--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We would see another president being…" description: "\"We would see another president being accused of being illegitimate, and undermined from day one, which is exactly what these donors did to [Barack] Oba..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/jane-mayer-1031_accused_we-would-see-another-president-being-acc_642766.png" --- # We would see another president being accused of being… ![“We would see another president being accused of being illegitimate, and undermined from day one, which is exactly what these donors did to [Barack] Obama.” quote by Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/jane-mayer-1031_accused_we-would-see-another-president-being-acc_642766.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/jane-mayer-1031_accused_we-would-see-another-president-being-acc_642766.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/jane-mayer-1031_accused_we-would-see-another-president-being-acc_642766.png) > “We would see another president being accused of being illegitimate, and undermined from day one, which is exactly what these donors did to \[Barack\] Obama.” [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. Political legitimacy can be eroded by powerful donors, undermining democratic authority from the start. **In simple terms:** Donors can delegitimize presidents. Key Takeaway Guard against undue influence. Themes politics legitimacy donor influence democracy Mood critical concerned Type analytical explanatory When to use this quote - elections - policy making - public trust - activism Key Concepts campaign finance media narratives Questions to Reflect On - How can transparency restore trust? - What mechanisms limit donor power? A Different Perspective Donors also fund positive reforms; not all influence is corrupt. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being accused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-accused/) [Donors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/donors/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Undermined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undermined/) ## Related quotes > [The idea that the future is unpredictable is undermined every day by the ease with which the past is explained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/the-idea-that-the-future-is-unpredictable-is-undermined-every-day-by/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [I'm always being accused of being a Hollywood Republican, but I'm not! I have just as many Democratic ideas as Republican ones. If they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-willis/i-m-always-being-accused-of-being-a-hollywood-republican-but-i-m-not/) [Bruce Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-willis/) > [And we are understanding - we're beginning to understand that the Nigerian military is now better on. And also, probably even more importantly, Michel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ofeibea-quist-arcton/and-we-are-understanding-we-re-beginning-to-understand-that-the/) [Ofeibea Quist-Arcton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ofeibea-quist-arcton/) > [As soon as you opened your mouth and said the word woman, you were beaten down with the argument that you were betraying the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-schwarzer/as-soon-as-you-opened-your-mouth-and-said-the-word-woman-you-were/) [Alice Schwarzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-schwarzer/) > [I'm sick of being accused of gold-digging. It just so happens I get turned on by liver spots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-nicole-smith/i-m-sick-of-being-accused-of-gold-digging-it-just-so-happens-i-get/) [Anna Nicole Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-nicole-smith/) > [You know, I'm normally so sanguine. But... being accused of rushing these two books out to cash in on the Newbery Medal, without access…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-know-i-m-normally-so-sanguine-but-being-accused-of-rushing-these/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [After multiple trips to Paris and being accused of participating in 'heinous' activities in regard to the state, I found my Romanian nationality revoked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dumitru-tepeneag/after-multiple-trips-to-paris-and-being-accused-of-participating-in/) [Dumitru Tepeneag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dumitru-tepeneag/) > [Whenever I was called a gourmet, I suspected I was being accused of something at least slightly unpleasant. But that was before I heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kurlansky/whenever-i-was-called-a-gourmet-i-suspected-i-was-being-accused-of/) [Mark Kurlansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kurlansky/) > [Why is it that skeptics are always being accused of arrogance? For the record, we're the guys who DON'T claim to have absolute knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-p-harrison/why-is-it-that-skeptics-are-always-being-accused-of-arrogance-for-the/) [Guy P. Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-p-harrison/) > [I don't even pretend we can occupy the Lib Dem holier-than-thou, hands-entirely-clean-and-entirely-empty-type stance. No, we are getting our hands dirty, and inevitably and totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/i-don-t-even-pretend-we-can-occupy-the-lib-dem-holier-than-thou-hands/) [Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/) > [ I'm finally going to be able to finally criticize \[Hillary Clinton\] without being accused of being a sexist - that idea. I'm not a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/i-m-finally-going-to-be-able-to-finally-criticize-hillary-clinton/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [The Democrats are incapable of even being accused of violating political correctness, so they don't even worry about it. The Democrats have really grown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-democrats-are-incapable-of-even-being-accused-of-violating/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I have the happy circumstance of either being accused of political grandstanding on the one hand or cover-ups on the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-chandler/i-have-the-happy-circumstance-of-either-being-accused-of-political/) [Ben Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-chandler/) > [The judgment means a lot. As a journalist being accused of invading someone's privacy, there is always a risk that it will stick to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asne-seierstad/the-judgment-means-a-lot-as-a-journalist-being-accused-of-invading/) [Asne Seierstad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asne-seierstad/) > [I have myself always been terrified of plagiarism - of being accused of it, that is. Every writer is a thief, though some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/i-have-myself-always-been-terrified-of-plagiarism-of-being-accused-of/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) ## 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 Accused quotes > [We resent being faced with facts we'd prefer to ignore as much as being wrongly accused of doing something we haven't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aidan-chambers/we-resent-being-faced-with-facts-we-d-prefer-to-ignore-as-much-as/) [Aidan Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aidan-chambers/) > [Jesus Himself was criticized. He wasn't a glutton and drunkard, but He was accused of being those things. Why? Because He went to parties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/jesus-himself-was-criticized-he-wasn-t-a-glutton-and-drunkard-but-he/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [You're lying through your fangs," Iggy accused. Fang tried to play innocent--but "innocent Fang" is an oxymoron, so it didn't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/you-re-lying-through-your-fangs-iggy-accused-fang-tried-to-play/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [The big story today, Barack Obama was accused of insulting Sarah Palin when he criticized Republican policies by saying, you can put lipstick on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/the-big-story-today-barack-obama-was-accused-of-insulting-sarah-palin/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [I've been accused of humanizing the Nazis, to which I can only say, you can't blame me for that. God did that. Go talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-d-snodgrass/i-ve-been-accused-of-humanizing-the-nazis-to-which-i-can-only-say-you/) [W. D. Snodgrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-d-snodgrass/) > [Something very unique about Germany is that once you are suspected or accused of having worked for the Stassi, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-schwochow/something-very-unique-about-germany-is-that-once-you-are-suspected-or/) [Christian Schwochow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-schwochow/) > [You can make a very good argument that society would be much worse off if you let 10 rapists and murderers free rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/you-can-make-a-very-good-argument-that-society-would-be-much-worse/) [Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/) > [Here, I am looking for a document issued by a public attorney. I don't find. He is accused by the political leaders of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-verges/here-i-am-looking-for-a-document-issued-by-a-public-attorney-i-don-t/) [Jacques Verges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-verges/) > [For although Claudius had been accused of gambling and drunkenness, not only were no worse sins laid to his charge, but he had successfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-although-claudius-had-been-accused-of-gambling-and-drunkenness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man may be accused of cowardice for fleeing away from all manner of physical dangers but when things supernatural, insubstantial and inexplicable threaten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-hill/a-man-may-be-accused-of-cowardice-for-fleeing-away-from-all-manner-of/) [Susan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-hill/) > [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/) > [I've been accused of trying too hard to rescue people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-edwards/i-ve-been-accused-of-trying-too-hard-to-rescue-people/) [Kim Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-edwards/) > [“Looks sure can be deceiving: not every ‘ugly’ person is a ‘bad’ person (or is guilty of whatever it is that they are accused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/looks-sure-can-be-deceiving-not-every-ugly-person-is-a-bad-person-or/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I have been accused of never saying no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/i-have-been-accused-of-never-saying-no/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) Browse all 618 Accused quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We would see another president being accused of being illegitimate, and undermined from day one, which is exactly what these donors did to [Barack] Obama.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jane Mayer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/we-would-see-another-president-being-accused-of-being-illegitimate/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accused" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/we-would-see-another-president-being-accused-of-being-illegitimate/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/jane-mayer-1031_accused_we-would-see-another-president-being-acc_642766.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/jane-mayer-1031_accused_we-would-see-another-president-being-acc_642766.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/jane-mayer-1031_accused_we-would-see-another-president-being-acc_642766.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We would see another president being accused of being illegitimate, and undermined from day one, which is…” — 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": "We would see another president being...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/we-would-see-another-president-being-accused-of-being-illegitimate/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/we-would-see-another-president-being-accused-of-being-illegitimate/#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 } } ] } ```