--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So it's a really sort of mixed issue but…" description: "\"So it's a really sort of mixed issue but I think, no matter whether you're a Democrat or an independent or a Republican, the idea that a sitting presid..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/521/elissa-slotkin-13513_dirt_so-it-s-a-really-sort-of-mixed-issue-but_1255533.jpg" --- # So it's a really sort of mixed issue but I think, no… ![“So it's a really sort of mixed issue but I think, no matter whether you're a Democrat or an independent or a Republican, the idea that a sitting president would attempt to leverage dirt on a political opponent from a foreign leader is just beyond the pale.” quote by Elissa Slotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/521/elissa-slotkin-13513_dirt_so-it-s-a-really-sort-of-mixed-issue-but_1255533.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/521/elissa-slotkin-13513_dirt_so-it-s-a-really-sort-of-mixed-issue-but_1255533.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/521/elissa-slotkin-13513_dirt_so-it-s-a-really-sort-of-mixed-issue-but_1255533.jpg) > “So it's a really sort of mixed issue but I think, no matter whether you're a Democrat or an independent or a Republican, the idea that a sitting president would attempt to leverage dirt on a political opponent from a foreign leader is just beyond the pale.” [Elissa Slotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elissa-slotkin/) ## 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 warns that a president using foreign-sourced dirt against a political rival is an extreme abuse of power, crossing moral and democratic boundaries. **In simple terms:** Using foreign dirt against opponents is unacceptable. Key Takeaway Demand accountability and protect democratic norms. Themes politics ethics power democracy transparency Mood concerned serious cautious Type political ethical warning When to use this quote - election campaigns - foreign policy decisions - media scrutiny - legislative oversight Key Concepts foreign influence political manipulation executive overreach Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions prevent foreign interference in politics? - What safeguards ensure presidential accountability? A Different Perspective Such tactics may be justified by national security claims, complicating judgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dirt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirt/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) ## Related quotes > [There's a total separation between the federal government and the people. So running for president was an attempt on my part to get people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-walsh/there-s-a-total-separation-between-the-federal-government-and-the/) [Joe Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-walsh/) > [Mitt Romney is running for president again. That will be attempt No. 3. Well, everybody needs a hobby. He's almost certainly running, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/mitt-romney-is-running-for-president-again-that-will-be-attempt-no-3/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [Contrary to conventional military and game theory, the most effective offense is sometimes a direct attack against your political opponent's greatest strength - not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/contrary-to-conventional-military-and-game-theory-the-most-effective/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [“As for the Republicans -- how can one regard seriously a frightened, greedy, nostalgic huddle of tradesmen and lucky idlers who shut their eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft-2/as-for-the-republicans-how-can-one-regard-seriously-a-frightened-2/) [H.P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft-2/) > [I can hardly think of an occasion when I've got into a stand-up fight with any political opponent. I've got my views, people know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kennedy/i-can-hardly-think-of-an-occasion-when-i-ve-got-into-a-stand-up-fight/) [Charles Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kennedy/) > [There is no need to respond to whatever your most powerful and unaccountable political opponent says you have to respond to, particularly on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-hemingway/there-is-no-need-to-respond-to-whatever-your-most-powerful-and/) [Mollie Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-hemingway/) > [If a political opponent has different approaches than mine, that doesn't make them a bad person. It means they have different backgrounds, experiences, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/if-a-political-opponent-has-different-approaches-than-mine-that-doesn/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [Not every Democratic idea is a good one; not every Republican idea is a bad one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gray/not-every-democratic-idea-is-a-good-one-not-every-republican-idea-is/) [Jim Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gray/) > [Intellectually, the Republican idea deserves the tolerance and respect one gives to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft/intellectually-the-republican-idea-deserves-the-tolerance-and-respect/) [H. P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft/) > [North Carolinians work hard and don't ask for much. They don't care if something is a Democratic idea or a Republican idea. They just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-cooper/north-carolinians-work-hard-and-don-t-ask-for-much-they-don-t-care-if/) [Roy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-cooper/) > [“Failing to indict a criminal sitting president sends the message that those in power are above the law.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/failing-to-indict-a-criminal-sitting-president-sends-the-message-that/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [People made a big deal out of the fact this is the first time a sitting president has done a late-night show. We tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/people-made-a-big-deal-out-of-the-fact-this-is-the-first-time-a/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [No responsible scholar who thinks a sitting president cannot be indicted also thinks an attorney general can try to truncate a process of oversight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/no-responsible-scholar-who-thinks-a-sitting-president-cannot-be/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [When you have a sitting president who's willing to publicly show his disdain for a company and the leader of a company, it's very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-jassy/when-you-have-a-sitting-president-who-s-willing-to-publicly-show-his/) [Andy Jassy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-jassy/) > [Congress should clarify that a sitting president is not subject to criminal indictment while in office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-kavanaugh/congress-should-clarify-that-a-sitting-president-is-not-subject-to/) [Brett Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-kavanaugh/) ## More by Elissa Slotkin > [In my district, I have a very clear mandate to work across the aisle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-slotkin/in-my-district-i-have-a-very-clear-mandate-to-work-across-the-aisle/) [Elissa Slotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elissa-slotkin/) > [I worked for President Bush and President Obama. I had Democratic bosses and Republican bosses. I believe in order to actually get things done,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-slotkin/i-worked-for-president-bush-and-president-obama-i-had-democratic/) [Elissa Slotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elissa-slotkin/) > [I know from personal experience the issues veterans are facing, issues around PTSD, making sure our military officers and enlisted can transition to new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-slotkin/i-know-from-personal-experience-the-issues-veterans-are-facing-issues/) [Elissa Slotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elissa-slotkin/) > [I think mixing political and personal with professional and national security issues is always a dangerous game and never worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-slotkin/i-think-mixing-political-and-personal-with-professional-and-national/) [Elissa Slotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elissa-slotkin/) > [Between stagnant wages and the cost of everything going up - particularly health care and college tuition - people have less money to save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-slotkin/between-stagnant-wages-and-the-cost-of-everything-going-up/) [Elissa Slotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elissa-slotkin/) > [If people are going to donate huge sums of money to influence elections, we have the right to know who is donating, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-slotkin/if-people-are-going-to-donate-huge-sums-of-money-to-influence/) [Elissa Slotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elissa-slotkin/) > [My stepdaughter, who is based in Alaska right now, is a brand-new lieutenant in the Army. She could be deployed in 18 months. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-slotkin/my-stepdaughter-who-is-based-in-alaska-right-now-is-a-brand-new/) [Elissa Slotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elissa-slotkin/) > [I'm a former CIA officer and Pentagon official. I'm a deep believer in border security, but we have to be a nation of moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-slotkin/i-m-a-former-cia-officer-and-pentagon-official-i-m-a-deep-believer-in/) [Elissa Slotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elissa-slotkin/) > [When I was working in the Pentagon, I had to own the recommendations I made up the chain of command.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-slotkin/when-i-was-working-in-the-pentagon-i-had-to-own-the-recommendations-i/) [Elissa Slotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elissa-slotkin/) > [Our American experiment deserves an advocate, and the American people respond best to inspiration, not fear-mongering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-slotkin/our-american-experiment-deserves-an-advocate-and-the-american-people/) [Elissa Slotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elissa-slotkin/) > [It is my responsibility to always have my ear to the ground on issues affecting the people of our district, and whether it's supporting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-slotkin/it-is-my-responsibility-to-always-have-my-ear-to-the-ground-on-issues/) [Elissa Slotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elissa-slotkin/) > [Since Ronald Reagan we have had this assumption in the United States that the Republicans are the party of the military, the Republicans are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-slotkin/since-ronald-reagan-we-have-had-this-assumption-in-the-united-states/) [Elissa Slotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elissa-slotkin/) > [I want to be very honest, that I believe impeachment is a very big step - I believe it is something that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-slotkin/i-want-to-be-very-honest-that-i-believe-impeachment-is-a-very-big/) [Elissa Slotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elissa-slotkin/) > [A big reason I ultimately decided to run was because of my family's experience when my mom was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-slotkin/a-big-reason-i-ultimately-decided-to-run-was-because-of-my-family-s/) [Elissa Slotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elissa-slotkin/) > [I ran for Congress as a first-time candidate to fight to protect everyone with a pre-existing condition, to bring down the skyrocketing costs of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-slotkin/i-ran-for-congress-as-a-first-time-candidate-to-fight-to-protect/) [Elissa Slotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elissa-slotkin/) [Explore all 50 Elissa Slotkin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elissa-slotkin/) ## More Dirt quotes > [When man of slender visits you / Nothing on earth that one can do / In well he’ll hide, or watery hole / And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-goldstein/when-man-of-slender-visits-you-nothing-on-earth-that-one-can-do-in/) [Jack Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-goldstein/) > [“We have grace of strength to work, to clear our cities of any dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-have-grace-of-strength-to-work-to-clear-our-cities-of-any-dirt/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > ['Dirt Road Diaries,' in my mind, is a perfect country guy song. It speaks to the hard-working guy, and I'm excited for the fans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/dirt-road-diaries-in-my-mind-is-a-perfect-country-guy-song-it-speaks/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [I spent all my time in the clouds or the dirt and that is why I think I’m successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-spent-all-my-time-in-the-clouds-or-the-dirt-and-that-is-why-i-think/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [“A diamond's happy ending is on a crown, but its beauty was formed in dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-diamond-s-happy-ending-is-on-a-crown-but-its-beauty-was-formed-in/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [I love the little garden in the back of my family's brownstone in Brooklyn. Digging out there in the dirt is a joy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/i-love-the-little-garden-in-the-back-of-my-family-s-brownstone-in/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [I dish the dirt out, and I can take it. But why should my mother and children have to take it? In 20 years,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-clarkson/i-dish-the-dirt-out-and-i-can-take-it-but-why-should-my-mother-and/) [Jeremy Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-clarkson/) > [They only wanna do you dirt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-kingston/they-only-wanna-do-you-dirt/) [Sean Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-kingston/) > [Her father had taught her about hands. About a dog's paws. Whenever her father was alone with a dog in a house he would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/her-father-had-taught-her-about-hands-about-a-dog-s-paws-whenever-her/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [Truthfully, I love being in the jungle. I love it when the make-up artists come to set, they come equipped with dirt and sweat.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/truthfully-i-love-being-in-the-jungle-i-love-it-when-the-make-up/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I grew up in the south, poor - on rock, dirt roads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-turner/i-grew-up-in-the-south-poor-on-rock-dirt-roads/) [Tina Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-turner/) > [But we've all ended up giving body and soul to Africa, one way or another. Even Adah, who's becoming an expert in tropical epidemiology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/but-we-ve-all-ended-up-giving-body-and-soul-to-africa-one-way-or/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [Texas is a hell hole, man. Dirt, cactus, lizards, dirt, cactus, the Bush family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/texas-is-a-hell-hole-man-dirt-cactus-lizards-dirt-cactus-the-bush/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [“Chapter One: The world is flat. I know it is, because for the last five hours the view has been exactly the same. Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-p-dahlke/chapter-one-the-world-is-flat-i-know-it-is-because-for-the-last-five/) R.P. Dahlke > [“ground where it smells like ice and metal and dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/ground-where-it-smells-like-ice-and-metal-and-dirt/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) [Browse all 991 Dirt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "So it's a really sort of mixed issue but I think, no matter whether you're a Democrat or an independent or a Republican, the idea that a sitting president would attempt to leverage dirt on a political opponent from a foreign leader is just beyond the pale.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elissa Slotkin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-slotkin/so-it-s-a-really-sort-of-mixed-issue-but-i-think-no-matter-whether/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dirt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-slotkin/so-it-s-a-really-sort-of-mixed-issue-but-i-think-no-matter-whether/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/521/elissa-slotkin-13513_dirt_so-it-s-a-really-sort-of-mixed-issue-but_1255533.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/521/elissa-slotkin-13513_dirt_so-it-s-a-really-sort-of-mixed-issue-but_1255533.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/521/elissa-slotkin-13513_dirt_so-it-s-a-really-sort-of-mixed-issue-but_1255533.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“So it's a really sort of mixed issue but I think, no matter whether you're a Democrat or an independent or a…” — Elissa Slotkin", "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": "Elissa Slotkin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elissa-slotkin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "So it's a really sort of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-slotkin/so-it-s-a-really-sort-of-mixed-issue-but-i-think-no-matter-whether/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-slotkin/so-it-s-a-really-sort-of-mixed-issue-but-i-think-no-matter-whether/#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 } } ] } ```