--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Here’s how these events work. As you…" description: "\"“Here’s how these events work. As you stand in this beautifully groomed backyard next to huge platters of steaks, lobsters, and clams, you get interrog..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/056/donna-brazile-2392_climate_here-s-how-these-events-work-as-you-stan_2357063.png" --- # Here’s how these events work. As you stand in this… ![“Here’s how these events work. As you stand in this beautifully groomed backyard next to huge platters of steaks, lobsters, and clams, you get interrogated by the high-dollar donors who pepper you with questions about what the party intends to do about the issue they consider to be the most…” quote by Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/056/donna-brazile-2392_climate_here-s-how-these-events-work-as-you-stan_2357063.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/056/donna-brazile-2392_climate_here-s-how-these-events-work-as-you-stan_2357063.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/056/donna-brazile-2392_climate_here-s-how-these-events-work-as-you-stan_2357063.png) > ““Here’s how these events work. As you stand in this beautifully groomed backyard next to huge platters of steaks, lobsters, and clams, you get interrogated by the high-dollar donors who pepper you with questions about what the party intends to do about the issue they consider to be the most important. How you respond to these questions about climate change and the Trans-Pacific Partnership determines the amount these donors will give. These are smart people who know a tremendous amount about the subject they’re questioning you on, so you cannot give vague answers. You have to be on your toes. You also have to look confident and casual and show that you are not manipulating or hiding anything.”” [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Donors demand precise, confident answers on climate and trade; vague responses risk losing support **In simple terms:** Donors expect clear, confident answers on climate and trade Key Takeaway Give concise, informed answers; stay calm and authentic Themes politics communication climate policy fundraising Mood strategic pressured Type persuasive informative When to use this quote - campaign meetings - donor events - media interviews - policy briefings Key Concepts public speaking policy knowledge strategic messaging Questions to Reflect On - How can you prepare for tough donor questions? - What evidence supports your stance on the TPP? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can backfire if knowledge gaps appear ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Donors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/donors/) [Donors Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/donors-smart-5759922/) [Pacific Partnership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pacific-partnership-619025/) [Questions Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questions-climate-1254503/) [Questions Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questions-party-5759923/) [Smart people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart-people/) ## Related quotes > [There are very important questions around the climate issue that folks really don't get to. And that's one of the reasons why I've talked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/there-are-very-important-questions-around-the-climate-issue-that/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [We didn't know what was coming next. And, you know, this is not just about computers; this is harassment of individuals, it's harassment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/we-didn-t-know-what-was-coming-next-and-you-know-this-is-not-just/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [I do have a concern that if we just say no Trans-Pacific Partnership, we're done, we're ignoring the region, and then, yes, I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/i-do-have-a-concern-that-if-we-just-say-no-trans-pacific-partnership/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [ I favored the idea of Trans-Pacific Partnership, but I did not support the administration - the \[Barack\] Obama administration TPP. There are three or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/i-favored-the-idea-of-trans-pacific-partnership-but-i-did-not-support/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [The Trans Pacific Partnership (and fast-track authority to whisk it through Congress without debate) is fast approaching. If you haven't seen our video about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/the-trans-pacific-partnership-and-fast-track-authority-to-whisk-it/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [ More broadly, Prime Minister Lee \[Hsien Loong\] and I will work to advance the US-Singapore partnership across the board. We're committed to sustaining the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/more-broadly-prime-minister-lee-hsien-loong-and-i-will-work-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ You know that if you \[Hillary Clinton\] did win, you would approve that \[Trans-Pacific Partnership\], and that will be almost as bad as NAFTA.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/you-know-that-if-you-hillary-clinton-did-win-you-would-approve-that/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The Asia-Pacific Partnership is a climate suicide pact. It is playing Russian roulette with six bullets in your gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-j-romm/the-asia-pacific-partnership-is-a-climate-suicide-pact-it-is-playing/) [Joseph J. Romm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-j-romm/) > [ Going on and getting good bilateral agreement is a better way \[than Trans-Pacific Partnership agreements\], and I'm fine with that strategy. I think that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/going-on-and-getting-good-bilateral-agreement-is-a-better-way-than/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [ The facts are - I did say I hoped it \[Trans-Pacific Partnership\] would be a good deal, but when it was negotiated which I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/the-facts-are-i-did-say-i-hoped-it-trans-pacific-partnership-would-be/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I've supported the process of getting to a good Trans-Pacific Partnership deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/i-ve-supported-the-process-of-getting-to-a-good-trans-pacific/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [I was a big supporter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. I worked very closely with President Obama on that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-delaney/i-was-a-big-supporter-of-the-trans-pacific-partnership-i-worked-very/) [John Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-delaney/) > [For Obama, the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement - unilaterally abrogated by Trump - was part of the 'pivot to Asia,' a re-assertion of the role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/for-obama-the-trans-pacific-partnership-agreement-unilaterally/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [Take the creation of the Pacific partnership or the creation of the Atlantic partnership. We are somewhat concerned because this is being done bypassing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/take-the-creation-of-the-pacific-partnership-or-the-creation-of-the/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [I've also followed through on my campaign promise and withdrawn America from the Trans-Pacific Partnership so that we can protect our economic freedom. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-ve-also-followed-through-on-my-campaign-promise-and-withdrawn/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) ## More by Donna Brazile > [“Wait,” I said. “That victory fund was supposed to be for whoever was the nominee, and the state party races. You’re telling me that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/wait-i-said-that-victory-fund-was-supposed-to-be-for-whoever-was-the/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [We were not republicans or democrats during Katrina. We truly were all Americans, and Trent Lott came through for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/we-were-not-republicans-or-democrats-during-katrina-we-truly-were-all/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [“As I stood up to walk to the spin room I saw that it was different for this debate. We were surrounded by gossip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/as-i-stood-up-to-walk-to-the-spin-room-i-saw-that-it-was-different/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [Since Bush has been in office, African-American women have fallen behind in terms of income and wages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/since-bush-has-been-in-office-african-american-women-have-fallen/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [“I didn’t believe that these nice liberals would have missed seeing the film 12 Years a Slave, in which Solomon Northup’s friend Patsey was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/i-didn-t-believe-that-these-nice-liberals-would-have-missed-seeing/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [Trent Lott saved my family. I needed three things from him personally, and he came through for me. He made sure that the ice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/trent-lott-saved-my-family-i-needed-three-things-from-him-personally/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [No voters will be left behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/no-voters-will-be-left-behind/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [There's no question that Donald Trump has said things that are very unsettling. I mean, whether it's comparing Mexicans to rapists, demonizing Muslim Americans,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/there-s-no-question-that-donald-trump-has-said-things-that-are-very/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [“Although the Russians had sown disinformation through fake news in the Ukrainian election in 2014 and hacked into the election system to manipulate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/although-the-russians-had-sown-disinformation-through-fake-news-in/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [Donald Trump has not held an event in the black community. He has not gone to a black church, as Hillary Clinton has done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/donald-trump-has-not-held-an-event-in-the-black-community-he-has-not/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [“learned two things from the students. One was that they disliked identity politics. They thought that Hillary spent too much time trying to appeal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/learned-two-things-from-the-students-one-was-that-they-disliked/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [If a critic doesn't think I can act, it's because I'm not acting. That's me - and that's the way I act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/if-a-critic-doesn-t-think-i-can-act-it-s-because-i-m-not-acting-that/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [“After CrowdStrike rebuilt the system, all of our staff had to learn new computers, new log-ins, new procedures, at the moment when their personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/after-crowdstrike-rebuilt-the-system-all-of-our-staff-had-to-learn/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [“The fact that the press could not get a straight explanation out of Hillary or her staff meant they turned to the next person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/the-fact-that-the-press-could-not-get-a-straight-explanation-out-of/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [“We decided about six in the morning that we did not want Chip to suffer. His last act was to kiss Betsy on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/we-decided-about-six-in-the-morning-that-we-did-not-want-chip-to/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) [Explore all 169 Donna Brazile quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) ## More Climate quotes > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [In the current climate, things that are true, brave human stories become political.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/in-the-current-climate-things-that-are-true-brave-human-stories/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [There are many more traits that the climate deniers share with the creationists and Holocaust deniers and others who distort the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-r-prothero/there-are-many-more-traits-that-the-climate-deniers-share-with-the/) [Donald R. Prothero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-r-prothero/) > [Some would call me an environmentalist. I don't know why. I reuse the water that falls in my backyard in the winter. I reuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-begley-jr/some-would-call-me-an-environmentalist-i-don-t-know-why-i-reuse-the/) [Ed Begley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-begley-jr/) > [I talk to fashion designers and say I want some money to save the rainforest, and they say, 'Oh, I agree with you completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/i-talk-to-fashion-designers-and-say-i-want-some-money-to-save-the/) [Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [Climate change poses clear, catastrophic threats. We may not agree on the extent, but we certainly can't afford the risk of inaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/climate-change-poses-clear-catastrophic-threats-we-may-not-agree-on/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Fossil fuels, including oil, are running out and supplies are getting harder to find. If we do nothing, prices will continue to rise and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/fossil-fuels-including-oil-are-running-out-and-supplies-are-getting/) [Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/) > [Local and state governments have outrun the federal government. The EPA has served notice that it will enact a rule requiring CO2 reductions by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/local-and-state-governments-have-outrun-the-federal-government-the/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [I am sympathetic to developing countries’ concerns: because of our emissions it’s their crops that will disappear; because of our inaction, it’s their fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-am-sympathetic-to-developing-countries-concerns-because-of-our/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [We live in a state with a wonderful climate and plenty of natural beauty, from the shores of Cumberland Island to the Chattahoochee River…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-barnes/we-live-in-a-state-with-a-wonderful-climate-and-plenty-of-natural/) [Roy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-barnes/) > [Right now, the government is spending billions of dollars supporting the problem-makers in the U.S. economy - the polluters, despoilers, incarcerators, and warmongers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/right-now-the-government-is-spending-billions-of-dollars-supporting/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) [Browse all 8,549 Climate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Here’s how these events work. As you stand in this beautifully groomed backyard next to huge platters of steaks, lobsters, and clams, you get interrogated by the high-dollar donors who pepper you with questions about what the party intends to do about the issue they consider to be the most important. How you respond to these questions about climate change and the Trans-Pacific Partnership determines the amount these donors will give. These are smart people who know a tremendous amount about the subject they’re questioning you on, so you cannot give vague answers. You have to be on your toes. You also have to look confident and casual and show that you are not manipulating or hiding anything.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Donna Brazile" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/here-s-how-these-events-work-as-you-stand-in-this-beautifully-groomed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Climate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/here-s-how-these-events-work-as-you-stand-in-this-beautifully-groomed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/056/donna-brazile-2392_climate_here-s-how-these-events-work-as-you-stan_2357063.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/056/donna-brazile-2392_climate_here-s-how-these-events-work-as-you-stan_2357063.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/056/donna-brazile-2392_climate_here-s-how-these-events-work-as-you-stan_2357063.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Here’s how these events work. As you stand in this beautifully groomed backyard next to huge platters of…” — Donna Brazile", "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": "Donna Brazile", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Here’s how these events work. As...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/here-s-how-these-events-work-as-you-stand-in-this-beautifully-groomed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/here-s-how-these-events-work-as-you-stand-in-this-beautifully-groomed/#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 } } ] } ```