--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Despite their frequent cries to the…" description: "\"“Despite their frequent cries to the contrary, politicians have rarely demonstrated an ability to walk and chew gum at the same time. If they are focus..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/800/ian-thomas-malone-38674_lgbt_despite-their-frequent-cries-to-the-cont_2970070.jpg" --- # Despite their frequent cries to the contrary, politicians… ![“Despite their frequent cries to the contrary, politicians have rarely demonstrated an ability to walk and chew gum at the same time. If they are focusing their time on bathroom bills against transgender people, chances are they’re not doing much else on the sexual assault prevention front. They…” quote by Ian Thomas Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/800/ian-thomas-malone-38674_lgbt_despite-their-frequent-cries-to-the-cont_2970070.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/800/ian-thomas-malone-38674_lgbt_despite-their-frequent-cries-to-the-cont_2970070.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/800/ian-thomas-malone-38674_lgbt_despite-their-frequent-cries-to-the-cont_2970070.jpg) > ““Despite their frequent cries to the contrary, politicians have rarely demonstrated an ability to walk and chew gum at the same time. If they are focusing their time on bathroom bills against transgender people, chances are they’re not doing much else on the sexual assault prevention front. They shouldn’t be allowed to pretend that they care about the public.”” [Ian Thomas Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-thomas-malone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Politicians often fail at multitasking, especially on critical issues, suggesting superficial engagement. **In simple terms:** Politicians can’t multitask on key issues. Key Takeaway Demand focused leadership. Themes politics accountability priority setting Mood critical concerned Type analytical activist When to use this quote - election campaigns - legislative debates - media analysis Key Concepts public policy leadership Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens hold leaders accountable? - What reforms improve focus on critical policies? A Different Perspective Complex issues may need simultaneous attention. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lgbt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lgbt/) [Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Sexual assault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexual-assault/) [Transgender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transgender/) ## Related quotes > [“The conservative ideology sees LGBT rights as an affront to the traditional way of life, for some reason. We are attacked as phonies, pretenders,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-thomas-malone/the-conservative-ideology-sees-lgbt-rights-as-an-affront-to-the/) [Ian Thomas Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-thomas-malone/) > [Contrary to what the politicians and religious leaders would like us to believe, the world won't be made safer by creating barriers between people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-palin/contrary-to-what-the-politicians-and-religious-leaders-would-like-us/) [Michael Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-palin/) > [I have seen a lifetime of transgender people and it was hard enough being gay in the '50s and early '60s. One couldn't imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-have-seen-a-lifetime-of-transgender-people-and-it-was-hard-enough/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Nothing is more important for transgender people than to have access to excellent health care in trans-affirmative environments, to have the legal and institutional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/nothing-is-more-important-for-transgender-people-than-to-have-access/) [Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/) > [I'm a politician, and as you know, politicians are rarely very funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/i-m-a-politician-and-as-you-know-politicians-are-rarely-very-funny/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [The good and the bad news is that politicians rarely do what they say they are going to do when they campaign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-koch/the-good-and-the-bad-news-is-that-politicians-rarely-do-what-they-say/) [Charles Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-koch/) > [Even today with the public's growing interest in food and diet issues, politicians rarely include food as part of their political platforms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-today-with-the-public-s-growing-interest-in-food-and-diet-issues/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Makeup can be used to express yourself as well. Those experiences should not be limited to women. Everyone should be free to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-thomas-malone/makeup-can-be-used-to-express-yourself-as-well-those-experiences/) [Ian Thomas Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-thomas-malone/) > [“Terms such as "man bun," "man purse," "guyliner," "meggings," and the new "romp-him" (romper) have entered the American lexicon. These terms refer to new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-thomas-malone/terms-such-as-man-bun-man-purse-guyliner-meggings-and-the-new-romp/) [Ian Thomas Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-thomas-malone/) > [“Coming out of the closet feels liberating because you no longer have to carry all that crap around with you, in your mind, wherever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-thomas-malone/coming-out-of-the-closet-feels-liberating-because-you-no-longer-have/) [Ian Thomas Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-thomas-malone/) > [“If you’re in doubt as to whether or not a question is inappropriate, here’s a helpful tip. Ask yourself if you would feel comfortable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-thomas-malone/if-you-re-in-doubt-as-to-whether-or-not-a-question-is-inappropriate/) [Ian Thomas Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-thomas-malone/) > [“The people who claim that being transgender is a choice are right on one regard. Living freely as the person you were meant to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-thomas-malone/the-people-who-claim-that-being-transgender-is-a-choice-are-right-on/) [Ian Thomas Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-thomas-malone/) > [Not all bodies are born in male or female. There is a continuum of bodies and it seems to me that trying to persuade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/not-all-bodies-are-born-in-male-or-female-there-is-a-continuum-of/) [Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/) > [Put simply, barring transgender people from restrooms consistent with their gender identity doesn't help anyone, and continuing to allow transgender people to access those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mcbride/put-simply-barring-transgender-people-from-restrooms-consistent-with/) [Sarah McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mcbride/) > [Too often, when transgender people die, family members or funeral homes will end up dressing a body of a transgender person in the garments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mcbride/too-often-when-transgender-people-die-family-members-or-funeral-homes/) [Sarah McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mcbride/) ## More by Ian Thomas Malone > [“The rejection of your identity by your pastor or your parents is not a rejection of you, the person. Only you as the image…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-thomas-malone/the-rejection-of-your-identity-by-your-pastor-or-your-parents-is-not/) [Ian Thomas Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-thomas-malone/) > [“It doesn’t matter if things are good as long as people think they are. Perception.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-thomas-malone/it-doesn-t-matter-if-things-are-good-as-long-as-people-think-they-are/) [Ian Thomas Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-thomas-malone/) > [“What is faith, if not an acceptance that there are things out there that cannot be explained? You know what you know, because you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-thomas-malone/what-is-faith-if-not-an-acceptance-that-there-are-things-out-there/) [Ian Thomas Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-thomas-malone/) > [“The people who claim that being transgender is a choice are right on one regard. Living freely as the person you were meant to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-thomas-malone/the-people-who-claim-that-being-transgender-is-a-choice-are-right-on/) [Ian Thomas Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-thomas-malone/) > [“If you’re in doubt as to whether or not a question is inappropriate, here’s a helpful tip. 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We are attacked as phonies, pretenders,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-thomas-malone/the-conservative-ideology-sees-lgbt-rights-as-an-affront-to-the/) [Ian Thomas Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-thomas-malone/) [Explore all 11 Ian Thomas Malone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-thomas-malone/) ## More Lgbt quotes > [“She's happy with who she is. 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Apparently the prerequisite to being a gay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-knight/i-have-lived-my-life-very-openly-and-have-never-hidden-the-fact-that/) [Jonathan Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-knight/) > [“I put my hand next to his shoulder on the door frame, not touching, but real close. “Look, Blondie. I’m not asking you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rie-warren/i-put-my-hand-next-to-his-shoulder-on-the-door-frame-not-touching-but/) [Rie Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rie-warren/) > [I am who I am because of the people who influenced me growing up, and many of them were gay. No one has any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-am-who-i-am-because-of-the-people-who-influenced-me-growing-up-and/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [“First, I’m going to teach you how to Irish Whip someone.” “Oh, that sounds kinky. 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