--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The charge that liberal candidates don't…" description: "\"The charge that liberal candidates don't connect with or understand the values and beliefs of regular Americans is embedded in old epithets like 'limou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/867/jeff-greenfield-12787_american_the-charge-that-liberal-candidates-don-t_1224669.jpg" --- # The charge that liberal candidates don't connect with or… ![“The charge that liberal candidates don't connect with or understand the values and beliefs of regular Americans is embedded in old epithets like 'limousine liberal,' which I first heard aimed at New York Mayor John Lindsay in 1969.” quote by Jeff Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/867/jeff-greenfield-12787_american_the-charge-that-liberal-candidates-don-t_1224669.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/867/jeff-greenfield-12787_american_the-charge-that-liberal-candidates-don-t_1224669.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/867/jeff-greenfield-12787_american_the-charge-that-liberal-candidates-don-t_1224669.jpg) > “The charge that liberal candidates don't connect with or understand the values and beliefs of regular Americans is embedded in old epithets like 'limousine liberal,' which I first heard aimed at New York Mayor John Lindsay in 1969.” [Jeff Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-greenfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques the stereotype that liberals are out of touch, tracing its origin to the term “limousine liberal” from the late 1960s. **In simple terms:** “Limousine liberal” is an old label for out‑of‑touch elites. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about elite bias. Themes politics media stereotypes class Mood skeptical inquisitive Type critical explanatory When to use this quote - campaign strategy - media coverage - voter outreach Key Concepts elitism public perception labeling Questions to Reflect On - What evidence counters the “limousine liberal” claim? - How do class perceptions shape political narratives? A Different Perspective Labels can oversimplify complex viewpoints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal/) [Mayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mayor/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [“If there’s anything worse than a limousine liberal,” Morton said, “it’s a Gulfstream environmentalist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/if-there-s-anything-worse-than-a-limousine-liberal-morton-said-it-s-a/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [I am a limousine liberal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-penn/i-am-a-limousine-liberal/) [Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-penn/) > [We can avoid liberal candidates by filtering them out at the local level, nipping their ascension to power in the proverbial bud by assuring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-loesch/we-can-avoid-liberal-candidates-by-filtering-them-out-at-the-local/) [Dana Loesch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-loesch/) > [Because liberalism typically doesn't sell in American presidential politics, liberal candidates tend to run as culturally conservative centrists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-lowry/because-liberalism-typically-doesn-t-sell-in-american-presidential/) [Rich Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-lowry/) > [Each achieves one or both of two objectives — making liberals feel good about themselves and being good to liberal candidates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/each-achieves-one-or-both-of-two-objectives-making-liberals-feel-good/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [“And always John, who is my own Gilbert Blythe, my real life Mr. Darcy, and the love of my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-eland/and-always-john-who-is-my-own-gilbert-blythe-my-real-life-mr-darcy/) [Lindsay Eland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-eland/) > [I could never have done what I did without being involved with Lindsay Kemp's company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-could-never-have-done-what-i-did-without-being-involved-with/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [In 2007, Lindsay Lohan seemed to be on top of the world, a bona fide star who had her pick of acting gigs. 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That's a lot of pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saoirse-ronan/lindsay-lohan-was-the-it-girl-from-like-14-that-s-a-lot-of-pressure/) [Saoirse Ronan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saoirse-ronan/) > [When an MP says to me, 'Lindsay, I don't think I'm going to stand again. I don't feel safe. My family must come first,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-hoyle/when-an-mp-says-to-me-lindsay-i-don-t-think-i-m-going-to-stand-again/) [Lindsay Hoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-hoyle/) > [I don't read or watch anything that has to do with Lindsay Lohan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobcat-goldthwait/i-don-t-read-or-watch-anything-that-has-to-do-with-lindsay-lohan/) [Bobcat Goldthwait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobcat-goldthwait/) ## More by Jeff Greenfield > [In politics, Bugs Bunny always beats Daffy Duck. Daffy's always going berserk, jumping up and down, yelling. 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