--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The disturbing truth is that there's…" description: "\"The disturbing truth is that there's probably more sincerity than not in American politics. We may not want to believe it, but most of the people in ch..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/jamelle-bouie-5467_american_the-disturbing-truth-is-that-there-s-pro_3052137.jpg" --- # The disturbing truth is that there's probably more… ![“The disturbing truth is that there's probably more sincerity than not in American politics. We may not want to believe it, but most of the people in charge say what they mean and mean what they say.” quote by Jamelle Bouie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/jamelle-bouie-5467_american_the-disturbing-truth-is-that-there-s-pro_3052137.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/jamelle-bouie-5467_american_the-disturbing-truth-is-that-there-s-pro_3052137.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/jamelle-bouie-5467_american_the-disturbing-truth-is-that-there-s-pro_3052137.jpg) > “The disturbing truth is that there's probably more sincerity than not in American politics. We may not want to believe it, but most of the people in charge say what they mean and mean what they say.” [Jamelle Bouie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamelle-bouie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author claims many politicians are sincere, contradicting common cynicism. **In simple terms:** Politicians often say what they mean. Key Takeaway Recognize genuine intent in politics. Themes politics truth trust Mood critical analytical Type political observational When to use this quote - voting decisions - political engagement - media analysis Key Concepts sincerity public discourse Questions to Reflect On - How can voters identify sincere leaders? - What evidence supports this claim? A Different Perspective Skepticism may still be warranted despite some honesty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [American politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-politics/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Disturbing Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disturbing-truth-1710660/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Probably Sincerity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/probably-sincerity-5080755/) [Sincerity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sincerity/) [Sincerity American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sincerity-american-5080754/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [The disturbing truth we have to recognize is that Bourdain is not alone in his loneliness and depression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/the-disturbing-truth-we-have-to-recognize-is-that-bourdain-is-not/) [Ben Domenech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-domenech/) > [God's Word teaches a very hard, disturbing truth. Those who neglect the poor and the oppressed are really not God's people at all—no matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-j-sider/god-s-word-teaches-a-very-hard-disturbing-truth-those-who-neglect-the/) [Ronald J. Sider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-j-sider/) > [If Citizens United has been an invaluable tool for the maintenance of entrenched wealth, Shelby County has been similarly vital for those who want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamelle-bouie/if-citizens-united-has-been-an-invaluable-tool-for-the-maintenance-of/) [Jamelle Bouie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamelle-bouie/) > [Nineteenth-century American politics were notoriously raucous, with frequent violence in and around elections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamelle-bouie/nineteenth-century-american-politics-were-notoriously-raucous-with/) [Jamelle Bouie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamelle-bouie/) > [Affirming belief that America is an exceptional nation has become a test of patriotism in American politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/affirming-belief-that-america-is-an-exceptional-nation-has-become-a/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [For even the most seasoned observers of American politics, Barack Obama is a phenomenon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lammy/for-even-the-most-seasoned-observers-of-american-politics-barack/) [David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/) > [The 2020 presidential election was arguably the most secure - and among the most scrutinized - in American history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamelle-bouie/the-2020-presidential-election-was-arguably-the-most-secure-and-among/) [Jamelle Bouie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamelle-bouie/) > [We picked their cotton. We cooked their food. We nursed their babies. Now we can run their cities. We can run their states. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-picked-their-cotton-we-cooked-their-food-we-nursed-their-babies/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [“The CIA is behind it all. That’s the conclusion of Mae Brussell—one of America’s foremost assassination experts—a researcher who has collected every pertinent newspaper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-brussell/the-cia-is-behind-it-all-that-s-the-conclusion-of-mae-brussell-one-of/) [Mae Brussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-brussell/) > [We are creating a political demolition derby, not a presidential debate. Those strange impulses in the American soul that have produced mud wrestling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/we-are-creating-a-political-demolition-derby-not-a-presidential/) [Hugh Sidey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-sidey/) > [Would anyone else like to say anything nice about women?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/would-anyone-else-like-to-say-anything-nice-about-women/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [The only thing we have to fear is fear itself-and possibly teh bogey man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-paulsen/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself-and-possibly-teh-bogey/) [Pat Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-paulsen/) > [Hart is still like that little tub of vaguely milklike gunk that comes with airline coffee. It is labeled a "nondairy" product. Fine: we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/hart-is-still-like-that-little-tub-of-vaguely-milklike-gunk-that/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [Here's the point - and Jonah Goldberg reminds us of this. He wrote a blog post that was titled "The MacGuffinization of American Politics."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/here-s-the-point-and-jonah-goldberg-reminds-us-of-this-he-wrote-a/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has taken American politics by storm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-hannity/republican-presidential-candidate-donald-trump-has-taken-american/) [Sean Hannity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-hannity/) ## More by Jamelle Bouie > [The 2020 presidential election was arguably the most secure - and among the most scrutinized - in American history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamelle-bouie/the-2020-presidential-election-was-arguably-the-most-secure-and-among/) [Jamelle Bouie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamelle-bouie/) > [Racial hysteria has been a part of many winning campaigns in our country. But it's rarely the only part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamelle-bouie/racial-hysteria-has-been-a-part-of-many-winning-campaigns-in-our/) [Jamelle Bouie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamelle-bouie/) > [Texas's official hostility toward gender nonconforming children has had the predictable effect of pushing families out of the state in search of less hostile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamelle-bouie/texas-s-official-hostility-toward-gender-nonconforming-children-has/) [Jamelle Bouie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamelle-bouie/) > [Trump was not helped by either of his impeachments, and there's no reason other than his own mythology to think that a trial and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamelle-bouie/trump-was-not-helped-by-either-of-his-impeachments-and-there-s-no/) [Jamelle Bouie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamelle-bouie/) > [If 'The Lord of the Rings' is a cautionary tale about the desire for power and the use of power, then it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamelle-bouie/if-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-a-cautionary-tale-about-the-desire-for/) [Jamelle Bouie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamelle-bouie/) > [By no means is Trump the first president or even the first Republican president to abuse the power of the office in an effort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamelle-bouie/by-no-means-is-trump-the-first-president-or-even-the-first-republican/) [Jamelle Bouie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamelle-bouie/) > [For liberals in particular, the idea that government is only hypocrisy and dysfunction is self-defeating and nihilistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamelle-bouie/for-liberals-in-particular-the-idea-that-government-is-only-hypocrisy/) [Jamelle Bouie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamelle-bouie/) > [Nineteenth-century American politics were notoriously raucous, with frequent violence in and around elections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamelle-bouie/nineteenth-century-american-politics-were-notoriously-raucous-with/) [Jamelle Bouie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamelle-bouie/) > [Trump did not win the 2016 presidential election solely on the votes of his base; he won it after he consolidated wavering Republicans and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamelle-bouie/trump-did-not-win-the-2016-presidential-election-solely-on-the-votes/) [Jamelle Bouie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamelle-bouie/) > [Trump's authoritarian instincts - his refusal to accept or even learn the rules of the constitutional system - are a huge part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamelle-bouie/trump-s-authoritarian-instincts-his-refusal-to-accept-or-even-learn/) [Jamelle Bouie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamelle-bouie/) > [Americans tend to focus on external threats to our democracy: foreign adversaries wielding disinformation and subversion. But the most serious dangers have always come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamelle-bouie/americans-tend-to-focus-on-external-threats-to-our-democracy-foreign/) [Jamelle Bouie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamelle-bouie/) > [Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach is notorious for his efforts to secure 'election integrity' through voter purges and other efforts to shrink the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamelle-bouie/kansas-secretary-of-state-kris-kobach-is-notorious-for-his-efforts-to/) [Jamelle Bouie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamelle-bouie/) > [To vote in the United States, you can't simply go cast a ballot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamelle-bouie/to-vote-in-the-united-states-you-can-t-simply-go-cast-a-ballot/) [Jamelle Bouie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamelle-bouie/) > [The ring, in 'The Lord of the Rings,' represents power in all of its terrible glory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamelle-bouie/the-ring-in-the-lord-of-the-rings-represents-power-in-all-of-its/) [Jamelle Bouie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamelle-bouie/) > [As long as voting is voluntary, young people will likely always vote at lower rates than their older counterparts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamelle-bouie/as-long-as-voting-is-voluntary-young-people-will-likely-always-vote/) [Jamelle Bouie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamelle-bouie/) [Explore all 100 Jamelle Bouie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamelle-bouie/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/congress-passed-the-american-rescue-plan-act-in-a-tremendous/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. 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But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) [Browse all 7,717 American quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The disturbing truth is that there's probably more sincerity than not in American politics. 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