--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We in politics are accustomed to seeing…" description: "\"We in politics are accustomed to seeing reality firsthand and then watching its distant cousin, events as portrayed by the media, unfold on our televis..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca0/dick-morris-4948_accustomed_we-in-politics-are-accustomed-to-seeing_2553012.jpg" --- # We in politics are accustomed to seeing reality firsthand… ![“We in politics are accustomed to seeing reality firsthand and then watching its distant cousin, events as portrayed by the media, unfold on our televisions. We know that what happened in Congress and what is reported to have taken place are two very different things. But that disjuncture, so…” quote by Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca0/dick-morris-4948_accustomed_we-in-politics-are-accustomed-to-seeing_2553012.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca0/dick-morris-4948_accustomed_we-in-politics-are-accustomed-to-seeing_2553012.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca0/dick-morris-4948_accustomed_we-in-politics-are-accustomed-to-seeing_2553012.jpg) > “We in politics are accustomed to seeing reality firsthand and then watching its distant cousin, events as portrayed by the media, unfold on our televisions. We know that what happened in Congress and what is reported to have taken place are two very different things. But that disjuncture, so familiar to politicians, is new to the viewing public. By seeing war and war coverage juxtaposed nightly on their screens, Americans have learned the crucial lesson: not to trust the news anchors.” [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Politicians experience events directly, while the public receives filtered, often distorted media portrayals, leading to mistrust of news sources. **In simple terms:** Politicians see reality; the public sees a mediated version, causing skepticism. Key Takeaway Critically evaluate multiple news sources before forming opinions. Themes media politics trust perception information Mood skeptical analytical Type political media criticism When to use this quote - election coverage - daily news consumption - social media - public debates Key Concepts propaganda media bias public perception political communication Questions to Reflect On - What sources do you trust and why? - How can you verify political information? A Different Perspective Media narratives can be intentionally misleading, not just unintentionally biased. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media/) [News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news/) [News anchors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news-anchors/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [We managed to put together a compilation that had some creativity to it. In the meantime I was listening to the free radio stations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/we-managed-to-put-together-a-compilation-that-had-some-creativity-to/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [ I cannot tell you how proud watching that \[Iraqi\] war coverage makes me. I know a lot of people are saying that they think… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/i-cannot-tell-you-how-proud-watching-that-iraqi-war-coverage-makes-me/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [“He wondered what it was like for her to be reading about what happened instead of having lived through it—seeing the war in fading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laekan-zea-kemp/he-wondered-what-it-was-like-for-her-to-be-reading-about-what/) [Laekan Zea Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laekan-zea-kemp/) > [Seeing any war through the distortion of comedy is healthy. There is just too much absurdity and irony at play in a combat zone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-abrams/seeing-any-war-through-the-distortion-of-comedy-is-healthy-there-is/) [Dave Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-abrams/) > [“If we really saw war, what war does to young minds and bodies, it would be impossible to embrace the myth of war. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/if-we-really-saw-war-what-war-does-to-young-minds-and-bodies-it-would/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [War coverage should be more than a parade of retired generals and retired government flacks posing as reporters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-goodman/war-coverage-should-be-more-than-a-parade-of-retired-generals-and/) [Amy Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-goodman/) > [Meditation is simply seeing reality and acknowledging it with bare honesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-lozoff/meditation-is-simply-seeing-reality-and-acknowledging-it-with-bare/) [Bo Lozoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-lozoff/) > [Concentrate on the wonders and joys of this life, and accept the very best which is your true heritage. It is not being an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-caddy/concentrate-on-the-wonders-and-joys-of-this-life-and-accept-the-very/) [Eileen Caddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-caddy/) > [Maybe it's because I was too much reality, but I'm not interested in seeing too much reality anymore. I'd rather watch a Dean Martin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-farina/maybe-it-s-because-i-was-too-much-reality-but-i-m-not-interested-in/) [Dennis Farina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-farina/) > [Enlightenment is a perfect state of mind. It is the direct seeing of reality. The world most people see, which they call life, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightenment-is-a-perfect-state-of-mind-it-is-the-direct-seeing-of/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [What, concretely, is Enlightenment ?" "Seeing Reality as it is," said the Master. "Doesn't everyone see Reality as it is?" "Oh, no! Most people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/what-concretely-is-enlightenment-seeing-reality-as-it-is-said-the/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Prayer is the act of seeing reality from God's point of view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/prayer-is-the-act-of-seeing-reality-from-god-s-point-of-view/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [There's no better feeling than having an idea and seeing it become reality, emerging in the physical world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyan-slat/there-s-no-better-feeling-than-having-an-idea-and-seeing-it-become/) [Boyan Slat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyan-slat/) > [You are not seeing reality. You are seeing what you are believing. Stop believing and you will see more reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-not-seeing-reality-you-are-seeing-what-you-are-believing-stop/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Seeing reality for what it is is what we call discernment. The work of discernment is very hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-b-smedes/seeing-reality-for-what-it-is-is-what-we-call-discernment-the-work-of/) [Lewis B. Smedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-b-smedes/) ## More by Dick Morris > [Obama's perverse view of fairness threatens to create reverse incentives, militating against growth, jobs, expansion and upward mobility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/obama-s-perverse-view-of-fairness-threatens-to-create-reverse/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) > [Often GOP political strategy seems like the human wave theory of the Chinese military translated to politics. Where Beijing uses masses of soldiers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/often-gop-political-strategy-seems-like-the-human-wave-theory-of-the/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) > [Rebut the negative, and the opposing campaign has not merely lost a skirmish, it has suffered almost irreparable damage. An effective rebuttal makes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/rebut-the-negative-and-the-opposing-campaign-has-not-merely-lost-a/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) > [With a congressional mandate to run the deficit up as high as need be, there is no reason to raise taxes now and risk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/with-a-congressional-mandate-to-run-the-deficit-up-as-high-as-need-be/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) > [Obama does not believe in individual upward mobility. He would penalize it, tax it, regulate it, inveigh against it and disincentivize it. We will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/obama-does-not-believe-in-individual-upward-mobility-he-would/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) > [In Canada the cancer death rate is 16% higher than in the U.S. because of rationing of medical care. It takes an eight week…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/in-canada-the-cancer-death-rate-is-16-higher-than-in-the-u-s-because/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) > [Franklin Roosevelt didn't poll, because he had great political instincts. Now we have polls; we don't need instincts. But is that a change in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/franklin-roosevelt-didn-t-poll-because-he-had-great-political/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) > [Anybody else who's gotten the president of the United States elected, tell me you are better than I am at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/anybody-else-who-s-gotten-the-president-of-the-united-states-elected/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) > [The Hispanic population grew by 4.7 percent last year, while blacks expanded by 1.5 percent and whites by a paltry 0.3 percent. Hispanics cast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/the-hispanic-population-grew-by-4-7-percent-last-year-while-blacks/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) > [Those crazies in Montana who say, 'We're going to kill ATF agents because the UN's going to take over' - well, they're beginning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/those-crazies-in-montana-who-say-we-re-going-to-kill-atf-agents/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) > [You cannot cover the 50 million new people Obama seeks to cover without more doctors and nurses. But the administration and even the Blue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/you-cannot-cover-the-50-million-new-people-obama-seeks-to-cover/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) > [I think that the reason Clinton chose Gore was that he was an example of what Clinton was like. He was kind of almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/i-think-that-the-reason-clinton-chose-gore-was-that-he-was-an-example/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) > [The problem: Democrats have to drop their stupid class-warfare rhetoric. With 74 million Americans owning stock in one form or another, anything which helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/the-problem-democrats-have-to-drop-their-stupid-class-warfare/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) > [The Darwinian adaptive trait of our time is the ability to figure out when we are being lied to on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/the-darwinian-adaptive-trait-of-our-time-is-the-ability-to-figure-out/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) > [Public-opinion polls show that Americans split about evenly on civil unions. But when the words 'gay marriage' are presented, they break 3-to-1 against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/public-opinion-polls-show-that-americans-split-about-evenly-on-civil/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) [Explore all 104 Dick Morris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) ## More Accustomed quotes > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. 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There is less information, there's less investigation, there's less analysis, there's less accountability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-greenspon/democracy-is-not-being-well-served-as-we-re-accustomed-to-there-is/) Edward Greenspon > [To one who is accustomed to thinking a lot, every new thought that he hears or reads about immediately appears as a link in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/to-one-who-is-accustomed-to-thinking-a-lot-every-new-thought-that-he/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I have been in relatively high-risk businesses all of my adult life. Few of the others, however, had the possibility of direct gains in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-armstrong/i-have-been-in-relatively-high-risk-businesses-all-of-my-adult-life/) [Neil Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-armstrong/) > [We have become accustomed to living our life with joy amidst pain and challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-reeve/we-have-become-accustomed-to-living-our-life-with-joy-amidst-pain-and/) [Dana Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-reeve/) > [Security is a component of everyday life that one spending time in Washington, D.C., gets accustomed to. Metal detectors, police vehicle barriers and heavily-armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-crapo/security-is-a-component-of-everyday-life-that-one-spending-time-in/) [Mike Crapo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-crapo/) > [If you're a Firefox user, you get accustomed to your history and the URL bar and finding things. 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