---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't hold anything against Barack…"
description: "\"I don't hold anything against Barack Obama. I just think the system is so corrupt, it doesn't matter how well-intentioned someone is, as I believe he w..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86c/conor-oberst-1535_barack_i-don-t-hold-anything-against-barack-oba_1815459.jpg"
---

#  I don't hold anything against Barack Obama. I just think…

![“I don't hold anything against Barack Obama. I just think the system is so corrupt, it doesn't matter how well-intentioned someone is, as I believe he was and is. At the end of the day, I think it just comes down to money. This is all about class warfare. All of our political problems.” quote by Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86c/conor-oberst-1535_barack_i-don-t-hold-anything-against-barack-oba_1815459.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86c/conor-oberst-1535_barack_i-don-t-hold-anything-against-barack-oba_1815459.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86c/conor-oberst-1535_barack_i-don-t-hold-anything-against-barack-oba_1815459.jpg)

> “I don't hold anything against Barack Obama. I just think the system is so corrupt, it doesn't matter how well-intentioned someone is, as I believe he was and is. At the end of the day, I think it just comes down to money. This is all about class warfare. All of our political problems.”

[Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Political issues stem from systemic corruption and class conflict, not individual intent.

**In simple terms:** Systemic corruption drives politics.

Key Takeaway

Address systemic inequality.

Themes

politics corruption class systemic

Mood

critical analytical

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

- policy reform
- activism
- public debate
- voting decisions

Key Concepts

sociology economics

Questions to Reflect On

- What reforms could reduce corruption?
- How does class affect political power?

A Different Perspective

Changing systems is complex and slow.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Class warfare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class-warfare/) [End of the day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-of-the-day/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

## Related quotes

> [The impression of Pakistan is that people are corrupt. I don't think they are as corrupt as they are made out to be. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mian-muhammad-mansha/the-impression-of-pakistan-is-that-people-are-corrupt-i-don-t-think/)

[Mian Muhammad Mansha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mian-muhammad-mansha/)

> [Power is supposed to be so corrupt. I don't think it's so much corrupt, in the usual sense of the word, as stupid and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/power-is-supposed-to-be-so-corrupt-i-don-t-think-it-s-so-much-corrupt/)

[Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/)

> [They say you should never mix sport and politics, but Barack Obama may just prove to be the first leader with a genuine passion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james/they-say-you-should-never-mix-sport-and-politics-but-barack-obama-may/)

[David James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james/)

> [ Did the media ever question anything about Obamacare, the intricate do's and don'ts, the policy cogs? No.\[Barack\] Obama just wanted it. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/did-the-media-ever-question-anything-about-obamacare-the-intricate-do/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [I don't see what the big deal about Obama is. He's just another black man, asking for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/i-don-t-see-what-the-big-deal-about-obama-is-he-s-just-another-black/)

[Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/)

> [Obama's just a puppet - he's a puppet in a chair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghostface-killah/obama-s-just-a-puppet-he-s-a-puppet-in-a-chair/)

[Ghostface Killah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghostface-killah/)

> [The challenge is not to replace Obama but with who. It's not enough to just change up the uniform, if we don't change the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/the-challenge-is-not-to-replace-obama-but-with-who-it-s-not-enough-to/)

[Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/)

> [I think that Mr. Obama is not just inexperienced; he is also hampered by a distinct inner emptiness - not an emptiness that comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-steele/i-think-that-mr-obama-is-not-just-inexperienced-he-is-also-hampered/)

[Shelby Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-steele/)

> [The thing about Barack Obama, just from being around him, is he's cooler than the other politicians, but just nerdy enough to do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/the-thing-about-barack-obama-just-from-being-around-him-is-he-s/)

[Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/)

> [I'm voting for Michelle. I'm always telling people I'm voting for Michelle to get into the White House and Obama is just going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jada-pinkett-smith/i-m-voting-for-michelle-i-m-always-telling-people-i-m-voting-for/)

[Jada Pinkett Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jada-pinkett-smith/)

> [I am for Obama, all the way. I dont support Obama just because he is a black man; I support him because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-yayo/i-am-for-obama-all-the-way-i-dont-support-obama-just-because-he-is-a/)

[Tony Yayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-yayo/)

> [I love Obama, and I just want to reiterate it again to everyone from every hilltop and every mountain: I love him!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sza/i-love-obama-and-i-just-want-to-reiterate-it-again-to-everyone-from/)

[SZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sza/)

> [I can't imagine Obama just jamming my song. I just don't believe it, but if he really does - that's crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doechii/i-can-t-imagine-obama-just-jamming-my-song-i-just-don-t-believe-it/)

[Doechii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doechii/)

> [ He \[Barack Obama\] just seemed very firm about the change, and that's, like, his motto. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-kardashian/he-barack-obama-just-seemed-very-firm-about-the-change-and-that-s/)

[Kim Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-kardashian/)

> [I got nothing against Barack Obama; I just might not like some of his policies and the people he surrounds himself with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickey-medlocke/i-got-nothing-against-barack-obama-i-just-might-not-like-some-of-his/)

[Rickey Medlocke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickey-medlocke/)

## More by Conor Oberst

> [Every time I finish a song... most of the time it's in my own head, like this sounds too much like a Townes Van…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/every-time-i-finish-a-song-most-of-the-time-it-s-in-my-own-head-like/)

[Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

> [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/)

[Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

> [There's nothing that the road cannot heal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/there-s-nothing-that-the-road-cannot-heal/)

[Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

> [I've given up trying to understand what people think about me. It seems like a lot of people don't like the music we make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-ve-given-up-trying-to-understand-what-people-think-about-me-it/)

[Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

> [You can't manufacture inspiration, so a lot of it is still a waiting game for me. There's still a lot of mystery to songwriting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/you-can-t-manufacture-inspiration-so-a-lot-of-it-is-still-a-waiting/)

[Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

> [Cause I swear that I'm dying, slowly but its happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/cause-i-swear-that-i-m-dying-slowly-but-its-happening/)

[Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

> [In a way, to have whatever people talk about as "crossover success," I think it means you start making bad music. I mean, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/in-a-way-to-have-whatever-people-talk-about-as-crossover-success-i/)

[Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

> [Men with purple hearts carry silver guns and they will kill a man for what his father has done. But what my father did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/men-with-purple-hearts-carry-silver-guns-and-they-will-kill-a-man-for/)

[Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

> [There's a major underlying idea as you grow up that you need to just save your money and get that affordable housing at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/there-s-a-major-underlying-idea-as-you-grow-up-that-you-need-to-just/)

[Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

> [To finish a song is the best feeling in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/to-finish-a-song-is-the-best-feeling-in-the-world/)

[Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

> [I've been part of running a label since I was a kid, so I understand how it works. But the more and more I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-ve-been-part-of-running-a-label-since-i-was-a-kid-so-i-understand/)

[Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

> [I'm ripe for the picking for the Scientologists - one of those creeps. Someone's got to find me. Some little weird cult can just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-m-ripe-for-the-picking-for-the-scientologists-one-of-those-creeps/)

[Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

> [When I run into a person or a kid that comes up and gives me the spiel about, 'Hey, I got your record at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/when-i-run-into-a-person-or-a-kid-that-comes-up-and-gives-me-the/)

[Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

> [My dad, who plays guitar and piano and was in cover bands, along with my older brother, Matt, taught me guitar and stuff. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/my-dad-who-plays-guitar-and-piano-and-was-in-cover-bands-along-with/)

[Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

> [I think there's a weird self-affirmation thing that happens in popular music in general. It seems like every song I hear on the radio…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-think-there-s-a-weird-self-affirmation-thing-that-happens-in/)

[Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

[Explore all 230 Conor Oberst quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

## 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": "I don't hold anything against Barack Obama. I just think the system is so corrupt, it doesn't matter how well-intentioned someone is, as I believe he was and is. At the end of the day, I think it just comes down to money. This is all about class warfare. All of our political problems.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Conor Oberst"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-don-t-hold-anything-against-barack-obama-i-just-think-the-system-is/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Barack"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-don-t-hold-anything-against-barack-obama-i-just-think-the-system-is/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86c/conor-oberst-1535_barack_i-don-t-hold-anything-against-barack-oba_1815459.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86c/conor-oberst-1535_barack_i-don-t-hold-anything-against-barack-oba_1815459.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86c/conor-oberst-1535_barack_i-don-t-hold-anything-against-barack-oba_1815459.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't hold anything against Barack Obama. I just think the system is so corrupt, it doesn't matter how…” — Conor Oberst",
                "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": "Conor Oberst",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I don't hold anything against Barack...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-don-t-hold-anything-against-barack-obama-i-just-think-the-system-is/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-don-t-hold-anything-against-barack-obama-i-just-think-the-system-is/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
