--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People really think that the only way I…" description: "\"People really think that the only way I got to be press secretary is because I somehow had a personal family connection to the Bushes or the Cheneys, a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32c/dana-perino-2974_connection_people-really-think-that-the-only-way-i_1446861.png" --- # People really think that the only way I got to be press… ![“People really think that the only way I got to be press secretary is because I somehow had a personal family connection to the Bushes or the Cheneys, and that wasn't true.” quote by Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32c/dana-perino-2974_connection_people-really-think-that-the-only-way-i_1446861.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32c/dana-perino-2974_connection_people-really-think-that-the-only-way-i_1446861.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32c/dana-perino-2974_connection_people-really-think-that-the-only-way-i_1446861.png) > “People really think that the only way I got to be press secretary is because I somehow had a personal family connection to the Bushes or the Cheneys, and that wasn't true.” [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She refutes claims that her appointment was due to family ties, emphasizing merit. **In simple terms:** Denies nepotism, stresses qualification. Key Takeaway Focus on competence, not connections. Themes integrity merit politics Mood assertive defensive Type political professional When to use this quote - government - media scrutiny - career narratives Key Concepts career advancement public perception Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports merit? - How to address perceived nepotism? A Different Perspective Perceptions of bias can persist despite evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Connection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connection/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [“They said a secretary should not question her boss’s personal life and a boss should not question his secretary’s personal life. But it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-arterburn/they-said-a-secretary-should-not-question-her-boss-s-personal-life/) [Stephen Arterburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-arterburn/) > [There's no job that will humble you like the White House press secretary job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/there-s-no-job-that-will-humble-you-like-the-white-house-press/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [As a press secretary and on 'The Five,' I've learned that I have a choice in how I answer a question. There's combative or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/as-a-press-secretary-and-on-the-five-i-ve-learned-that-i-have-a/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [There's more of a family connection when you're working on a TV show. That's not to say that you don't make great connections when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baker/there-s-more-of-a-family-connection-when-you-re-working-on-a-tv-show/) [Simon Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baker/) > [For me, there is a strong family connection to Boston and anything connected to Boston, which includes Fenway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/for-me-there-is-a-strong-family-connection-to-boston-and-anything/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [For many years I hoped to have an exhibition in China, because of my family connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/for-many-years-i-hoped-to-have-an-exhibition-in-china-because-of-my/) [Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/) > [We are one family, and the connection between all Jews, all over the world, is very important to the State of Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reuven-rivlin/we-are-one-family-and-the-connection-between-all-jews-all-over-the/) [Reuven Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reuven-rivlin/) > [Nearly every Christian Scientist I have known has been involved with the Church from childhood and has a long family connection to it, going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-fraser/nearly-every-christian-scientist-i-have-known-has-been-involved-with/) [Caroline Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-fraser/) > [I'm not going to be able to talk about the people who are involved specifically in any ongoing judicial process. We do the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-belichick/i-m-not-going-to-be-able-to-talk-about-the-people-who-are-involved/) [Bill Belichick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-belichick/) > [A word of brotherly advice: dont broadcast your personal family issues on social media. It will only show how weak and insecure you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-word-of-brotherly-advice-dont-broadcast-your-personal-family-issues/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Skin cancer became personal to my family when my father was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/skin-cancer-became-personal-to-my-family-when-my-father-was-diagnosed/) [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) > [“As ministry leaders and volunteers, it's our job to care mostly about a family's connection inside our church, and ultimately with Jesus Christ.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-fenton-lee/as-ministry-leaders-and-volunteers-it-s-our-job-to-care-mostly-about/) [Amy Fenton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-fenton-lee/) > [If you don't come from film family, it takes time for people to register you. When you don't come from film family, the connection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kriti-sanon/if-you-don-t-come-from-film-family-it-takes-time-for-people-to/) [Kriti Sanon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kriti-sanon/) > [For me, politics is personal because it's my family, and just being aware of my thoughts - are my thoughts productive?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-bush-koch/for-me-politics-is-personal-because-it-s-my-family-and-just-being/) [Dorothy Bush Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-bush-koch/) > [I personally believe that the writing of personal and family histories will do more to turn the hearts of the children to the fathers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hartman-rector-jr/i-personally-believe-that-the-writing-of-personal-and-family/) [Hartman Rector, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hartman-rector-jr/) ## More by Dana Perino > [On election night 2000, I had never met then-Governor Bush, though I'd supported him for years. I believed he would be a strong, optimistic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/on-election-night-2000-i-had-never-met-then-governor-bush-though-i-d/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [There are times, especially on 'The Five,' where I've lost control for a moment. I always feel bad about it, but those always seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/there-are-times-especially-on-the-five-where-i-ve-lost-control-for-a/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [I am a pretty level-headed person, but that person, Harry Reid, has been the most destructive entity in Washington when it comes to civility.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-am-a-pretty-level-headed-person-but-that-person-harry-reid-has-been/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [Conservatism by its very nature is compassionate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/conservatism-by-its-very-nature-is-compassionate/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [I believe that leaders should inspire you to be more like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-believe-that-leaders-should-inspire-you-to-be-more-like-them/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [Even before the hearings that led to confirmation of Chief Justice Roberts, senators were saying they were reserving judgment on how they would vote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/even-before-the-hearings-that-led-to-confirmation-of-chief-justice/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [President Obama was never going repeal Obamacare - he was not going to be brought to his knees with the threat of a government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/president-obama-was-never-going-repeal-obamacare-he-was-not-going-to/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [I feel like there should be a statute of limitations on scoring political points on the tragedy that was Hurricane Katrina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-feel-like-there-should-be-a-statute-of-limitations-on-scoring/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [I think it is very good for the country, for the world, and especially for the Democrats that Harry Reid is retiring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-think-it-is-very-good-for-the-country-for-the-world-and-especially/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [My dad was a voracious news consumer. I remember just sitting with my family all the time. I would sit on his lap and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/my-dad-was-a-voracious-news-consumer-i-remember-just-sitting-with-my/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [Don't forget: before there would be a #NeverTrump hashtag, there would have been a #NeverJeb hashtag. And a lot of people would have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/don-t-forget-before-there-would-be-a-nevertrump-hashtag-there-would/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [I was raised to believe that America was a force for good in the world and that it should take its leadership role seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-was-raised-to-believe-that-america-was-a-force-for-good-in-the/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [I love to drive in the Black Hills of Wyoming and South Dakota with Mount Rushmore as the central stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-love-to-drive-in-the-black-hills-of-wyoming-and-south-dakota-with/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [I've traveled to many countries in Africa, and to me, Benin felt the most hopeful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-ve-traveled-to-many-countries-in-africa-and-to-me-benin-felt-the/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [I get a choice every time I have to open my mouth: that it can be with civility and dignity and grace - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-get-a-choice-every-time-i-have-to-open-my-mouth-that-it-can-be-with/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) [Explore all 143 Dana Perino quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) ## More Connection quotes > [I guess at it's very core love is connection that just makes so much sense you wonder how you used to live before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-stone/i-guess-at-it-s-very-core-love-is-connection-that-just-makes-so-much/) [Benjamin Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-stone/) > [I believe that we have a huge problem with the water in America. We don't want to make that connection that these chemicals, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-brockovich/i-believe-that-we-have-a-huge-problem-with-the-water-in-america-we/) [Erin Brockovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-brockovich/) > [There's overwhelming evidence... circumstantial and otherwise, to suggest a connection between Iraq and al Qaeda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/there-s-overwhelming-evidence-circumstantial-and-otherwise-to-suggest/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [When I discovered drama, I felt a connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-fearon/when-i-discovered-drama-i-felt-a-connection/) [Ray Fearon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-fearon/) > [“Your passion is your connection to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/your-passion-is-your-connection-to-god/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [Religion is no longer a connection point for most people. Our communities were built on coming together in physical locations once a week or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-mckelvey/religion-is-no-longer-a-connection-point-for-most-people-our/) [Miguel McKelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-mckelvey/) > [“A man becomes creative, whether he is an artist or a scientist, when he finds a new unity in the variety of nature. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-bronowski/a-man-becomes-creative-whether-he-is-an-artist-or-a-scientist-when-he/) [Jacob Bronowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-bronowski/) > [“If you cannot wait for time to unearth roots, you must dig.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelou-keramati/if-you-cannot-wait-for-time-to-unearth-roots-you-must-dig/) Nelou Keramati > [“As a species, we are hardwired for connection. We are our best selves when we are sharing and communicating with others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-henry/as-a-species-we-are-hardwired-for-connection-we-are-our-best-selves/) [Tyler Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-henry/) > [“If you feel you don’t know the right people, turn to the next person you see on the street and introduce yourself—that connection could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-davis-jr/if-you-feel-you-don-t-know-the-right-people-turn-to-the-next-person/) [Raoul Davis Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-davis-jr/) > [I'm uninterested in superheroes. I am only interested in real stories, real people, real connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-curtis/i-m-uninterested-in-superheroes-i-am-only-interested-in-real-stories/) [Jamie Lee Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-curtis/) > [There's a spectrum of those moments of connection and the moments we fail to connect, going from super-large successes to failures. Success would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-bender/there-s-a-spectrum-of-those-moments-of-connection-and-the-moments-we/) [Aimee Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-bender/) > [I think my work comes out of both an intense desire for connection and what it means to feel isolated. There's always going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/i-think-my-work-comes-out-of-both-an-intense-desire-for-connection/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [I always have this sense of food as triangular, in that one point is nourishment, one point is connection, and one point is pleasure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crescent-dragonwagon/i-always-have-this-sense-of-food-as-triangular-in-that-one-point-is/) [Crescent Dragonwagon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crescent-dragonwagon/) > [I don't mind writing so I didn't find that difficult, it's just a question of finding the time to do it. I kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cronenberg/i-don-t-mind-writing-so-i-didn-t-find-that-difficult-it-s-just-a/) [David Cronenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cronenberg/) [Browse all 1,649 Connection quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connection/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People really think that the only way I got to be press secretary is because I somehow had a personal family connection to the Bushes or the Cheneys, and that wasn't true.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dana Perino" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/people-really-think-that-the-only-way-i-got-to-be-press-secretary-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Connection" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/people-really-think-that-the-only-way-i-got-to-be-press-secretary-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32c/dana-perino-2974_connection_people-really-think-that-the-only-way-i_1446861.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32c/dana-perino-2974_connection_people-really-think-that-the-only-way-i_1446861.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32c/dana-perino-2974_connection_people-really-think-that-the-only-way-i_1446861.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People really think that the only way I got to be press secretary is because I somehow had a personal family…” — Dana Perino", "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": "Dana Perino", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People really think that the only...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/people-really-think-that-the-only-way-i-got-to-be-press-secretary-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/people-really-think-that-the-only-way-i-got-to-be-press-secretary-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 } } ] } ```