--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bill Clinton, a “New Democrat,” later…" description: "\"“Bill Clinton, a “New Democrat,” later embraced his ideas, calling Murray’s analysis “essentially right” and incorporating many of his prescriptions, i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/jane-mayer-1031_conventional-wisdom_bill-clinton-a-new-democrat-later-embrac_2218636.jpg" --- # Bill Clinton, a “New Democrat,” later embraced his ideas… ![“Bill Clinton, a “New Democrat,” later embraced his ideas, calling Murray’s analysis “essentially right” and incorporating many of his prescriptions, including work requirements and the end to aid as an entitlement, in his 1996 welfare reform bill. “It took ten years,” Murray has said, “for Losing…” quote by Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/jane-mayer-1031_conventional-wisdom_bill-clinton-a-new-democrat-later-embrac_2218636.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/jane-mayer-1031_conventional-wisdom_bill-clinton-a-new-democrat-later-embrac_2218636.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/jane-mayer-1031_conventional-wisdom_bill-clinton-a-new-democrat-later-embrac_2218636.jpg) > ““Bill Clinton, a “New Democrat,” later embraced his ideas, calling Murray’s analysis “essentially right” and incorporating many of his prescriptions, including work requirements and the end to aid as an entitlement, in his 1996 welfare reform bill. “It took ten years,” Murray has said, “for Losing Ground to go from being controversial to conventional wisdom.”” [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Murray’s analysis shifted from controversial to mainstream, influencing Clinton’s welfare reforms that added work requirements and ended aid as entitlement. **In simple terms:** Murray’s ideas became accepted and shaped policy. Key Takeaway Recognize how ideas can become mainstream over time. Themes policy reform politics ideas influence Mood analytical reflective Type historical political When to use this quote - government budgeting - social services - political campaigns Key Concepts Welfare reform public opinion policy adoption Questions to Reflect On - How do controversial ideas become accepted? - What factors drive policy change? A Different Perspective Ideas may face resistance before acceptance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conventional wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conventional-wisdom/) [Welfare reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welfare-reform/) ## Related quotes > [“Murray said, “Is this Heaven?” The Voice said, “This is no place as you understand place.” Murray was embarrassed, but the next question had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issac-asimov/murray-said-is-this-heaven-the-voice-said-this-is-no-place-as-you/) Issac Asimov > [I have gone from a Barry Goldwater Republican to a New Democrat, but I think my underlying values have remained pretty constant; individual responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-have-gone-from-a-barry-goldwater-republican-to-a-new-democrat-but-i/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Legal immigration is a much tougher group of people to stereotype and to identify as potential new Democrat voters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/legal-immigration-is-a-much-tougher-group-of-people-to-stereotype-and/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I think you know what's new about this the Democrat Party not liking the Russians. 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Simpson verdict because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/weirdly-enough-the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-black-people-in/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [When Hillary Clinton was in the Clinton White House as first lady, the left - the right accused her of being wide eyed radical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-corn/when-hillary-clinton-was-in-the-clinton-white-house-as-first-lady-the/) [David Corn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-corn/) ## More by Jane Mayer > [“David Brock, a conservative apostate who became a liberal activist, described the Heritage Foundation, where he was a young fellow, as almost completely under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/david-brock-a-conservative-apostate-who-became-a-liberal-activist/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [“The early think tank was not a spy operation, but it was funded by wealthy men who had no objections to using pretexts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/the-early-think-tank-was-not-a-spy-operation-but-it-was-funded-by/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [“Americans for Prosperity annoyed some of the Tea Partiers,” recalls the libertarian blogger Ralph Benko. “These people drove up, opened the door, put T-shirts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/americans-for-prosperity-annoyed-some-of-the-tea-partiers-recalls-the/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [“When Barack Obama took office, the fossil fuel industry was not only eager to preserve its perks but also more militant in its opposition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/when-barack-obama-took-office-the-fossil-fuel-industry-was-not-only/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [If you have an informed electorate, it makes great choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/if-you-have-an-informed-electorate-it-makes-great-choices/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [ One of the oddities of this election is the man that \[Donald\] Trump chose as his vice-president, Mike Pence, is one of the Kochs'… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/one-of-the-oddities-of-this-election-is-the-man-that-donald-trump/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [“The candidates promised to cut taxes for those in the highest brackets, preserve Wall Street loopholes, tolerate the off-shoring of manufacturing jobs and profits,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/the-candidates-promised-to-cut-taxes-for-those-in-the-highest/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [“Amway in fact was structured to avoid federal taxes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/amway-in-fact-was-structured-to-avoid-federal-taxes/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [“radicals in Congress refused to back down, bringing virtually the entire federal government to a halt for sixteen days in October, leaving the country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/radicals-in-congress-refused-to-back-down-bringing-virtually-the/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [What I write about is how much influence it's had in things like state legislatures and governorships and congressional races. 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