s-world-when-many-of-yesterday-s-fashionable-habits-are/) Marcel Desaulniers > [MISDEMEANOR, n. An infraction of the law having less dignity than a felony and constituting no claim to admittance into the best criminal society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/misdemeanor-n-an-infraction-of-the-law-having-less-dignity-than-a/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [The President of the United States would be liable to be impeached, tried, and upon conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-president-of-the-united-states-would-be-liable-to-be-impeached/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Well, there's a Book that says we're all sinners and I at least chose a sin that's made quite a few people happier than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-stanford/well-there-s-a-book-that-says-we-re-all-sinners-and-i-at-least-chose/) [Sally Stanford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-stanford/) > [At first it was just a misdemeanor, but then you lost the "mis-de" and you just got meaner and meaner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/at-first-it-was-just-a-misdemeanor-but-then-you-lost-the-mis-de-and/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [You're going to be accused of every high crime and low misdemeanor there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-brown/you-re-going-to-be-accused-of-every-high-crime-and-low-misdemeanor/) [Willie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-brown/) > [“Willful and repeated violation of the Constitution is the textbook example of high crimes and misdemeanors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/willful-and-repeated-violation-of-the-constitution-is-the-textbook/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [Those who refuse to support and defend the state have no claim to protection by that state. Killing an anarchist or a pacifist should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/those-who-refuse-to-support-and-defend-the-state-have-no-claim-to/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [People have pointed out evidences of personal feeling in my notices as if they were accusing me of a misdemeanor, not knowing that criticism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/people-have-pointed-out-evidences-of-personal-feeling-in-my-notices/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [If a man who has committed many a misdemeanor does not repent and cleanse his heart of the evil, retribution will come upon his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-a-man-who-has-committed-many-a-misdemeanor-does-not-repent-and/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Events unfold so unpredictably, so unfairly, human happiness does not seem to be included in the design of creation. It is only we, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/events-unfold-so-unpredictably-so-unfairly-human-happiness-does-not/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [The Senate is a body of old men charged with high duties and misdemeanors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/the-senate-is-a-body-of-old-men-charged-with-high-duties-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More by Bill Moyers > [If the watchdog doesn't bark, how do you know there's a burglar in the basement? And the press is supposed to be a watchdog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/if-the-watchdog-doesn-t-bark-how-do-you-know-there-s-a-burglar-in-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [David Rockefeller is the most conspicuous representative today of the ruling class, a multinational fraternity of men who shape the global economy and manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/david-rockefeller-is-the-most-conspicuous-representative-today-of-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [They're counting on your patriotism to distract you from their plunder. They're counting on you to be standing at attention with your hand over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/they-re-counting-on-your-patriotism-to-distract-you-from-their/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Charity provides crumbs from the table; justice offers a place at the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/charity-provides-crumbs-from-the-table-justice-offers-a-place-at-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Conservatism is less a set of ideas than it is a pathological distemper, a militant anger over the fact that the universe is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/conservatism-is-less-a-set-of-ideas-than-it-is-a-pathological/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [When the public loses faith in democracy's ability to solve the problems it has created for itself, the game's almost over. And I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/when-the-public-loses-faith-in-democracy-s-ability-to-solve-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [It's very difficult to measure the impact on policy of any investigative journalism. You hope it matters to let a little more truth loose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/it-s-very-difficult-to-measure-the-impact-on-policy-of-any/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Democracy works when people claim it as their own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/democracy-works-when-people-claim-it-as-their-own/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Sure enough, as merger has followed merger, journalism has been driven further down the hierarchy of values in the huge conglomerates that dominate what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/sure-enough-as-merger-has-followed-merger-journalism-has-been-driven/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Unless you're willing to fight and refight the same battles until you go blue in the face, drive the people you work with nuts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/unless-you-re-willing-to-fight-and-refight-the-same-battles-until-you/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [This is the first time in my 32 years in public broadcasting that PBS has ordered up programs for ideological instead of journalistic reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/this-is-the-first-time-in-my-32-years-in-public-broadcasting-that-pbs/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [If being tolerant of differing opinions, if believing that America has to make it as a pluralistic nation, if being civil, if that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/if-being-tolerant-of-differing-opinions-if-believing-that-america-has/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [“Civilization is but a thin veneer stretched across the passions of the human heart. And civilization doesn't just happen; we have to make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/civilization-is-but-a-thin-veneer-stretched-across-the-passions-of/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [I really believe that coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/i-really-believe-that-coincidence-is-god-s-way-of-remaining-anonymous/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [A profound transformation is happening here. The framers of our nation never envisioned these huge media giants; never imagined what could happen if big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/a-profound-transformation-is-happening-here-the-framers-of-our-nation/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) [Explore all 157 Bill Moyers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) ## More Barack quotes > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [We know the candidate Barack Obama, what he was like - the anti-war government nig... America was a source for division around the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-know-the-candidate-barack-obama-what-he-was-like-the-anti-war/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [We're in more wars today under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton than under George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan. Yet they tell you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-re-in-more-wars-today-under-barack-obama-and-hillary-clinton-than/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I can tell you who's planning terroris attacks. The leaders of ISIL. And I can tell you where they're at. They're in Raqqa, Syria.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-tell-you-who-s-planning-terroris-attacks-the-leaders-of-isil/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [ The president \[Barack Obama\] asked for a commitment of, I think, 100,000 jobs for veterans and military spouses over the next couple of years.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/the-president-barack-obama-asked-for-a-commitment-of-i-think-100-000/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [The big story today, Barack Obama was accused of insulting Sarah Palin when he criticized Republican policies by saying, you can put lipstick on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/the-big-story-today-barack-obama-was-accused-of-insulting-sarah-palin/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [ I think the president's \[Barack Obama\] position has been very clear on Syria. He wants more aggressive, he's put the Special Ops on the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/i-think-the-president-s-barack-obama-position-has-been-very-clear-on/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [ It cannot be an American fight. And I think what the president \[Barack Obama\] has consistently said - which I agree with - is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-cannot-be-an-american-fight-and-i-think-what-the-president-barack/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [It doesn't matter to me where Barack Obama goes. If he wants to go to Hawaii because it's his home state, fine! Hunky-dory. Plastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-doesn-t-matter-to-me-where-barack-obama-goes-if-he-wants-to-go-to/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ It wasn't \[Barack\] Obama per se; it was the feeling on the ground; it was seeing an old black woman in a wheelchair being… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/it-wasn-t-barack-obama-per-se-it-was-the-feeling-on-the-ground-it-was/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [I don't think that we really know a whole lot about Barack Obama at all that you would really call distinctive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-mcwhorter/i-don-t-think-that-we-really-know-a-whole-lot-about-barack-obama-at/) [John H. McWhorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-mcwhorter/) > [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/) > [I think President Barack Obama has been an extraordinarily successful president, and that this period will record that with a bunch of exclamation points.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/i-think-president-barack-obama-has-been-an-extraordinarily-successful/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [The archives recall not one single incriminating incident, not one drunken escapade, not one reported affair, not one spat with a team-mate or reporter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atherton/the-archives-recall-not-one-single-incriminating-incident-not-one/) Michael Atherton > [In public, Barack Obama's giving the simple version of his beliefs for the mass public. In private, he can discuss it at a really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-chait/in-public-barack-obama-s-giving-the-simple-version-of-his-beliefs-for/) [Jonathan Chait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-chait/) Browse all 1,672 Barack quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Barack Obama treated too lightly the people and forces determined to destroy him. They spat in his face and didn't even get ticketed for a misdemeanor.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bill Moyers" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/barack-obama-treated-too-lightly-the-people-and-forces-determined-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Barack" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/barack-obama-treated-too-lightly-the-people-and-forces-determined-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26b/bill-moyers-2625_barack_barack-obama-treated-too-lightly-the-peo_2888880.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26b/bill-moyers-2625_barack_barack-obama-treated-too-lightly-the-peo_2888880.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26b/bill-moyers-2625_barack_barack-obama-treated-too-lightly-the-peo_2888880.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Barack Obama treated too lightly the people and forces determined to destroy him. They spat in his face and…” — Bill Moyers", "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": "Bill Moyers", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Barack Obama treated too lightly the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/barack-obama-treated-too-lightly-the-people-and-forces-determined-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/barack-obama-treated-too-lightly-the-people-and-forces-determined-to/#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 } } ] } ```