--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Republicans, Democrats, libertarians, and…" description: "\"Republicans, Democrats, libertarians, and independents all agree on only one thing - our national politicians are bought.\" — Cenk Uygur" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/cenk-uygur-4611_democracy_republicans-democrats-libertarians-and-i_3039600.png" --- # Republicans, Democrats, libertarians, and independents all… ![“Republicans, Democrats, libertarians, and independents all agree on only one thing - our national politicians are bought.” quote by Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/cenk-uygur-4611_democracy_republicans-democrats-libertarians-and-i_3039600.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/cenk-uygur-4611_democracy_republicans-democrats-libertarians-and-i_3039600.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/cenk-uygur-4611_democracy_republicans-democrats-libertarians-and-i_3039600.png) > “Republicans, Democrats, libertarians, and independents all agree on only one thing - our national politicians are bought.” [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. All major parties share the belief that politicians are bought, indicating systemic corruption. **In simple terms:** Politicians are bought. Key Takeaway Demand transparency. Themes politics corruption public trust partisanship reform Mood cynical critical Type activist analytical When to use this quote - voting - advocacy - campaign finance reform - public forums Key Concepts political science ethics public policy Questions to Reflect On - How can we hold officials accountable? - What reforms reduce influence buying? A Different Perspective Not all politicians are corrupt; nuance needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democrats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrats/) [Democrats Libertarians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrats-libertarians-5004309/) [Independents Agree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independents-agree-5004308/) [Libertarians Independents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarians-independents-5004310/) [National](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national/) [National Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-politicians-5004311/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians/) [Politicians Bought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians-bought-3149207/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [I think our politicians are bought by the highest bidder and that until we clean up our election system, then we cannot make progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/i-think-our-politicians-are-bought-by-the-highest-bidder-and-that/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [We look around at our national politicians, we do not see national politicians who are without fault. And, actually, we see quite a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lammy/we-look-around-at-our-national-politicians-we-do-not-see-national/) [David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/) > [“Democrats should reevaluate a lot of our assumptions about which policies are politically viable. These trends make universal programs even more appealing than we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/democrats-should-reevaluate-a-lot-of-our-assumptions-about-which/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [ Four states where \[Democrats\] have the governorship and both houses of the legislature. That's it. They have lost seats. They are not gonna win… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/four-states-where-democrats-have-the-governorship-and-both-houses-of/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [One of the achievements of the reform movement is that people realize that they can be democrats and remain faithful Muslims. Democracy is now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdolkarim-soroush/one-of-the-achievements-of-the-reform-movement-is-that-people-realize/) [Abdolkarim Soroush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdolkarim-soroush/) > [The Democrats have been there for working people in our country. That's who we are, trickle-down vs. middle-class economics. That's the major difference between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/the-democrats-have-been-there-for-working-people-in-our-country-that/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [We believe that there are aspects of border security that Democrats and Republicans can agree on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/we-believe-that-there-are-aspects-of-border-security-that-democrats/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [I think what Democrats need to do is they need to work for the country and make sure that not only the southern border…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/i-think-what-democrats-need-to-do-is-they-need-to-work-for-the/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) > [Let's be honest, if the Democrats didn't support ignoring our nation's immigration laws, there is no way they could win the presidency or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/let-s-be-honest-if-the-democrats-didn-t-support-ignoring-our-nation-s/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [The Democrats said, "We don't know what's wrong with America, but we can fix it." The Republicans said, "There's nothing wrong with America, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-democrats-said-we-don-t-know-what-s-wrong-with-america-but-we-can/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The Democrats in particular are do-nothing guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-george-peterson/the-democrats-in-particular-are-do-nothing-guys/) [Peter George Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-george-peterson/) > [I can't see the Democrats working with Donald Trump on tax reform unless the rich get soaked. The thing about this that should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-can-t-see-the-democrats-working-with-donald-trump-on-tax-reform/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I know of not one Republican candidate that would not appear publicly with Mitt Romney and I know many Democrats that don't even want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/i-know-of-not-one-republican-candidate-that-would-not-appear-publicly/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) ## More by Cenk Uygur > [I know that a lot of people love to say that polls are wrong or don't matter, and from time to time they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/i-know-that-a-lot-of-people-love-to-say-that-polls-are-wrong-or-don-t/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [Obama spent the first two years of his administration practicing political unilateral disarmament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/obama-spent-the-first-two-years-of-his-administration-practicing/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [She's going to do what her donors want. That's who Nancy Pelosi is. Not remotely progressive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/she-s-going-to-do-what-her-donors-want-that-s-who-nancy-pelosi-is-not/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [The right wing has an ecosystem that is funded by billionaires who want tax cuts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/the-right-wing-has-an-ecosystem-that-is-funded-by-billionaires-who/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [There are a lot of things wrong with the country, and that doesn't mean America sucks. It means we should improve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/there-are-a-lot-of-things-wrong-with-the-country-and-that-doesn-t/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [The Democratic Party takes huge amounts of cash from corporations and unions to vote a certain way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/the-democratic-party-takes-huge-amounts-of-cash-from-corporations-and/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [Quietly, President Obama has done warrantless wire tapping. And it was hardly covered. I don't know if any of the mainstream press bothered to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/quietly-president-obama-has-done-warrantless-wire-tapping-and-it-was/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [You can't get any more patriotic than dying for the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/you-can-t-get-any-more-patriotic-than-dying-for-the-country/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [TV has made everyone so vanilla it's nearly impossible to tell one anchor apart from another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/tv-has-made-everyone-so-vanilla-it-s-nearly-impossible-to-tell-one/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [I don't really trust politicians, and our job is to call them out. It's old-school journalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/i-don-t-really-trust-politicians-and-our-job-is-to-call-them-out-it-s/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [There is no greater threat to Washington, D.C., than Bernie Sanders, and they know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/there-is-no-greater-threat-to-washington-d-c-than-bernie-sanders-and/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [It is fascinating. No matter where I go, people recognize me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/it-is-fascinating-no-matter-where-i-go-people-recognize-me/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [When I was at MSNBC, I had issues with the Obama administration. I got told by the person who runs MSNBC... that Washington was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/when-i-was-at-msnbc-i-had-issues-with-the-obama-administration-i-got/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [I want to interview Alec Baldwin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/i-want-to-interview-alec-baldwin/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [The withdrawal that Congress is debating now will only effect whether we leave somewhat gracefully or in complete panic and humiliation. Sistani has already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/the-withdrawal-that-congress-is-debating-now-will-only-effect-whether/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) [Explore all 108 Cenk Uygur quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. 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But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [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/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. 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