--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Stop calling me communist. Stop calling…" description: "\"Stop calling me communist. Stop calling the rest of us communists. You've got to stand up for what you believe should be the American government's spir..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc9/chris-matthews-1682_american-government_stop-calling-me-communist-stop-calling-t_1928330.png" --- # Stop calling me communist. Stop calling the rest of us… ![“Stop calling me communist. Stop calling the rest of us communists. You've got to stand up for what you believe should be the American government's spirit, not what you're just attacking people's credibility.” quote by Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc9/chris-matthews-1682_american-government_stop-calling-me-communist-stop-calling-t_1928330.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc9/chris-matthews-1682_american-government_stop-calling-me-communist-stop-calling-t_1928330.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc9/chris-matthews-1682_american-government_stop-calling-me-communist-stop-calling-t_1928330.png) > “Stop calling me communist. Stop calling the rest of us communists. You've got to stand up for what you believe should be the American government's spirit, not what you're just attacking people's credibility.” [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates defending core national values without labeling opponents, urging focus on principles over personal attacks. **In simple terms:** Defend values, avoid name‑calling. Key Takeaway Stand up for principles, not insults. Themes politics integrity dialogue Mood assertive defensive Type political opinion When to use this quote - public debate - media interviews - community meetings Key Concepts national identity civility principles Questions to Reflect On - How can we discuss values without alienating others? - What principles define the spirit you defend? A Different Perspective Risk of polarizing language reducing constructive dialogue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-government/) [Attacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attacking/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Calling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calling/) [Calling Communist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calling-communist-3002403/) [Communist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communist/) [Communists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communists/) [Communists Ve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communists-ve-3002405/) [Credibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credibility/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Rest Communists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rest-communists-3002404/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) ## Related quotes > [“For the same reason , the American government has invented a completely new juridical category , that of 'illegal enemy combatants'. In general, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tzvetan-todorov/for-the-same-reason-the-american-government-has-invented-a-completely/) [Tzvetan Todorov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tzvetan-todorov/) > [“So we Europeans are shocked by the blind, uncomprehending hard-heartedness that certain American government policies imply. I am thinking of the terrible tariff walls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/so-we-europeans-are-shocked-by-the-blind-uncomprehending-hard/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [“In 1786, Jefferson, then the American ambassador to France, and Adams, then the American ambassador to Britain, met in London with Sidi Haji Abdul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-shoebat/in-1786-jefferson-then-the-american-ambassador-to-france-and-adams/) [Walid Shoebat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-shoebat/) > [I know these days it sounds a little odd, but American governments are very fearful of European reaction. They were afraid we would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scheuer/i-know-these-days-it-sounds-a-little-odd-but-american-governments-are/) [Michael Scheuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scheuer/) > [“American breweries preexisted American government; some of the breweries’ staunchest supporters were also the leaders of the new nation. In colonial America, the alehouse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-nachel/american-breweries-preexisted-american-government-some-of-the/) [Marty Nachel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-nachel/) > [“Whatever his disappointments, Hamilton, forty, must have left Philadelphia with an immense feeling of accomplishment. The Whiskey Rebellion had been suppressed, the country's finances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/whatever-his-disappointments-hamilton-forty-must-have-left/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [No. But then the American Government--whatever branch--has never really grasped the concept of tribal identity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/no-but-then-the-american-government-whatever-branch-has-never-really/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [To take a single step beyond the boundaries specially drawn around the powers of Congress is to take possession of a boundless field of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/to-take-a-single-step-beyond-the-boundaries-specially-drawn-around/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ With almost no time to decide, \[your loved ones\] gave the entire country an incalculable gift. They saved the Capitol from attack. They saved… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/with-almost-no-time-to-decide-your-loved-ones-gave-the-entire-country/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-opposed-to-any-form-of-tyranny-over-the-mind-of-man/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I'm an American. Why would I not go with my government?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hardy/i-m-an-american-why-would-i-not-go-with-my-government/) [Greg Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-hardy/) > [“When we examine, not the language of the propaganda, but the witness of the combatants themselves, religion does not occupy the first place. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tzvetan-todorov/when-we-examine-not-the-language-of-the-propaganda-but-the-witness-of/) [Tzvetan Todorov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tzvetan-todorov/) > [“Are they a secret part of the American government or a powerful private corporation? Is there a difference? To me, it doesn’t matter. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nnedi-okorafor/are-they-a-secret-part-of-the-american-government-or-a-powerful/) [Nnedi Okorafor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nnedi-okorafor/) > [“vividly revealed the arms industry’s ‘constant tendency towards bribery, and the playing off of one country against another to sell arms’. It also exposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-feinstein/vividly-revealed-the-arms-industry-s-constant-tendency-towards/) [Andrew Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-feinstein/) > [“Those men who laid the foundation of this American government and signed the Declaration of Independence were the best spirits the God of heaven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilford-woodruff/those-men-who-laid-the-foundation-of-this-american-government-and/) [Wilford Woodruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilford-woodruff/) ## More by Chris Matthews > [You don't know whether he's thought through how this is going to affect the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/you-don-t-know-whether-he-s-thought-through-how-this-is-going-to/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [Natural-born American means you don't have to be naturalized. You were born to an American mother, like President Obama, no matter where you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/natural-born-american-means-you-don-t-have-to-be-naturalized-you-were/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [ I think that the candidates who are doing it \[not debating\] are doing a great disservice to the party. It's a sign of an… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/i-think-that-the-candidates-who-are-doing-it-not-debating-are-doing-a/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [To become a saint in the Catholic Church, the normal procedure is, beatification, requiring one miracle in your name, then canonization, roughly in five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/to-become-a-saint-in-the-catholic-church-the-normal-procedure-is/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [The whole reason we organize grassroots is, we think any politician that gets elected needs to be held accountable 365 days a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/the-whole-reason-we-organize-grassroots-is-we-think-any-politician/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [ I don't sense an \[Barack\] Obama party. I think politics is transactional for him. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/i-don-t-sense-an-barack-obama-party-i-think-politics-is-transactional/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [What happens to conservatives when they get near the White House? How come they only seem to be talking the good talk at, say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/what-happens-to-conservatives-when-they-get-near-the-white-house-how/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [I'm closer to anybody who believes that we should lead not from behind, but from the front. Rand Paul is one step behind, leading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/i-m-closer-to-anybody-who-believes-that-we-should-lead-not-from/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [Let's not forget, Sarah Palin may not have a golden touch, but she gave Christine O'Donnell candidate a big touch that got her over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/let-s-not-forget-sarah-palin-may-not-have-a-golden-touch-but-she-gave/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [Here's the Republican Party with round heels for anybody who says the right thing at the current moment. Regardless of their record, regardless of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/here-s-the-republican-party-with-round-heels-for-anybody-who-says-the/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [When lightning strikes you want to be there, right there in the room. You, not everybody's going to say yes to you. Just don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/when-lightning-strikes-you-want-to-be-there-right-there-in-the-room/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [Sarah Palin is an empty vessel ready to be filled by ideology that she doesn't even understand, and that is really scary. Nothing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/sarah-palin-is-an-empty-vessel-ready-to-be-filled-by-ideology-that/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [“Earlier that year, at the hundredth anniversary of his Harvard club, a member was talking about the spirit of Harvard College and saying how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/earlier-that-year-at-the-hundredth-anniversary-of-his-harvard-club-a/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [ I think we all \[americans\] think we're a special country. But the question is, what - what call does that give us? ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/i-think-we-all-americans-think-we-re-a-special-country-but-the/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [I'm not just gonna go after the black Jesse Jackson they all want to make fun of, but I know the wrong people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/i-m-not-just-gonna-go-after-the-black-jesse-jackson-they-all-want-to/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) [Explore all 213 Chris Matthews quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) ## More American government quotes > [“For the same reason , the American government has invented a completely new juridical category , that of 'illegal enemy combatants'. 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Why would I not go with my government?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hardy/i-m-an-american-why-would-i-not-go-with-my-government/) [Greg Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-hardy/) > [I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-opposed-to-any-form-of-tyranny-over-the-mind-of-man/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ With almost no time to decide, \[your loved ones\] gave the entire country an incalculable gift. They saved the Capitol from attack. They saved… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/with-almost-no-time-to-decide-your-loved-ones-gave-the-entire-country/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [To take a single step beyond the boundaries specially drawn around the powers of Congress is to take possession of a boundless field of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/to-take-a-single-step-beyond-the-boundaries-specially-drawn-around/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [No. But then the American Government--whatever branch--has never really grasped the concept of tribal identity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/no-but-then-the-american-government-whatever-branch-has-never-really/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“Whatever his disappointments, Hamilton, forty, must have left Philadelphia with an immense feeling of accomplishment. 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I am thinking of the terrible tariff walls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/so-we-europeans-are-shocked-by-the-blind-uncomprehending-hard/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [“Those men who laid the foundation of this American government and signed the Declaration of Independence were the best spirits the God of heaven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilford-woodruff/those-men-who-laid-the-foundation-of-this-american-government-and/) [Wilford Woodruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilford-woodruff/) [Browse all 189 American government quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-government/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Stop calling me communist. Stop calling the rest of us communists. 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