--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't elect [Barack] Obama because…" description: "\"I didn't elect [Barack] Obama because he's a black; I voted for Obama because he was the right person at the time.\" — Danny Glover" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/danny-glover-7902_barack_i-didn-t-elect-barack-obama-because-he-s_54451.jpg" --- # I didn't elect \[Barack\] Obama because he's a black; I… ![“I didn't elect [Barack] Obama because he's a black; I voted for Obama because he was the right person at the time.” quote by Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/danny-glover-7902_barack_i-didn-t-elect-barack-obama-because-he-s_54451.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/danny-glover-7902_barack_i-didn-t-elect-barack-obama-because-he-s_54451.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/danny-glover-7902_barack_i-didn-t-elect-barack-obama-because-he-s_54451.jpg) > “I didn't elect \[Barack\] Obama because he's a black; I voted for Obama because he was the right person at the time.” [Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker emphasizes voting based on qualifications and alignment with personal values rather than race, highlighting the importance of meritocratic decision‑making. **In simple terms:** Voting should be based on merit, not race. Key Takeaway Merit over identity Themes politics race voting behavior meritocracy identity politics Mood thoughtful critical Type political statement social commentary When to use this quote - elections - campaigns - public debates - community discussions Key Concepts racial bias candidate evaluation Practical Applications - voter education - policy analysis Questions to Reflect On - How does identity influence voting choices? - What criteria should dominate electoral decisions? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Democracy is about criticism. I didn't elect Obama because he's a black; I voted for Obama because he was the right person at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/democracy-is-about-criticism-i-didn-t-elect-obama-because-he-s-a/) [Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) > [In one of my songs, in the song on the "Why?" remix that I did with Jadakiss in 2004, I said, "Why is Bush…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/in-one-of-my-songs-in-the-song-on-the-why-remix-that-i-did-with/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [I feel very proud, even though they didn't elect me, to be President of the Argentines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopoldo-fortunato/i-feel-very-proud-even-though-they-didn-t-elect-me-to-be-president-of/) Leopoldo Fortunato > [Russians didn't elect Trump. Even if there was collusion, even if every hypothesis that has - that is at play in the Russia investigation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/russians-didn-t-elect-trump-even-if-there-was-collusion-even-if-every/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [I guess the President says the majority of the people didn't elect him, he doesn't have to listen to 'em anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/star-jones/i-guess-the-president-says-the-majority-of-the-people-didn-t-elect/) [Star Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/star-jones/) > [ It was the Democratic Party, it was the Presidential election. We elected a president \[Barack Obama\]; we didn't elect a king. So all the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/it-was-the-democratic-party-it-was-the-presidential-election-we/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [You didn't elect me to tell you what you wanted to hear. You elected me to tell you the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/you-didn-t-elect-me-to-tell-you-what-you-wanted-to-hear-you-elected/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We're spending money that we don't have to solve a problem that doesn't exist at the behest of people we didn't elect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-carswell/we-re-spending-money-that-we-don-t-have-to-solve-a-problem-that-doesn/) Douglas Carswell > [I'm not saying Obama is right on everything. Of course not. He may be wrong on a number of things. But what I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-m-not-saying-obama-is-right-on-everything-of-course-not-he-may-be/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [The greatest propaganda coup of the American Right has been to convince its citizens that we are in the grip of a liberal conspiracy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-smith/the-greatest-propaganda-coup-of-the-american-right-has-been-to-2/) [Shane Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-smith/) > [The thing is, Obama is right that it would be a calamity for the government to default on its debt by not meeting its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/the-thing-is-obama-is-right-that-it-would-be-a-calamity-for-the/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [I think Obama is right when he talks about the rule of law as a cornerstone of what the United States should stand for.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/i-think-obama-is-right-when-he-talks-about-the-rule-of-law-as-a/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [I think Obama is right when he talks about the rule of law as a cornerstone of what the United States should stand for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/i-think-obama-is-right-when-he-talks-about-the-rule-of-law-as-a-2/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [ I think the president \[Barack Obama\] is right to call for a full investigation. Every federal agency involved should be - should put everything… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/i-think-the-president-barack-obama-is-right-to-call-for-a-full/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [The problem, gentlemen, is that Obama is right: The promise of upward mobility is dying in America, and no amount of political demagoguery will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/the-problem-gentlemen-is-that-obama-is-right-the-promise-of-upward/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) ## More by Danny Glover > [I'm not so vain as to believe that my involvement changes anything whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/i-m-not-so-vain-as-to-believe-that-my-involvement-changes-anything/) [Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) > [Today, the media dictatorship is becoming a substitute to military dictatorship. The big economic groups are using the media and decide who can speak,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/today-the-media-dictatorship-is-becoming-a-substitute-to-military/) [Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) > [ What he \[Barack Obama\] does to change the world - that's what's important. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/what-he-barack-obama-does-to-change-the-world-that-s-what-s-important/) [Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) > [ My Toussaint \[Louverture\] film is in limbo. We still hope after all this time that we can find another way to get this film… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/my-toussaint-louverture-film-is-in-limbo-we-still-hope-after-all-this/) [Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) > [I have the capacity to express what I feel needs to be expressed. And I try to do what I believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/i-have-the-capacity-to-express-what-i-feel-needs-to-be-expressed-and/) [Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) > [We all know Reagan's legacy, from the Iran-Contra affair to the funding of the Nicaraguan military in which over 200,000 people died. The groundwork…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/we-all-know-reagan-s-legacy-from-the-iran-contra-affair-to-the/) [Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) > [I've always been able to make choices that don't embarrass me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/i-ve-always-been-able-to-make-choices-that-don-t-embarrass-me/) [Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) > [ There are things that make me excited about what I'm doing: Trouble the Water \[the 2008 documentary Glover executive produced\] on New Orleans, or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/there-are-things-that-make-me-excited-about-what-i-m-doing-trouble/) [Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) > [It is the most painful thing to see how young children become collateral damage of wars, but when peace treaties are signed landmines do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/it-is-the-most-painful-thing-to-see-how-young-children-become/) [Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) > [In The Black Power Mixtape , you hear the voice of Angela Davis - not someone playing Angela Davis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/in-the-black-power-mixtape-you-hear-the-voice-of-angela-davis-not/) [Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) > [But I think it's very key that there's a plan for Haiti. And we have to begin to - as progressives and people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/but-i-think-it-s-very-key-that-there-s-a-plan-for-haiti-and-we-have/) [Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) > [Those titles, Executive Producer or actor, are unimportant. I always try to approach my role as an artist. The first thing you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/those-titles-executive-producer-or-actor-are-unimportant-i-always-try/) [Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) > [I'm a child of the Civil Rights Movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/i-m-a-child-of-the-civil-rights-movement/) [Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) > [The Second Amendment comes from the right to protect themselves from slave revolts, and from uprisings by Native Americans. A revolt from people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/the-second-amendment-comes-from-the-right-to-protect-themselves-from/) [Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) > [When someone you know passes on, the only thing you can do is keep moving forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/when-someone-you-know-passes-on-the-only-thing-you-can-do-is-keep/) [Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) [Explore all 86 Danny Glover quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) ## 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 didn't elect [Barack] Obama because he's a black; I voted for Obama because he was the right person at the time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Danny Glover" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/i-didn-t-elect-barack-obama-because-he-s-a-black-i-voted-for-obama/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Barack" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/i-didn-t-elect-barack-obama-because-he-s-a-black-i-voted-for-obama/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/danny-glover-7902_barack_i-didn-t-elect-barack-obama-because-he-s_54451.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/danny-glover-7902_barack_i-didn-t-elect-barack-obama-because-he-s_54451.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/danny-glover-7902_barack_i-didn-t-elect-barack-obama-because-he-s_54451.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I didn't elect [Barack] Obama because he's a black; I voted for Obama because he was the right person at the…” — Danny Glover", "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": "Danny Glover", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I didn't elect [Barack] Obama because...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/i-didn-t-elect-barack-obama-because-he-s-a-black-i-voted-for-obama/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/i-didn-t-elect-barack-obama-because-he-s-a-black-i-voted-for-obama/#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 } } ] } ```