---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Unlike President Obama, I am not afraid…"
description: "\"Unlike President Obama, I am not afraid to state, without a wink or a nod, that the government has no right to tell us who we can marry or not marry.\" ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a35/gary-johnson-3710_afraid_unlike-president-obama-i-am-not-afraid-t_2561602.jpg"
---

#  Unlike President Obama, I am not afraid to state, without…

![“Unlike President Obama, I am not afraid to state, without a wink or a nod, that the government has no right to tell us who we can marry or not marry.” quote by Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a35/gary-johnson-3710_afraid_unlike-president-obama-i-am-not-afraid-t_2561602.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a35/gary-johnson-3710_afraid_unlike-president-obama-i-am-not-afraid-t_2561602.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a35/gary-johnson-3710_afraid_unlike-president-obama-i-am-not-afraid-t_2561602.jpg)

> “Unlike President Obama, I am not afraid to state, without a wink or a nod, that the government has no right to tell us who we can marry or not marry.”

[Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Advocates personal freedom in marriage, rejecting government interference.

**In simple terms:** Government shouldn't dictate marriage choices.

Key Takeaway

Defend marriage equality.

Themes

freedom rights marriage equality government limits

Mood

determined defiant

Type

political activist

When to use this quote

- political rally
- public debate
- legislative advocacy

Key Concepts

libertarianism civil liberties

Questions to Reflect On

- How should society balance individual rights with cultural traditions?
- What role should government play in personal relationships?

A Different Perspective

Opponents may argue religious or cultural concerns.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/am/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-right/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Marry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marry/) [Nod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nod/) [Nod Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nod-government-1610459/) [Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obama/) [Obama Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obama-afraid-1610458/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-obama/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state/) [Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell/) [Tell Marry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-marry-1019586/) [Unlike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlike/) [Unlike President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlike-president-1610457/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Wink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wink/) [Without](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/without/)

## Related quotes

> [You know, it's hard to say this, but I suspect that Obama is afraid either of blackmail potential or even worse. And he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/you-know-it-s-hard-to-say-this-but-i-suspect-that-obama-is-afraid/)

[Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/)

> [GOP strategists hope the revelation of Kerry's wealth might debunk his status as a, quote, man of the people, and reveal him to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/gop-strategists-hope-the-revelation-of-kerry-s-wealth-might-debunk/)

[Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/)

> [Obama's style of argumentation is unlike any president I have ever met, and I've met a lot of them. And the condescension that oozes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gigot/obama-s-style-of-argumentation-is-unlike-any-president-i-have-ever/)

[Paul Gigot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gigot/)

> [Government shouldn't tell you whom to marry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/government-shouldn-t-tell-you-whom-to-marry/)

[Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/)

> [“When I tell you not to marry without love, I do not advise you to marry for love alone - there are many, many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/when-i-tell-you-not-to-marry-without-love-i-do-not-advise-you-to/)

[Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/)

> [Unlike President Obama, Mitt Romney has been inside the bubble all his life. He has no idea what's going on here. He has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stills/unlike-president-obama-mitt-romney-has-been-inside-the-bubble-all-his/)

[Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/)

> [My mom used to tell me that whatever you do, marry someone who loves you more than you love him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/my-mom-used-to-tell-me-that-whatever-you-do-marry-someone-who-loves/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [That he'll never let you down. That boy's got a heart the size of Kentucky, and he loves you. That's important. Take it from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/that-he-ll-never-let-you-down-that-boy-s-got-a-heart-the-size-of/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [Unlike President Obama, President Nixon was a capitalist who did not believe in 'remaking' the very character of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-crowley/unlike-president-obama-president-nixon-was-a-capitalist-who-did-not/)

[Monica Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-crowley/)

> [I give nod to roles only when it excites me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saswata-chatterjee/i-give-nod-to-roles-only-when-it-excites-me/)

[Saswata Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saswata-chatterjee/)

> [We don't nod along as children go through adolescent decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/we-don-t-nod-along-as-children-go-through-adolescent-decisions/)

[Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/)

> [Today, in 2011, I'm giving Secretary Hillary Clinton the nod as the Obama Administration's improbable MVP in the technology realm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/today-in-2011-i-m-giving-secretary-hillary-clinton-the-nod-as-the/)

[Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/)

> [In the writing of memoirs, as in the production of shows, too much caution causes the audience to nod and think of other channels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-clarke/in-the-writing-of-memoirs-as-in-the-production-of-shows-too-much/)

[Gerald Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-clarke/)

> [I have never been one for musicians. I know girls are supposed to go crazy for frontmen who close their eyes when they sing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-klausner/i-have-never-been-one-for-musicians-i-know-girls-are-supposed-to-go/)

[Julie Klausner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-klausner/)

> [The three of us just try put our heads down and stay creative. The awards truly are just cake. It's one of those things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-scott/the-three-of-us-just-try-put-our-heads-down-and-stay-creative-the/)

[Hillary Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-scott/)

## More by Gary Johnson

> [As I told the students every time I visited a campus, you are the director of your own movie, and if you aren't enjoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/as-i-told-the-students-every-time-i-visited-a-campus-you-are-the/)

[Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/)

> [Using a broad brushstroke, I think Libertarian - most of America are socially accepting and fiscally responsible. I'm in that category. I think, broadly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/using-a-broad-brushstroke-i-think-libertarian-most-of-america-are/)

[Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/)

> [We do live in an environment of crony capitalism, and the main reason we do is that loopholes are for sale, and both parties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/we-do-live-in-an-environment-of-crony-capitalism-and-the-main-reason/)

[Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/)

> [I think that the best that government can do for you and I as individuals is to empower you and I to make decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-think-that-the-best-that-government-can-do-for-you-and-i-as/)

[Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/)

> [I support gay unions. I think the government should get out of the marriage business completely - leave marriages to the churches. And grant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-support-gay-unions-i-think-the-government-should-get-out-of-the/)

[Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/)

> [I just feel abandoned. And I feel, I don't feel represented by the Republican Party. I have always had to defend the social side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-just-feel-abandoned-and-i-feel-i-don-t-feel-represented-by-the/)

[Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/)

> [Am I not correct in saying that Iran has never voiced that they are developing a nuclear weapon, nor do they have any intention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/am-i-not-correct-in-saying-that-iran-has-never-voiced-that-they-are/)

[Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/)

> [It is clear from the reaction to our campaign so far that our message is resonating. I look forward to continuing to take this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/it-is-clear-from-the-reaction-to-our-campaign-so-far-that-our-message/)

[Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/)

> [I leave abortion to the woman. I just fundamentally end there. I absolutely support a woman's right to choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-leave-abortion-to-the-woman-i-just-fundamentally-end-there-i/)

[Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/)

> [Politics is a herd mentality. Politicians don't really lead. Politicians reflect what they think is consensus opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/politics-is-a-herd-mentality-politicians-don-t-really-lead/)

[Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/)

> [One of the things government should be around for is to deal with catastrophes. It should do that well. To me, that's a government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/one-of-the-things-government-should-be-around-for-is-to-deal-with/)

[Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/)

> [My issue with campaign finance is 100 percent disclosure. Wear a suit with patches from your big contributors. Depending on the size of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/my-issue-with-campaign-finance-is-100-percent-disclosure-wear-a-suit/)

[Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/)

> [I would say that a wasted vote is voting for anybody you don't believe in. If you believe in the third party, that's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-would-say-that-a-wasted-vote-is-voting-for-anybody-you-don-t/)

[Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/)

> [I'm one of those who believe the bumper sticker: If you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns. The first people who are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-m-one-of-those-who-believe-the-bumper-sticker-if-you-outlaw-guns/)

[Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/)

> [I'm ready for a different America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-m-ready-for-a-different-america/)

[Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/)

[Explore all 123 Gary Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/)

## More Afraid quotes

> [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/)

[Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/)

> [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/)

[Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/)

> [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/)

[Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/)

> [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/)

[Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/)

> [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/)

[Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/)

> [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/)

[Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/)

> [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/)

[Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/)

> [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/)

[James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/)

> [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/)

[Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/)

> [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/)

[Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/)

> [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/)

[Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/)

> [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/)

[Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/)

[Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Unlike President Obama, I am not afraid to state, without a wink or a nod, that the government has no right to tell us who we can marry or not marry.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Gary Johnson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/unlike-president-obama-i-am-not-afraid-to-state-without-a-wink-or-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Afraid"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/unlike-president-obama-i-am-not-afraid-to-state-without-a-wink-or-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a35/gary-johnson-3710_afraid_unlike-president-obama-i-am-not-afraid-t_2561602.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a35/gary-johnson-3710_afraid_unlike-president-obama-i-am-not-afraid-t_2561602.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a35/gary-johnson-3710_afraid_unlike-president-obama-i-am-not-afraid-t_2561602.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Unlike President Obama, I am not afraid to state, without a wink or a nod, that the government has no right…” — Gary Johnson",
                "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": "Gary Johnson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Unlike President Obama, I am not...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/unlike-president-obama-i-am-not-afraid-to-state-without-a-wink-or-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/unlike-president-obama-i-am-not-afraid-to-state-without-a-wink-or-a/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
