---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think, from a progressive point of…"
description: "\"I think, from a progressive point of view, to have a Democratic Congress and a Democratic White House, and to have spent the time on Obamacare, which h..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/david-brooks-644_addresses_i-think-from-a-progressive-point-of-view_1843369.png"
---

#  I think, from a progressive point of view, to have a…

![“I think, from a progressive point of view, to have a Democratic Congress and a Democratic White House, and to have spent the time on Obamacare, which had real benefits, 20 million insured, but not on inequality, was a major cost to the Democratic Party, costing them their majorities, but also a…” quote by David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/david-brooks-644_addresses_i-think-from-a-progressive-point-of-view_1843369.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/david-brooks-644_addresses_i-think-from-a-progressive-point-of-view_1843369.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/david-brooks-644_addresses_i-think-from-a-progressive-point-of-view_1843369.png)

> “I think, from a progressive point of view, to have a Democratic Congress and a Democratic White House, and to have spent the time on Obamacare, which had real benefits, 20 million insured, but not on inequality, was a major cost to the Democratic Party, costing them their majorities, but also a bit of a cost to the country, because it didn't address the fundamental issues that led to Donald Trump and that led to a lot of unhappiness, just the continued widening inequality.”

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

## About This Quote

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

The quote argues that focusing on healthcare reform without addressing widening inequality hurt the Democratic Party and the nation, contributing to political backlash.

**In simple terms:** Ignoring inequality while expanding health coverage cost Democrats and fueled discontent.

Key Takeaway

Address inequality alongside health care.

Themes

politics policy inequality healthcare electoral strategy

Mood

concerned analytical critical

Type

political commentary policy analysis

When to use this quote

- campaign planning
- legislative agenda
- public messaging
- voter outreach

Key Concepts

progressive politics public policy social welfare

Questions to Reflect On

- How can parties balance multiple policy priorities?
- What policies could reduce inequality while maintaining health coverage?

A Different Perspective

Focusing solely on one issue may overlook other critical voter concerns.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Addresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addresses/) [Benefits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benefits/) [Bits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bits/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Congress Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress-democratic-2368044/) [Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost/) [Cost Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost-democratic-2368042/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic/) [Democratic Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-congress-812851/) [Democratic party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-party/) [Fundamentals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentals/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Inequality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inequality/) [Insured Inequality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insured-inequality-2368043/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Majority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majority/) [Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majors/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Obamacare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obamacare/) [Obamacare Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obamacare-real-2368045/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Point of view](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point-of-view/) [Progressive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progressive/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Unhappiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappiness/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [White house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-house/)

## Related quotes

> [In 2010, I ran for Congress in a Democratic primary against someone who had been there for 18 years. 'The Daily News' endorsed me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reshma-saujani/in-2010-i-ran-for-congress-in-a-democratic-primary-against-someone/)

[Reshma Saujani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reshma-saujani/)

> [The 1994 midterms had been a shocking rout for the GOP, which picked up 54 seats in the House and eight in the Senate.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kornacki/the-1994-midterms-had-been-a-shocking-rout-for-the-gop-which-picked/)

[Steve Kornacki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kornacki/)

> [There's no question that a Democratic Congress plus a Trump presidency would equal gridlock. Nothing moves, nothing changes, nothing gets accomplished, nothing gets reformed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-soltis-anderson/there-s-no-question-that-a-democratic-congress-plus-a-trump/)

[Kristen Soltis Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-soltis-anderson/)

> [I actually believe that one of the lessons of 1993 and 1994, as well as 2009 and 2010, is that when a Democratic president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-castro/i-actually-believe-that-one-of-the-lessons-of-1993-and-1994-as-well/)

[Julian Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-castro/)

> [Obamacare is woven into the fabric of health care. It's very hard to just rip it out, as Donald Trump sort of acknowledged with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/obamacare-is-woven-into-the-fabric-of-health-care-it-s-very-hard-to/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [As a result of Obamacare, we are becoming something of a part-time employment country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bartiromo/as-a-result-of-obamacare-we-are-becoming-something-of-a-part-time/)

[Maria Bartiromo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bartiromo/)

> [I think Republicans have spent years promising their base that they would get rid of Obamacare the second they took total control. Now, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-michael-cillizza/i-think-republicans-have-spent-years-promising-their-base-that-they/)

[Christopher Michael Cillizza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-michael-cillizza/)

> [On Obamacare, every day that goes by I have more evidence that I wish I could put in my book, on how difficult it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-chait/on-obamacare-every-day-that-goes-by-i-have-more-evidence-that-i-wish/)

[Jonathan Chait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-chait/)

> [Happy birthday Obamacare! Five years ago today you came into our lives and nothing's ever been the same since! Our insurance premiums have skyrocketed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cavuto/happy-birthday-obamacare-five-years-ago-today-you-came-into-our-lives/)

[Neil Cavuto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cavuto/)

> [According to a new report, more than 700 fake Obamacare websites have been created. Security experts say it's simple to identify the phony sites…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/according-to-a-new-report-more-than-700-fake-obamacare-websites-have/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [The White House approved an exemption in Obamacare coverage for Congress and members of their staff. Members complained that the Affordable Care Act will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-white-house-approved-an-exemption-in-obamacare-coverage-for/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [ \[Tom Cotton\] has been an absolute champion of the idea of getting rid of Obamacare, scrapping the Affordable Care Act. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/tom-cotton-has-been-an-absolute-champion-of-the-idea-of-getting-rid/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [ The Congressional Record will forever show that \[Obamacare\] was passed in a romper room of overgrown children seemingly barely old enough to keep from… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-taibbi/the-congressional-record-will-forever-show-that-obamacare-was-passed/)

[Matt Taibbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-taibbi/)

> [ Senator \[Tom\] Cotton has campaigned on wanting to kill Obamacare. He voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act back in January, but he now… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/senator-tom-cotton-has-campaigned-on-wanting-to-kill-obamacare-he/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [No number of repairs will be able to fix Obamacare. The website is the least of Americans' worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/no-number-of-repairs-will-be-able-to-fix-obamacare-the-website-is-the/)

[Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/)

## More by David Brooks

> [The brain is not the mind. It is probably impossible to look at a map of brain activity and predict or even understand the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/the-brain-is-not-the-mind-it-is-probably-impossible-to-look-at-a-map/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [When you're running for president, you're a guest in the living room for four years. And if people don't think you're going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/when-you-re-running-for-president-you-re-a-guest-in-the-living-room/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [“I’ve come to think that flourishing consists of putting yourself in situations in which you lose self-consciousness and become fused with other people, experiences,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-ve-come-to-think-that-flourishing-consists-of-putting-yourself-in/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [We have rapidly increasing technology, which is making life very good for people who are good at using words, and not so good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/we-have-rapidly-increasing-technology-which-is-making-life-very-good/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [I think Barack Obama's foreign policy will be regarded more failure than success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-think-barack-obama-s-foreign-policy-will-be-regarded-more-failure/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [If you know that most processing is below the level of awareness, you learn the value of sleep. You're brain is working on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/if-you-know-that-most-processing-is-below-the-level-of-awareness-you/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [Trade has suddenly become massively unpopular. I think that's massively unjust. I think free trade has been wonderful for America on balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/trade-has-suddenly-become-massively-unpopular-i-think-that-s/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [Politics is based on social identity, and so, again, there is going to be differences between rural and urban and between left and right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/politics-is-based-on-social-identity-and-so-again-there-is-going-to/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [Pain now is better than pain deferred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/pain-now-is-better-than-pain-deferred/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [It’s worth noting that you can devote your life to community service and be a total schmuck. You can spend your life on Wall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/it-s-worth-noting-that-you-can-devote-your-life-to-community-service/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [If it feels all right for you, it's probably OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/if-it-feels-all-right-for-you-it-s-probably-ok/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [I do think Donald Trump is a fundamentally unstabilizing force and that the people who swore to uphold the Constitution are going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-do-think-donald-trump-is-a-fundamentally-unstabilizing-force-and/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [Tim Kaine has been obviously a governor. He's been a senator. He's one of the smartest rising stars in the Democratic Party. He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/tim-kaine-has-been-obviously-a-governor-he-s-been-a-senator-he-s-one/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [“Women, in general, are less visually aroused than men, a trait that has nearly cut the market for pornography in half.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/women-in-general-are-less-visually-aroused-than-men-a-trait-that-has/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [I wasn't born with a tie or with Mark Shields stapled to my left hip. I have another life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-wasn-t-born-with-a-tie-or-with-mark-shields-stapled-to-my-left-hip/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

[Explore all 431 David Brooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

## More Addresses quotes

> [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... What this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-swimme/a-tree-is-a-self-it-is-unseen-shaping-more-than-it-is-leaves-or-bark/)

[Brian Swimme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-swimme/)

> [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [The propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-propitious-smiles-of-heaven-can-never-be-expected-on-a-nation/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [I'm a Christian because Christianity names and addresses sin. It acknowledges the reality that the evil we observe in the world is also present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/i-m-a-christian-because-christianity-names-and-addresses-sin-it/)

[Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/)

> [Each Act of Parliament intended to address harassment and discrimination has faced objections on the basis of 'you'll never be able to prove...' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/each-act-of-parliament-intended-to-address-harassment-and/)

[Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/)

> [The pleasures and the cares of the luckiest ambition, even of limitless power, are nothing next to the intimate happiness that tenderness and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/the-pleasures-and-the-cares-of-the-luckiest-ambition-even-of/)

[Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/)

> [You will find a spring by the dwelling of the dead, to the left. Next to it stands a white cypress. Do not approach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustaw-herling-grudzinski/you-will-find-a-spring-by-the-dwelling-of-the-dead-to-the-left-next/)

[Gustaw Herling-Grudzinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustaw-herling-grudzinski/)

> [ \[T\]he appropriate form of address between man and man ought to be, not monsieur, sir, but fellow sufferer, compagnon de miseres. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/t-he-appropriate-form-of-address-between-man-and-man-ought-to-be-not/)

[Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/)

> [Like a versatile baller, George Dohrmann swings seamlessly from position to position: investigative journalist, social critic, gifted storyteller. The result is a gem of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-jon-wertheim/like-a-versatile-baller-george-dohrmann-swings-seamlessly-from/)

[L. Jon Wertheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-jon-wertheim/)

> [Each email contains an unsubscribe link. We will NEVER sell, rent, loan, or abuse your email address in ANY way. Writing has been so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mccaffrey/each-email-contains-an-unsubscribe-link-we-will-never-sell-rent-loan/)

[Anne McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mccaffrey/)

> [The malady of civilized man is his knowledge of death. The good artist, like the wise man, addresses himself to life and invests with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-malady-of-civilized-man-is-his-knowledge-of-death-the-good-artist/)

[Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/)

> [In science, address the few, in literature the many. In science, the few must dictate opinion to the many; in literature, the many, sooner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/in-science-address-the-few-in-literature-the-many-in-science-the-few/)

[Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/)

> [Pedestrian's rights - because we live in California, I've got to address this issue. I don't know where on the fence I am about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/pedestrian-s-rights-because-we-live-in-california-i-ve-got-to-address/)

[Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/)

> [With no other privilege than that of sympathy and sincere good wishes, I would address an affectionate exhortation to the youthful literati, grounded on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/with-no-other-privilege-than-that-of-sympathy-and-sincere-good-wishes/)

[Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/)

> [Senator Obama will be taking office at a critical juncture. There are many pressing challenges facing the international community, including the global financial crisis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-clark/senator-obama-will-be-taking-office-at-a-critical-juncture-there-are/)

[Helen Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-clark/)

[Browse all 1,100 Addresses quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addresses/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think, from a progressive point of view, to have a Democratic Congress and a Democratic White House, and to have spent the time on Obamacare, which had real benefits, 20 million insured, but not on inequality, was a major cost to the Democratic Party, costing them their majorities, but also a bit of a cost to the country, because it didn't address the fundamental issues that led to Donald Trump and that led to a lot of unhappiness, just the continued widening inequality.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Brooks"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-think-from-a-progressive-point-of-view-to-have-a-democratic/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Addresses"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-think-from-a-progressive-point-of-view-to-have-a-democratic/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/david-brooks-644_addresses_i-think-from-a-progressive-point-of-view_1843369.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/david-brooks-644_addresses_i-think-from-a-progressive-point-of-view_1843369.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/david-brooks-644_addresses_i-think-from-a-progressive-point-of-view_1843369.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think, from a progressive point of view, to have a Democratic Congress and a Democratic White House, and…” — David Brooks",
                "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": "David Brooks",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think, from a progressive point...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-think-from-a-progressive-point-of-view-to-have-a-democratic/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-think-from-a-progressive-point-of-view-to-have-a-democratic/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
