--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For the big donors, Ryan was a superstar…" description: "\"“For the big donors, Ryan was a superstar, a square-jawed, blue-eyed, earnest young Ayn Rand disciple described as “wonky” so often it seemed affixed t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df6/jane-mayer-1031_ayn-rand_for-the-big-donors-ryan-was-a-superstar_2458971.png" --- # For the big donors, Ryan was a superstar, a square-jawed… ![“For the big donors, Ryan was a superstar, a square-jawed, blue-eyed, earnest young Ayn Rand disciple described as “wonky” so often it seemed affixed to his title.” quote by Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df6/jane-mayer-1031_ayn-rand_for-the-big-donors-ryan-was-a-superstar_2458971.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df6/jane-mayer-1031_ayn-rand_for-the-big-donors-ryan-was-a-superstar_2458971.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df6/jane-mayer-1031_ayn-rand_for-the-big-donors-ryan-was-a-superstar_2458971.png) > ““For the big donors, Ryan was a superstar, a square-jawed, blue-eyed, earnest young Ayn Rand disciple described as “wonky” so often it seemed affixed to his title.”” [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. Ryan, a prominent donor, is described as a fervent Ayn Rand follower, often labeled “wonky.” **In simple terms:** Ryan is a fervent Rand disciple, called “wonky.” Key Takeaway Recognize how labels shape donor perception. Themes politics philanthropy media Mood analytical critical Type journalistic observational When to use this quote - campaign fundraising - public relations - media analysis Key Concepts ideology reputation management Questions to Reflect On - How does “wonky” affect donor credibility? - What alternative descriptions fit? A Different Perspective Labels can oversimplify complex motives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ayn-rand/) [Big Donors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-donors-635527/) [Donors Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/donors-ryan-635524/) [Rand Disciple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rand-disciple-635525/) [Ryan Superstar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ryan-superstar-635526/) ## Related quotes > [Donald Trump talks about how he's not going to be controlled by the moneyed interests. Do people understand that he's not giving money to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/donald-trump-talks-about-how-he-s-not-going-to-be-controlled-by-the/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Raising money, like sausage-making, ain't pretty to see, and it would be just criminally naive to rely on the big hearts of big donors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cohen/raising-money-like-sausage-making-ain-t-pretty-to-see-and-it-would-be/) [Richard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cohen/) > [Every district is going to be different, but if you wanted me to give advice to those candidates: Run your own campaign, the DCCC…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zephyr-teachout/every-district-is-going-to-be-different-but-if-you-wanted-me-to-give/) [Zephyr Teachout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zephyr-teachout/) > [The top group of fundraisers for Mr. Obama raised $457,834 for his 2008 campaign - and were approved for federal grants and loans of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kelly/the-top-group-of-fundraisers-for-mr-obama-raised-457-834-for-his-2008/) [Jack Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kelly/) > [We're going to take on the big media, big business, and big donors that are bleeding our country dry. We're losing our jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-re-going-to-take-on-the-big-media-big-business-and-big-donors-that/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“One of the methods used by statists to destroy capitalism consists in establishing controls that tie a given industry hand and foot, making it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/one-of-the-methods-used-by-statists-to-destroy-capitalism-consists-in/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [To say I love you one must know first how to say the I. Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/to-say-i-love-you-one-must-know-first-how-to-say-the-i-ayn-rand-the/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [ In the original novel \[ Anthem\], the story unfolds in the mind of a single character. Maybe that's why Ayn Rand called the work… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-britting/in-the-original-novel-anthem-the-story-unfolds-in-the-mind-of-a/) [Jeff Britting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-britting/) > ['We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the Government is free to do anything it pleases, while citizens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/we-are-fast-approaching-the-stage-of-the-ultimate-inversion-the-stage/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [“Every book was a revelation to their suggestible young minds. They both sulked through their work-study jobs after Marx told them they were “estranged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-cooperman/every-book-was-a-revelation-to-their-suggestible-young-minds-they/) [Kathy Cooperman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-cooperman/) > [“He spent several days deciding on the artifacts. Much longer than he had spent deciding to kill himself, and approximately the same time required…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/he-spent-several-days-deciding-on-the-artifacts-much-longer-than-he/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“Libertarianism used to have a robust left wing as well. Both disliked government. Both were driven by a fantastically nostalgic conviction that a country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-andersen/libertarianism-used-to-have-a-robust-left-wing-as-well-both-disliked/) [Kurt Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-andersen/) > [The anti-individualist enemies that Ayn Rand battled are still the enemy, but they've shifted their line of attack. Political collectivists are no longer much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-anti-individualist-enemies-that-ayn-rand-battled-are-still-the/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [ I think for a lot of people, it's just where their saturation point was. Once you get into the \[Donald\] Trump stuff and the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/i-think-for-a-lot-of-people-it-s-just-where-their-saturation-point/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [Before I met Ayn Rand, I was a logical positivist, and accordingly, I didn't believe in absolutes, moral or otherwise. If I couldn't prove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/before-i-met-ayn-rand-i-was-a-logical-positivist-and-accordingly-i/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) ## 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. The other thing that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/what-i-write-about-is-how-much-influence-it-s-had-in-things-like/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [“Two months into their tenure, Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee also led a crusade against alternative, renewable energy programs. They successfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/two-months-into-their-tenure-republicans-on-the-house-energy-and/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [ \[The Kochs\] they hate big government. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/the-kochs-they-hate-big-government/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [“Rob Reich, a professor of political science at Stanford University and co-director of the Stanford Center for Philanthropy and Civil Society, explains that private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/rob-reich-a-professor-of-political-science-at-stanford-university-and/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [“During the previous eight years of Republican rule, this conservative corporate elite had consolidated its power, amassing enormous sway over the U.S. government’s regulatory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/during-the-previous-eight-years-of-republican-rule-this-conservative/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [“Noble again chose Larry McCarthy, the veteran media consultant who was known for his ability to distill a complicated subject into a simple, potent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/noble-again-chose-larry-mccarthy-the-veteran-media-consultant-who-was/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) [Explore all 305 Jane Mayer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) ## More Ayn Rand quotes > [Before I met Ayn Rand, I was a logical positivist, and accordingly, I didn't believe in absolutes, moral or otherwise. If I couldn't prove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/before-i-met-ayn-rand-i-was-a-logical-positivist-and-accordingly-i/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [ I think for a lot of people, it's just where their saturation point was. Once you get into the \[Donald\] Trump stuff and the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/i-think-for-a-lot-of-people-it-s-just-where-their-saturation-point/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [The anti-individualist enemies that Ayn Rand battled are still the enemy, but they've shifted their line of attack. Political collectivists are no longer much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-anti-individualist-enemies-that-ayn-rand-battled-are-still-the/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [“Libertarianism used to have a robust left wing as well. Both disliked government. Both were driven by a fantastically nostalgic conviction that a country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-andersen/libertarianism-used-to-have-a-robust-left-wing-as-well-both-disliked/) [Kurt Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-andersen/) > [“He spent several days deciding on the artifacts. Much longer than he had spent deciding to kill himself, and approximately the same time required…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/he-spent-several-days-deciding-on-the-artifacts-much-longer-than-he/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“Every book was a revelation to their suggestible young minds. They both sulked through their work-study jobs after Marx told them they were “estranged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-cooperman/every-book-was-a-revelation-to-their-suggestible-young-minds-they/) [Kathy Cooperman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-cooperman/) > ['We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the Government is free to do anything it pleases, while citizens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/we-are-fast-approaching-the-stage-of-the-ultimate-inversion-the-stage/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [ In the original novel \[ Anthem\], the story unfolds in the mind of a single character. Maybe that's why Ayn Rand called the work… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-britting/in-the-original-novel-anthem-the-story-unfolds-in-the-mind-of-a/) [Jeff Britting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-britting/) > [To say I love you one must know first how to say the I. Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/to-say-i-love-you-one-must-know-first-how-to-say-the-i-ayn-rand-the/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“One of the methods used by statists to destroy capitalism consists in establishing controls that tie a given industry hand and foot, making it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/one-of-the-methods-used-by-statists-to-destroy-capitalism-consists-in/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Some major writers have a huge impact, like Ayn Rand, who to my mind is a lousy fiction writer because her writing has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/some-major-writers-have-a-huge-impact-like-ayn-rand-who-to-my-mind-is/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [“At least two important conservative thinkers, Ayn Rand and Leo Strauss, were unbelievers or nonbelievers and in any case contemptuous of Christianity. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/at-least-two-important-conservative-thinkers-ayn-rand-and-leo-strauss/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Ayn Rand held that art is a 're-creation of reality according to an artist's metaphysical value-judgements.' By its nature, therefore, a novel (like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peikoff/ayn-rand-held-that-art-is-a-re-creation-of-reality-according-to-an/) [Leonard Peikoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peikoff/) > [Madonna taught me more philosophy than Ayn Rand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kennedy-montgomery/madonna-taught-me-more-philosophy-than-ayn-rand/) [Lisa Kennedy Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kennedy-montgomery/) > [“The main reason for moral inconsistencies and betrayals, Ayn Rand believed, is that men have been taught to pursue ideals that are irrational and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-james-bidinotto/the-main-reason-for-moral-inconsistencies-and-betrayals-ayn-rand/) [Robert James Bidinotto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-james-bidinotto/) [Browse all 115 Ayn Rand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ayn-rand/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“For the big donors, Ryan was a superstar, a square-jawed, blue-eyed, earnest young Ayn Rand disciple described as “wonky” so often it seemed affixed to his title.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jane Mayer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/for-the-big-donors-ryan-was-a-superstar-a-square-jawed-blue-eyed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ayn Rand" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/for-the-big-donors-ryan-was-a-superstar-a-square-jawed-blue-eyed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df6/jane-mayer-1031_ayn-rand_for-the-big-donors-ryan-was-a-superstar_2458971.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df6/jane-mayer-1031_ayn-rand_for-the-big-donors-ryan-was-a-superstar_2458971.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df6/jane-mayer-1031_ayn-rand_for-the-big-donors-ryan-was-a-superstar_2458971.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For the big donors, Ryan was a superstar, a square-jawed, blue-eyed, earnest young Ayn Rand disciple…” — Jane Mayer", "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": "Jane Mayer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“For the big donors, Ryan was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/for-the-big-donors-ryan-was-a-superstar-a-square-jawed-blue-eyed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/for-the-big-donors-ryan-was-a-superstar-a-square-jawed-blue-eyed/#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 } } ] } ```