--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every Southerner, I think, knows people…" description: "\"Every Southerner, I think, knows people like Bill Clinton, maybe not quite as smart and maybe not quite as liberal, but kind of a glad-handing, country..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f28/john-shelton-reed-21912_bills_every-southerner-i-think-knows-people-li_2275012.jpg" --- # Every Southerner, I think, knows people like Bill Clinton… ![“Every Southerner, I think, knows people like Bill Clinton, maybe not quite as smart and maybe not quite as liberal, but kind of a glad-handing, country-club yuppie Southerner. The problem is we don't have labels for middle-class Southerners.” quote by John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f28/john-shelton-reed-21912_bills_every-southerner-i-think-knows-people-li_2275012.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f28/john-shelton-reed-21912_bills_every-southerner-i-think-knows-people-li_2275012.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f28/john-shelton-reed-21912_bills_every-southerner-i-think-knows-people-li_2275012.jpg) > “Every Southerner, I think, knows people like Bill Clinton, maybe not quite as smart and maybe not quite as liberal, but kind of a glad-handing, country-club yuppie Southerner. The problem is we don't have labels for middle-class Southerners.” [John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) ## 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 highlights the difficulty of categorizing middle‑class Southerners, noting they blend traits of both traditional Southern culture and modern, liberal influences. **In simple terms:** Middle‑class Southerners are hard to label because they mix old‑school Southern traits with modern, liberal attitudes. Key Takeaway Recognize and respect nuanced regional identities. Themes identity class regional culture politics stereotypes Mood reflective analytical Type observational commentary When to use this quote - political campaigns - marketing research - community outreach - media representation Key Concepts sociology cultural hybridity class analysis Questions to Reflect On - How do you define your own regional identity? - What risks arise from stereotyping middle‑class Southerners? A Different Perspective Labels can oversimplify and ignore individual variation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Clubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clubs/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Labels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labels/) [Middle class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-class/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Southerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/southerner/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Yuppies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yuppies/) ## Related quotes > [“Suppose a man is walking across a field. To the question "Who is that?" a Southerner would reply by saying something like "Wasn't his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-hood/suppose-a-man-is-walking-across-a-field-to-the-question-who-is-that-a/) Mary Hood > [I am proud to be a Southerner. I think Southern hospitality is very... I don't think it's just a term. I think it really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-deen/i-am-proud-to-be-a-southerner-i-think-southern-hospitality-is-very-i/) [Paula Deen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-deen/) > [I can see why many Southerners, black ones in particular, don't like the implication that Southernness and the Confederate heritage are one and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelton-reed/i-can-see-why-many-southerners-black-ones-in-particular-don-t-like/) [John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) > [We could say that people who eat grits, listen to country music, follow stock-car racing, support corporal punishment in the schools, hunt 'possum, go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelton-reed/we-could-say-that-people-who-eat-grits-listen-to-country-music-follow/) [John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) > [Southerners are also like ethnic groups in that they have a sense of group identity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelton-reed/southerners-are-also-like-ethnic-groups-in-that-they-have-a-sense-of/) [John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) > [Southerners will be polite until they are angry enough to kill you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelton-reed/southerners-will-be-polite-until-they-are-angry-enough-to-kill-you/) [John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) > [Southerners smile more than other Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelton-reed/southerners-smile-more-than-other-americans/) [John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) > [If you care to define the South as a poor, rural region with lousy race relations, that South survives only in geographical shreds and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelton-reed/if-you-care-to-define-the-south-as-a-poor-rural-region-with-lousy/) [John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) > [What will a Hillary Clinton presidency look like? The answer by now seems obvious: It will look like her presidential campaign, which in turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-bernstein/what-will-a-hillary-clinton-presidency-look-like-the-answer-by-now/) [Carl Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-bernstein/) > [Even somebody like Bill Clinton, who I happen to admire very much, the second he was out of office, I remember, he was interview…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/even-somebody-like-bill-clinton-who-i-happen-to-admire-very-much-the/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [People started staring at me at the supermarket and restaurants and whatnot. And I knew that I looked just like Bill Clinton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-watters/people-started-staring-at-me-at-the-supermarket-and-restaurants-and/) Tim Watters > [One of the few things I like about Bill Clinton is that he has very good manners. If his momma were still alive, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/one-of-the-few-things-i-like-about-bill-clinton-is-that-he-has-very/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Ever since John Kennedy, Democrats have had a weakness for dashing younger men like Bill Clinton and Barack Obama and, I suppose, Jimmy Carter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/ever-since-john-kennedy-democrats-have-had-a-weakness-for-dashing/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [The job of the president of the United States is to talk to the public, is to explain to them. Now, some presidents talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-job-of-the-president-of-the-united-states-is-to-talk-to-the/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [No matter how much evidence we uncover about this case or any others involving Mr. Clinton, millions of Americans simply will not care -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/no-matter-how-much-evidence-we-uncover-about-this-case-or-any-others/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) ## More by John Shelton Reed > [Drive a hundred miles and the barbecue changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelton-reed/drive-a-hundred-miles-and-the-barbecue-changes/) [John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) > [As long as there are Japanese tourists, there will be a market for the Old South.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelton-reed/as-long-as-there-are-japanese-tourists-there-will-be-a-market-for-the/) [John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) > [I do believe states' rights was a sound doctrine that got hijacked by some unsavory customers for a while - like, 150 years or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelton-reed/i-do-believe-states-rights-was-a-sound-doctrine-that-got-hijacked-by/) [John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) > [We could say that people who eat grits, listen to country music, follow stock-car racing, support corporal punishment in the schools, hunt 'possum, go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelton-reed/we-could-say-that-people-who-eat-grits-listen-to-country-music-follow/) [John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) > [Southerners are also like ethnic groups in that they have a sense of group identity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelton-reed/southerners-are-also-like-ethnic-groups-in-that-they-have-a-sense-of/) [John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) > [The South is like my favorite pair of blue jeans. It's shrunk some, faded a bit, got a few holes in it. it just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelton-reed/the-south-is-like-my-favorite-pair-of-blue-jeans-it-s-shrunk-some/) [John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) > [But I still do believe that there are useful things to say about Elvis Presley, including what his own ordinariness as a poor Southerner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelton-reed/but-i-still-do-believe-that-there-are-useful-things-to-say-about/) [John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) > [Why can I write 'South' with some assurance that you'll know I mean Richmond and don't mean Phoenix? What is it that the South's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelton-reed/why-can-i-write-south-with-some-assurance-that-you-ll-know-i-mean/) [John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) > [If you care to define the South as a poor, rural region with lousy race relations, that South survives only in geographical shreds and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelton-reed/if-you-care-to-define-the-south-as-a-poor-rural-region-with-lousy/) [John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) > [There's an ethic that says: 'You don't run off to the church for the sacraments of salvation, you establish a personal relationship with God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelton-reed/there-s-an-ethic-that-says-you-don-t-run-off-to-the-church-for-the/) [John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) > [Southern barbecue is the closest thing we have in the U.S. to Europe's wines or cheeses; drive a hundred miles and the barbecue changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelton-reed/southern-barbecue-is-the-closest-thing-we-have-in-the-u-s-to-europe-s/) [John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) > [Dixie has just fallen to pieces. There are little patches of Dixie. But even in the heart of Dixie - in Alabama - Dixie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelton-reed/dixie-has-just-fallen-to-pieces-there-are-little-patches-of-dixie-but/) [John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) > [Southerners smile more than other Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelton-reed/southerners-smile-more-than-other-americans/) [John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) > [Southerners will be polite until they are angry enough to kill you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelton-reed/southerners-will-be-polite-until-they-are-angry-enough-to-kill-you/) [John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) > [The nature of the South is changing faster than the stereotypes are. Much of the South now looks like San Jose. Is it still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelton-reed/the-nature-of-the-south-is-changing-faster-than-the-stereotypes-are/) [John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) [Explore all 28 John Shelton Reed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) ## More Bills quotes > [If you’re a person struggling to eat and stay healthy you might have heard about Michael Jordan or Muhammad Ali, but you’ll never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-you-re-a-person-struggling-to-eat-and-stay-healthy-you-might-have/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Some of the folks on both sides might be sincere, but it does seem as if it is only the opposition that cares about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/some-of-the-folks-on-both-sides-might-be-sincere-but-it-does-seem-as/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [ \[Sport officials\] blocked their support of us. But those individuals \[ Muhammad Ali, the Jim Browns, the Bill Russells, Kareem Abdul Jabbar \] were… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carlos/sport-officials-blocked-their-support-of-us-but-those-individuals/) [John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/) > [Simple fairness dictates that government must not raise taxes on families struggling to pay their bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/simple-fairness-dictates-that-government-must-not-raise-taxes-on/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [ I will not agree to have this bill \[to repeal DADT \] go forward, because our economy is in the tank. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-will-not-agree-to-have-this-bill-to-repeal-dadt-go-forward-because/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [This is not really currency that circulates. It's like the old joke about expensive vintage wine. Wine prices will go up and once in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/this-is-not-really-currency-that-circulates-it-s-like-the-old-joke/) [Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/) > [If Bill Gates left Microsoft we wouldn't allow Donald Trump to run it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/if-bill-gates-left-microsoft-we-wouldn-t-allow-donald-trump-to-run-it/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [Your goal should be to pay off your credit card bills in full at the end of each month and set aside money toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/your-goal-should-be-to-pay-off-your-credit-card-bills-in-full-at-the/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [He's fat and a clown, Bill, a fat clown for all to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eamon-dunphy/he-s-fat-and-a-clown-bill-a-fat-clown-for-all-to-see/) [Eamon Dunphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eamon-dunphy/) > [There's nothing nice about Steve Jobs and there's nothing evil about Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-peddle/there-s-nothing-nice-about-steve-jobs-and-there-s-nothing-evil-about/) Chuck Peddle > [At first I thought, if I were Superman, a perfect secret identity would be "Clark Kent, Dentist," because you could save money on tooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/at-first-i-thought-if-i-were-superman-a-perfect-secret-identity-would/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [Whether it's people walking off 'The View' when Bill O'Reilly makes a statement about radical Islam or Juan Williams being fired for expressing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantor/whether-it-s-people-walking-off-the-view-when-bill-o-reilly-makes-a/) [Eric Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantor/) > [The one thing the police cannot protect us from is a politician like Bill de Blasio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/the-one-thing-the-police-cannot-protect-us-from-is-a-politician-like/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [Bill Hicks - blowtorch, excavator, truthsayer, and brain specialist. He will correct your vision. Others will drive on the road he built.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/bill-hicks-blowtorch-excavator-truthsayer-and-brain-specialist-he/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) Browse all 2,663 Bills quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every Southerner, I think, knows people like Bill Clinton, maybe not quite as smart and maybe not quite as liberal, but kind of a glad-handing, country-club yuppie Southerner. 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