--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've stepped back a few times and had…" description: "\"I've stepped back a few times and had these crazy epiphanies that we are blessed by having Barack Obama as a candidate at this time in our history. If ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/eddie-vedder-2057_barack_i-ve-stepped-back-a-few-times-and-had-th_2417105.jpg" --- # I've stepped back a few times and had these crazy… ![“I've stepped back a few times and had these crazy epiphanies that we are blessed by having Barack Obama as a candidate at this time in our history. If we were ever to have a man of color become president - and it shouldn't be about that, and it doesn't need to be, because he's qualified on all…” quote by Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/eddie-vedder-2057_barack_i-ve-stepped-back-a-few-times-and-had-th_2417105.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/eddie-vedder-2057_barack_i-ve-stepped-back-a-few-times-and-had-th_2417105.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/eddie-vedder-2057_barack_i-ve-stepped-back-a-few-times-and-had-th_2417105.jpg) > “I've stepped back a few times and had these crazy epiphanies that we are blessed by having Barack Obama as a candidate at this time in our history. If we were ever to have a man of color become president - and it shouldn't be about that, and it doesn't need to be, because he's qualified on all levels - but if you do think about it, just in terms of that idea of unifying people, it's a huge positive.” [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizing the historic significance of a Black presidential candidate as a unifying force and positive symbol for society. **In simple terms:** A Black president is a hopeful sign of unity. Key Takeaway Embrace and support leaders who break barriers. Themes politics representation unity hope progress Mood optimistic inspired reflective Type political motivational When to use this quote - elections - community building - public discourse - media coverage Key Concepts social change symbolic representation inspiration Questions to Reflect On - How does representation affect national unity? - What barriers remain despite symbolic milestones? A Different Perspective Not all voters prioritize race over qualifications; some may resist change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessed/) [Candidate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidate/) [Epiphany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epiphany/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [When he ran for president in 2008, Mr. Obama was the candidate of the young and the demographically ascendant. He eventually attracted strong majorities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-reid/when-he-ran-for-president-in-2008-mr-obama-was-the-candidate-of-the/) [Joy Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-reid/) > [When it comes down to it, Hillary Clinton will very much excite the Republican faithful to get out and work hard. I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-bartlett/when-it-comes-down-to-it-hillary-clinton-will-very-much-excite-the/) [Dan Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-bartlett/) > [Hillary Clinton shouldn't be allowed to run for president. She shouldn't be allowed. She's a crook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/hillary-clinton-shouldn-t-be-allowed-to-run-for-president-she-shouldn/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [A president shouldn't tell the judiciary what to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-temer/a-president-shouldn-t-tell-the-judiciary-what-to-do/) [Michel Temer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-temer/) > [“you should not run for president because tactically you can win. The questions you have to ask are why you're running for president and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/you-should-not-run-for-president-because-tactically-you-can-win-the/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [We should have a strong president. Strong enough to resist the temptation of taking power that a president shouldn't have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/we-should-have-a-strong-president-strong-enough-to-resist-the/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [Often President Obama's worst critics are Senator Obama and candidate Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/often-president-obama-s-worst-critics-are-senator-obama-and-candidate/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Obama the President needs to stand up for what Obama the candidate and what Obama the Senator and what Obama the Chicago community organizer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/obama-the-president-needs-to-stand-up-for-what-obama-the-candidate/) [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) > [I've been looking at some video clips on YouTube of President Obama, then candidate Obama, going through Iowa making promises. I think the gap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-ve-been-looking-at-some-video-clips-on-youtube-of-president-obama/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [“For me, the nomination of Barack Obama as a candidate for president and his inauguration in Washington represents a brief glimpse at the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/for-me-the-nomination-of-barack-obama-as-a-candidate-for-president/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [I still think that with any candidate, whoever gets elected, there are going to be certain issues or platforms that those who feel strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/i-still-think-that-with-any-candidate-whoever-gets-elected-there-are/) [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) > [The Republicans initially sort of saw George W. Bush as a blank canvas, didn't they? It seems like they interviewed him when he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/the-republicans-initially-sort-of-saw-george-w-bush-as-a-blank-canvas/) [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) > [ \[On Cantor's work:\] The finest product of mathematical genius and one of the supreme achievements of purely intellectual human activity. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/on-cantor-s-work-the-finest-product-of-mathematical-genius-and-one-of/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hilbert/) > [I was 12 when I was on stage for the first time and had an epiphany that this is what I wanted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mithila-palkar/i-was-12-when-i-was-on-stage-for-the-first-time-and-had-an-epiphany/) [Mithila Palkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mithila-palkar/) > [I recently had an epiphany and now I'm making the most of my days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-recently-had-an-epiphany-and-now-i-m-making-the-most-of-my-days/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Eddie Vedder > [Things like guitars and ukuleles, you should never part with it, because there will probably be good, healthy times spent, just playing and writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/things-like-guitars-and-ukuleles-you-should-never-part-with-it/) [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) > [No music is going to stop the war. What's going to stop the war is a large amount of body bags, or a large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/no-music-is-going-to-stop-the-war-what-s-going-to-stop-the-war-is-a/) [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) > [I don't need drugs. Life is already tragic enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/i-don-t-need-drugs-life-is-already-tragic-enough/) [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) > [I used to kind of blame someone for not being able to get through that - I'm talking about the addiction part - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/i-used-to-kind-of-blame-someone-for-not-being-able-to-get-through/) [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) > [I don't need drugs to make my life tragic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/i-don-t-need-drugs-to-make-my-life-tragic/) [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) > [I'm not having to show off or make a point about how good I am at doing something. I think I've always kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/i-m-not-having-to-show-off-or-make-a-point-about-how-good-i-am-at/) [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) > [I'm over smoking. You know, I feel like I've gone on long hikes and gotten to the top of the mountain and I'm looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/i-m-over-smoking-you-know-i-feel-like-i-ve-gone-on-long-hikes-and/) [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) > [I don't question our exsistence, I just question our modern needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/i-don-t-question-our-exsistence-i-just-question-our-modern-needs/) [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) > [Sometimes, whether you like it or not, people elevate you. It's real easy to fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/sometimes-whether-you-like-it-or-not-people-elevate-you-it-s-real/) [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) > [I feel like we have to keep our eyes on the road. Being nostalgic is like taking an offramp and getting a sandwich -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/i-feel-like-we-have-to-keep-our-eyes-on-the-road-being-nostalgic-is/) [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) > [There's been times when I've been standing in a line at a movie and someone's hit me with something really heavy about someone really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/there-s-been-times-when-i-ve-been-standing-in-a-line-at-a-movie-and/) [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) > [When you're out in the desert, you can't believe the amount of stars. Are you busy as a bee? Do not even have time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/when-you-re-out-in-the-desert-you-can-t-believe-the-amount-of-stars/) [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) > [I probably get strangers coming up to me two or three times a week to just say something nice. I get more than my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/i-probably-get-strangers-coming-up-to-me-two-or-three-times-a-week-to/) [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) > [Music's at its best when it has a purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/music-s-at-its-best-when-it-has-a-purpose/) [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) > [Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/though-some-may-think-there-should-be-a-separation-between-art-music/) [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) [Explore all 189 Eddie Vedder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) ## 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've stepped back a few times and had these crazy epiphanies that we are blessed by having Barack Obama as a candidate at this time in our history. If we were ever to have a man of color become president - and it shouldn't be about that, and it doesn't need to be, because he's qualified on all levels - but if you do think about it, just in terms of that idea of unifying people, it's a huge positive.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eddie Vedder" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/i-ve-stepped-back-a-few-times-and-had-these-crazy-epiphanies-that-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Barack" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/i-ve-stepped-back-a-few-times-and-had-these-crazy-epiphanies-that-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/eddie-vedder-2057_barack_i-ve-stepped-back-a-few-times-and-had-th_2417105.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/eddie-vedder-2057_barack_i-ve-stepped-back-a-few-times-and-had-th_2417105.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/eddie-vedder-2057_barack_i-ve-stepped-back-a-few-times-and-had-th_2417105.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've stepped back a few times and had these crazy epiphanies that we are blessed by having Barack Obama as a…” — Eddie Vedder", "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": "Eddie Vedder", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've stepped back a few times...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/i-ve-stepped-back-a-few-times-and-had-these-crazy-epiphanies-that-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/i-ve-stepped-back-a-few-times-and-had-these-crazy-epiphanies-that-we/#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 } } ] } ```