--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you look at history, every major…" description: "\"If you look at history, every major realignment in our politics is a joining together of a new generation and emerging technologies. Obama has been a p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31d/david-gergen-27311_community_if-you-look-at-history-every-major-reali_2176859.jpg" --- # If you look at history, every major realignment in our… ![“If you look at history, every major realignment in our politics is a joining together of a new generation and emerging technologies. Obama has been a pioneer in joining the powers of the Internet with the principles of community organizing. Howard Dean used the Internet for meetups - Obama used it…” quote by David Gergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31d/david-gergen-27311_community_if-you-look-at-history-every-major-reali_2176859.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31d/david-gergen-27311_community_if-you-look-at-history-every-major-reali_2176859.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31d/david-gergen-27311_community_if-you-look-at-history-every-major-reali_2176859.jpg) > “If you look at history, every major realignment in our politics is a joining together of a new generation and emerging technologies. Obama has been a pioneer in joining the powers of the Internet with the principles of community organizing. Howard Dean used the Internet for meetups - Obama used it to create a movement.” [David Gergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gergen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Technological advances reshape political landscapes, enabling new generations to mobilize and reorganize power structures through digital tools. **In simple terms:** New tech changes politics by connecting people and ideas. Key Takeaway Leverage technology to build inclusive movements. Themes politics technology social change generational shift organization Mood optimistic strategic analytical Type advice policy leadership When to use this quote - grassroots campaigns - online petitions - social media outreach - policy advocacy Key Concepts digital activism network theory political realignment Questions to Reflect On - How can we bridge tech gaps in political participation? - What safeguards protect online movements from manipulation? A Different Perspective Digital divides can marginalize those without access. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Community organizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community-organizing/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Joining together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joining-together/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [We need a new kind of politics. Not the politics of governance, but the politics of resistance. The politics of opposition. The politics of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/we-need-a-new-kind-of-politics-not-the-politics-of-governance-but-the/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [The irresponsible rhetoric of Barack Obama, who has used the pulpit of the presidency to divide us by race and color, has made America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-irresponsible-rhetoric-of-barack-obama-who-has-used-the-pulpit-of/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [ \[Michelle Obama\] used to say to our friends, "Barack's exactly the kind of guy I want to be president. I just wish he didn't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/michelle-obama-used-to-say-to-our-friends-barack-s-exactly-the-kind/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Honestly, that puts a lot of weight on your shoulders because you're representing so many great people who want to see so much. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/honestly-that-puts-a-lot-of-weight-on-your-shoulders-because-you-re/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Few people know that President Obama has used drone attacks many times more than Bush ever did. Obama's off the charts in terms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-turley/few-people-know-that-president-obama-has-used-drone-attacks-many/) [Jonathan Turley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-turley/) > [Our intelligence agencies have vast powers, and Obama used them illegally to spy on political opponents. This can't be allowed to stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-fitton/our-intelligence-agencies-have-vast-powers-and-obama-used-them/) [Tom Fitton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-fitton/) > [Obama used to be a community organizer. He knows how to build communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/obama-used-to-be-a-community-organizer-he-knows-how-to-build/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [I think President Obama has used the bully pulpit as a way to attack capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/i-think-president-obama-has-used-the-bully-pulpit-as-a-way-to-attack/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [“Obama’s formative background is the left-wing fever swamp of Chicago “community organizing,” a gussied-up term for systematic rabble-rousing that has now become acceptable enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/obama-s-formative-background-is-the-left-wing-fever-swamp-of-chicago/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [ All the eight years of \[Barack\] Obama when \[George W.\] Bush was asked repeatedly, "I don't do that. I had my time. It's his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/all-the-eight-years-of-barack-obama-when-george-w-bush-was-asked/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The thirteenth rule of radical tactics: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/the-thirteenth-rule-of-radical-tactics-pick-the-target-freeze-it/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [Before running for the Washington State Senate in 2014, I had spent 20 years as an activist. I had always believed that we needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/before-running-for-the-washington-state-senate-in-2014-i-had-spent-20/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [It is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul/it-is-necessary-to-begin-where-the-world-is-if-we-are-going-to-change/) [Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul/) > [Baltimore is a beautiful city. I started doing a lot of community organizing back in 1999 and met so many great people in neighborhoods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/baltimore-is-a-beautiful-city-i-started-doing-a-lot-of-community/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [Community organizing is all about building grassroots support. It's about identifying the people around you with whom you can create a common, passionate cause.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/community-organizing-is-all-about-building-grassroots-support-it-s/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) ## More by David Gergen > [It’s easy to confuse motion with progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gergen/it-s-easy-to-confuse-motion-with-progress/) [David Gergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gergen/) > [There's a normal tendency in the campaign, during a crisis, for the country to rally around the White House. vThat may help Al Gore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gergen/there-s-a-normal-tendency-in-the-campaign-during-a-crisis-for-the/) [David Gergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gergen/) > [Ronald Reagan rebuilt the American presidency; it was in trouble when he came into office as an institution, and he did through his communications…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gergen/ronald-reagan-rebuilt-the-american-presidency-it-was-in-trouble-when/) [David Gergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gergen/) > [We are making politics a spectator sport in which our only duty is to vote somebody into office and then retire to the grandstands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gergen/we-are-making-politics-a-spectator-sport-in-which-our-only-duty-is-to/) [David Gergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gergen/) > [At the heart of leadership is the leader's relationship with followers. 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Yes, you can see it directly on your screen, but I think a lot of people want to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gergen/politics-is-like-watching-football-yes-you-can-see-it-directly-on/) [David Gergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gergen/) > [I don't have any problem with a reporter or a news person who says the President is uninformed on this issue or that issue.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gergen/i-don-t-have-any-problem-with-a-reporter-or-a-news-person-who-says/) [David Gergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gergen/) > [I think it's particularly raw coming the day after the Electoral College, and Bill Clinton, he's taking this hard. It's been very hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gergen/i-think-it-s-particularly-raw-coming-the-day-after-the-electoral/) [David Gergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gergen/) > [One cannot underestimate how widely admired Tom Daschle is in Washington for his integrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gergen/one-cannot-underestimate-how-widely-admired-tom-daschle-is-in/) [David Gergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gergen/) > [Leadership is a journey. Each one of us has to take our own path, and get there our own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gergen/leadership-is-a-journey-each-one-of-us-has-to-take-our-own-path-and/) [David Gergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gergen/) > [ The proudest moment for \[a teacher of leaders\] is seeing not what students learn but what they do. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gergen/the-proudest-moment-for-a-teacher-of-leaders-is-seeing-not-what/) [David Gergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gergen/) > [Ronald Reagan is clearly to television what Franklin Roosevelt was to radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gergen/ronald-reagan-is-clearly-to-television-what-franklin-roosevelt-was-to/) [David Gergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gergen/) > [We know from past history that when young people vote for one party a couple of times, they tend to vote for that party…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gergen/we-know-from-past-history-that-when-young-people-vote-for-one-party-a/) [David Gergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gergen/) > [It's very, very hard to speak truth to power when the truth is unpleasant. I think it's one of the toughest things especially a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gergen/it-s-very-very-hard-to-speak-truth-to-power-when-the-truth-is/) [David Gergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gergen/) [Explore all 20 David Gergen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gergen/) ## More Community quotes > [Race is the idea that a human being is more superior than another human being, race in society grants illusional rights to mistreat each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/race-is-the-idea-that-a-human-being-is-more-superior-than-another/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. 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They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-beauty-contests-and-popularity/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) > [We're at a point in history were we have to become a part of the neighborhood of inhabited planets, like a neighborhood of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-re-at-a-point-in-history-were-we-have-to-become-a-part-of-the/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [It rolls off my back. 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