--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would give Obama a \"C.\" He gets an \"A\"…" description: "\"I would give Obama a \"C.\" He gets an \"A\" for understanding this country's profound problems in education, health care, infrastructure, and economic com..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/125/jeffrey-pfeffer-8575_ability_i-would-give-obama-a-c-he-gets-an-a-for_515536.jpg" --- # I would give Obama a "C." He gets an "A" for understanding… ![“I would give Obama a "C." He gets an "A" for understanding this country's profound problems in education, health care, infrastructure, and economic competitiveness, and for surrounding himself with extremely skilled and knowledgeable people who know what to do. He probably gets an "F," ironically…” quote by Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/125/jeffrey-pfeffer-8575_ability_i-would-give-obama-a-c-he-gets-an-a-for_515536.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/125/jeffrey-pfeffer-8575_ability_i-would-give-obama-a-c-he-gets-an-a-for_515536.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/125/jeffrey-pfeffer-8575_ability_i-would-give-obama-a-c-he-gets-an-a-for_515536.jpg) > “I would give Obama a "C." He gets an "A" for understanding this country's profound problems in education, health care, infrastructure, and economic competitiveness, and for surrounding himself with extremely skilled and knowledgeable people who know what to do. He probably gets an "F," ironically, in his ability to sell these ideas to the American public and to be angry enough, conniving enough, and frankly mean enough to get them implemented and understood.” [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker praises Obama's grasp of complex national issues and his team’s expertise, but criticizes his failure to communicate and persuade the public effectively. **In simple terms:** Obama understands problems but can't sell solutions. Key Takeaway Improve communication and political persuasion. Themes leadership politics communication Mood critical analytical Type political commentary When to use this quote - government reform - campaign strategy - public speaking - policy advocacy Key Concepts public policy strategic messaging political persuasion Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders better connect expertise with public sentiment? - What tactics increase persuasive impact? A Different Perspective Even with expertise, ideas fail without public buy‑in. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Competitiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitiveness/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Health care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-care/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Profound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profound/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [If life after death really does exist, everyone probably gets what they expect to get, because that's the only thing I can think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/if-life-after-death-really-does-exist-everyone-probably-gets-what/) [Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/) > [“It probably gets pretty lonely to be anyone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/it-probably-gets-pretty-lonely-to-be-anyone/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [If you're Japanese and you signed up for Pinterest in Japan, you see Japanese ideas, not American ideas that look Japanese - it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-sharp/if-you-re-japanese-and-you-signed-up-for-pinterest-in-japan-you-see/) [Evan Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-sharp/) > [Too many politicians are shifting the critical themes of our national conversations from a 'big ideas' American Brand Platform to narrowly focused, polarizing sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-siegel/too-many-politicians-are-shifting-the-critical-themes-of-our-national/) [Alan Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-siegel/) > [I allowed Rick Santorum to express views and ideas that the American people never would have had expressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foster-friess/i-allowed-rick-santorum-to-express-views-and-ideas-that-the-american/) [Foster Friess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foster-friess/) > [I hope Obama gets scary in the next four years, 'cuz he ain't gotta worry about getting re-elected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-hope-obama-gets-scary-in-the-next-four-years-cuz-he-ain-t-gotta/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [Obama gets his identity and his ideology from his father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-d-souza/obama-gets-his-identity-and-his-ideology-from-his-father/) [Dinesh D'Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-d-souza/) > [Collective solutions to individual problems is very seductive. It's how Obama gets elected, by the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/collective-solutions-to-individual-problems-is-very-seductive-it-s/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The Limbaugh Theorem is the way Obama gets away with no accountability for anything he's done is he never was perceived as governing. 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