--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When Barack Obama was asked about his…" description: "\"When Barack Obama was asked about his lack of executive experience in 2008, he pointed to his successful campaign as proof he could manage the presiden..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/773/john-dickerson-7273_barack-obama_when-barack-obama-was-asked-about-his-la_576731.jpg" --- # When Barack Obama was asked about his lack of executive… ![“When Barack Obama was asked about his lack of executive experience in 2008, he pointed to his successful campaign as proof he could manage the presidency.” quote by John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/773/john-dickerson-7273_barack-obama_when-barack-obama-was-asked-about-his-la_576731.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/773/john-dickerson-7273_barack-obama_when-barack-obama-was-asked-about-his-la_576731.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/773/john-dickerson-7273_barack-obama_when-barack-obama-was-asked-about-his-la_576731.jpg) > “When Barack Obama was asked about his lack of executive experience in 2008, he pointed to his successful campaign as proof he could manage the presidency.” [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Obama argued that campaign success demonstrated his ability to lead despite limited prior executive roles. **In simple terms:** Campaign success shows leadership ability. Key Takeaway Leverage proven successes to build credibility. Themes leadership politics experience Mood optimistic analytical Type political motivational When to use this quote - political campaigns - first‑time office holders - public perception Key Concepts campaign management executive competence Questions to Reflect On - How can campaign skills be adapted to governance? - What other experiences validate leadership? A Different Perspective Success in elections may not translate to governing complexities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barack obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barack-obama/) [Campaign Proof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaign-proof-4749167/) [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [Executive Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executive-experience-1856132/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Manage Presidency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manage-presidency-4749166/) [Obama Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obama-asked-325935/) [Proof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proof/) [Successful Campaign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-campaign-1149714/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) ## Related quotes > [I have 15 years of executive experience as a big-city mayor and as a governor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-malley/i-have-15-years-of-executive-experience-as-a-big-city-mayor-and-as-a/) [Martin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-malley/) > [I believe that I have the executive experience and the ideas and the proven record to fix things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/i-believe-that-i-have-the-executive-experience-and-the-ideas-and-the/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [The President, who really had been mostly managing his one-man Barack Obama narrative and journey his whole life, without executive experience, certainly - he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/the-president-who-really-had-been-mostly-managing-his-one-man-barack/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [“There has been a sustained and dreadfully successful campaign to make most people dissatisfied with what I would call the normal life and some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dervla-murphy/there-has-been-a-sustained-and-dreadfully-successful-campaign-to-make/) [Dervla Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dervla-murphy/) > [To win a successful campaign against an opponent that has a lot more name recognition and a lot more money, I have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stewart/to-win-a-successful-campaign-against-an-opponent-that-has-a-lot-more/) [Corey Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stewart/) > [Well, paycheck protection is an important ingredient for a successful campaign finance reform measure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-card/well-paycheck-protection-is-an-important-ingredient-for-a-successful/) [Andrew Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-card/) > [If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a whole agency to make a successful campaign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guerrero/if-it-takes-a-village-to-raise-a-child-it-takes-a-whole-agency-to/) [David Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guerrero/) > [I would say a successful campaign reflects the desire of the people who are there to support a candidate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-glenn/i-would-say-a-successful-campaign-reflects-the-desire-of-the-people/) [Darryl Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-glenn/) > [I'm well aware of the dynamics of turnout and measuring enthusiasm and identifying and turning out voters. That's something I'm cognizant of in running…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-zeldin/i-m-well-aware-of-the-dynamics-of-turnout-and-measuring-enthusiasm/) [Lee Zeldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-zeldin/) > [President Obama had beer with four unemployed construction workers. And Obama asked the guys what was it like to lose their jobs, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/president-obama-had-beer-with-four-unemployed-construction-workers/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [President Obama has asked me to chair his new President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-immelt/president-obama-has-asked-me-to-chair-his-new-president-s-council-on/) [Jeffrey R. Immelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-immelt/) > [“HIS state-of-the-union address Barack Obama asked Congress to give him “fast-track” authority to negotiate trade deals. Shortly afterwards”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/his-state-of-the-union-address-barack-obama-asked-congress-to-give/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Michelle Obama was asked when life begins. According to her it's when she and Barack take over the White House.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-sayet/michelle-obama-was-asked-when-life-begins-according-to-her-it-s-when/) [Evan Sayet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-sayet/) > [ The president \[Barak Obama\] had been asked some questions by George Stephanopoulos on a news show about whether it was a tax. And he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-verrilli-jr/the-president-barak-obama-had-been-asked-some-questions-by-george/) [Donald Verrilli Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-verrilli-jr/) > [ The president \[Barack Obama\] asked for a commitment of, I think, 100,000 jobs for veterans and military spouses over the next couple of years.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/the-president-barack-obama-asked-for-a-commitment-of-i-think-100-000/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) ## More by John Dickerson > [That's what politics is. It's the story of what's happening, what does it mean, what's the conclusion, who are the interesting characters?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/that-s-what-politics-is-it-s-the-story-of-what-s-happening-what-does/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [When the kids were young, they just wanted to be around us. We were units of comfort and support. As they get older, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/when-the-kids-were-young-they-just-wanted-to-be-around-us-we-were/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [If we practice hard enough, we can become thoroughly interested in even the simplest things of daily life, the way a child would. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/if-we-practice-hard-enough-we-can-become-thoroughly-interested-in/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [In addition to surviving the Forrestal, McCain has survived three other plane disasters, including being shot down over enemy territory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/in-addition-to-surviving-the-forrestal-mccain-has-survived-three/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [There's kind of a Tom Harkin aspect to Bernie Sanders, even though Harkin is supporting Secretary Clinton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/there-s-kind-of-a-tom-harkin-aspect-to-bernie-sanders-even-though/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [I am always looking for material - whether for my notebooks or for Twitter or Instagram - which means I'm looking for meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/i-am-always-looking-for-material-whether-for-my-notebooks-or-for/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [When former Defense Secretary Robert Gates wrote his recent book, 'Duty', it was full of tough assessments and candor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/when-former-defense-secretary-robert-gates-wrote-his-recent-book-duty/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [Mr. Obama said that he personally told Mr. Putin to knock it off and vows to retaliate. But the Obama presidency is coming to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/mr-obama-said-that-he-personally-told-mr-putin-to-knock-it-off-and/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [When she died, Mom left me her letters and journals. Windows into things I would have been too young to understand when she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/when-she-died-mom-left-me-her-letters-and-journals-windows-into/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [The swashbuckling independence of my childhood was not all good, and as a father, I'm puzzling out how to be part of my children's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/the-swashbuckling-independence-of-my-childhood-was-not-all-good-and/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [Mother's Day is a welcome event in partisan times. Nearly everyone agrees that we should show mothers gratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/mother-s-day-is-a-welcome-event-in-partisan-times-nearly-everyone/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [Talking to the press is not always good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/talking-to-the-press-is-not-always-good/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [When I interviewed John McCain in 2000 about whether he had taken medication for his anger, I remember thinking, 'Let's see how this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/when-i-interviewed-john-mccain-in-2000-about-whether-he-had-taken/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [A president cannot grow a long-term lack of trust in someone with whom they had full confidence the day before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/a-president-cannot-grow-a-long-term-lack-of-trust-in-someone-with/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [What is the appetite for truth in the Trump White House? That's not a question about the untrue things the president says. It's about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/what-is-the-appetite-for-truth-in-the-trump-white-house-that-s-not-a/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) [Explore all 93 John Dickerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) ## More Barack obama quotes > [In 2008, Barack Obama did a phenomenal job of reaching out to minority groups, to younger people, and a lot of newer voters, Hispanics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-p-bush/in-2008-barack-obama-did-a-phenomenal-job-of-reaching-out-to-minority/) [George P. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-p-bush/) > [There has certainly been ugly, right-wing hatred targeting Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/there-has-certainly-been-ugly-right-wing-hatred-targeting-barack-obama/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [As a Democrat following the 2012 presidential election closely, I was happy to see that South Carolina voted overwhelmingly for Newt Gingrich, a candidate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/as-a-democrat-following-the-2012-presidential-election-closely-i-was/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [Just like Barack Obama, my views on gay marriage have evolved, and now I am a reluctant groom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/just-like-barack-obama-my-views-on-gay-marriage-have-evolved-and-now/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [It has been my honor to support and work with President Barack Obama, a man who has brought courage and character to the presidency.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reid/it-has-been-my-honor-to-support-and-work-with-president-barack-obama/) [Harry Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reid/) > [When the 2008 victory of Barack Obama and the defeat of grumpy old John McCain began looking, um, inevitable, I started fielding inquiries about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/when-the-2008-victory-of-barack-obama-and-the-defeat-of-grumpy-old/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [President Barack Obama is a doer. And we in America will do big things with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hunt/president-barack-obama-is-a-doer-and-we-in-america-will-do-big-things/) [Jim Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hunt/) > [“Been living on this earth for so long now and still don't know what a happy life feels like. I'm ready for a change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-anthony-burkett/been-living-on-this-earth-for-so-long-now-and-still-don-t-know-what-a/) [Jonathan Anthony Burkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-anthony-burkett/) > [“Attacking a lightning rod doesn't make you lightning..." Regarding Barack Obama”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-rafael-cimino/attacking-a-lightning-rod-doesn-t-make-you-lightning-regarding-barack/) [T. Rafael Cimino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-rafael-cimino/) > [Tell me why the limousine fleet has increased by 42 percent since Barack Obama took office. Why are we spending taxpayers' money on that?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-neumann/tell-me-why-the-limousine-fleet-has-increased-by-42-percent-since/) [Mark Neumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-neumann/) > [Trudeau, like President Barack Obama, is a champion of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/trudeau-like-president-barack-obama-is-a-champion-of-change/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [There is the bipartisan pretense that the FBI is the only government agency in Washington that is above reproach. Yet, this is the agency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-fitton/there-is-the-bipartisan-pretense-that-the-fbi-is-the-only-government/) [Tom Fitton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-fitton/) > [Income inequality has gotten worse under President Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/income-inequality-has-gotten-worse-under-president-barack-obama/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [For even the most seasoned observers of American politics, Barack Obama is a phenomenon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lammy/for-even-the-most-seasoned-observers-of-american-politics-barack/) [David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/) > [When Caroline Kennedy endorsed Barack Obama in 2008 as her father's rightful heir, she laid upon him the mantle of Camelot and the enduring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-kelley/when-caroline-kennedy-endorsed-barack-obama-in-2008-as-her-father-s/) [Kitty Kelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-kelley/) [Browse all 363 Barack obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barack-obama/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When Barack Obama was asked about his lack of executive experience in 2008, he pointed to his successful campaign as proof he could manage the presidency.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Dickerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/when-barack-obama-was-asked-about-his-lack-of-executive-experience-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Barack obama" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/when-barack-obama-was-asked-about-his-lack-of-executive-experience-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/773/john-dickerson-7273_barack-obama_when-barack-obama-was-asked-about-his-la_576731.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/773/john-dickerson-7273_barack-obama_when-barack-obama-was-asked-about-his-la_576731.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/773/john-dickerson-7273_barack-obama_when-barack-obama-was-asked-about-his-la_576731.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When Barack Obama was asked about his lack of executive experience in 2008, he pointed to his successful…” — John Dickerson", "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": "John Dickerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When Barack Obama was asked about...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/when-barack-obama-was-asked-about-his-lack-of-executive-experience-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/when-barack-obama-was-asked-about-his-lack-of-executive-experience-in/#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 } } ] } ```