--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: a Democrat is a Republican who’s been…" description: "\"“a Democrat is a Republican who’s been through the criminal justice system.”\" — Karin Slaughter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de8/karin-slaughter-1463_criminal-justice_a-democrat-is-a-republican-who-s-been-th_2507968.png" --- # a Democrat is a Republican who’s been through the criminal… ![“a Democrat is a Republican who’s been through the criminal justice system.” quote by Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de8/karin-slaughter-1463_criminal-justice_a-democrat-is-a-republican-who-s-been-th_2507968.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de8/karin-slaughter-1463_criminal-justice_a-democrat-is-a-republican-who-s-been-th_2507968.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de8/karin-slaughter-1463_criminal-justice_a-democrat-is-a-republican-who-s-been-th_2507968.png) > ““a Democrat is a Republican who’s been through the criminal justice system.”” [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A Democrat may share similar experiences with Republicans after enduring the criminal justice system. **In simple terms:** Shared hardship blurs political lines. Key Takeaway Recognize common struggles. Themes politics justice identity experience Mood critical analytical Type social commentary political When to use this quote - policy reform - community building - criminal justice reform - voter outreach Key Concepts systemic oppression political polarization Questions to Reflect On - What shared experiences can bridge political divides? - How does the justice system shape political identity? A Different Perspective Not all Democrats share this experience; it's a broad generalization. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criminal justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminal-justice/) [Criminal justice system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminal-justice-system/) [Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrat/) [Democrat Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrat-republican/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justice system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-system/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) [Republican Criminal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican-criminal-1127753/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) ## Related quotes > [Over the last few years a lot of people have become aware of the inequities in the criminal justice system, right now, with our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/over-the-last-few-years-a-lot-of-people-have-become-aware-of-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Ultimately, we must either abandon our reliance on stop and search or abandon any hope for a criminal justice system grounded in equality, impartiality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lammy/ultimately-we-must-either-abandon-our-reliance-on-stop-and-search-or/) [David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/) > [“It is a general misconception that the police exist to protect the public. This is true only in the most generic sense--i.e., once a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-waters/it-is-a-general-misconception-that-the-police-exist-to-protect-the/) [Robert A. Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-waters/) > [“..I began speaking.. First, I took issue with the media's characterization of the post-Katrina New Orleans as resembling the third world as its poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-sothern/i-began-speaking-first-i-took-issue-with-the-media-s-characterization/) [Billy Sothern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-sothern/) > [I have complete faith and trust in our criminal justice system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shamna-kasim/i-have-complete-faith-and-trust-in-our-criminal-justice-system/) [Shamna Kasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shamna-kasim/) > [It's been crazy to not only learn about the criminal justice system, but to see how it starts so young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/it-s-been-crazy-to-not-only-learn-about-the-criminal-justice-system/) [Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/) > [I'm very mindful of the need to ensure we have a criminal justice system in which people have confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/i-m-very-mindful-of-the-need-to-ensure-we-have-a-criminal-justice/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [Whether or not we can save Lake Michigan, whether or not we can avoid a breakdown in our criminal justice system are more important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-scott/whether-or-not-we-can-save-lake-michigan-whether-or-not-we-can-avoid/) [Bill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-scott/) > [Victims of crime and the wider community deserve a grown-up debate on our criminal justice system and how we can make it work -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/victims-of-crime-and-the-wider-community-deserve-a-grown-up-debate-on/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [A large portion of American citizens, especially people of color, have lost confidence in our criminal justice system. Many have called for appointing special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/a-large-portion-of-american-citizens-especially-people-of-color-have/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Our criminal justice system has swallowed up too many people I love. I am proud to join the ACLU in the fight to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/our-criminal-justice-system-has-swallowed-up-too-many-people-i-love-i/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [The people who have been unjustly disenfranchised by our criminal justice system and the people who daily fight for them always have, and always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jenkins/the-people-who-have-been-unjustly-disenfranchised-by-our-criminal/) [Malcolm Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jenkins/) > [America's criminal justice system isn't known for rehabilitation. I'm not sure that, as a society, we are even interested in that concept anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/america-s-criminal-justice-system-isn-t-known-for-rehabilitation-i-m/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [It's encouraging to watch bipartisan leaders from different states recognize the need for fair and rational legislation focused on creating second chances for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/it-s-encouraging-to-watch-bipartisan-leaders-from-different-states/) [Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/) > [We need to incorporate that age-old concept of redemption into the work that we do in the criminal justice system in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/we-need-to-incorporate-that-age-old-concept-of-redemption-into-the/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) ## More by Karin Slaughter > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I've always been drawn to dark stories. I enjoy reading Flannery O'Connor, Patricia Highsmith, and Margaret Mitchell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/i-ve-always-been-drawn-to-dark-stories-i-enjoy-reading-flannery-o/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I love puns. I've been known to turn the car around just to take advantage of a good pun situation. It really is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/i-love-puns-i-ve-been-known-to-turn-the-car-around-just-to-take/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [Usually, when inspiration strikes late, the light of day reveals that I haven't gotten an idea for a book so much as a psychiatric…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/usually-when-inspiration-strikes-late-the-light-of-day-reveals-that-i/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [“To all the librarians in the world on behalf of all the kids y’all helped grow up to be writers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/to-all-the-librarians-in-the-world-on-behalf-of-all-the-kids-y-all/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [“Moon was from somewhere up east, the kind of place where consonants took on a life of their own. In addition to this, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/moon-was-from-somewhere-up-east-the-kind-of-place-where-consonants/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [Feminism has been so co-opted, but the fact is, feminism benefits men as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/feminism-has-been-so-co-opted-but-the-fact-is-feminism-benefits-men/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [Librarians have always stood up for writers and readers in every kind of community across this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/librarians-have-always-stood-up-for-writers-and-readers-in-every-kind/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [“I’ve got to figure out before I die whether I want to be happy or I want to be right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/i-ve-got-to-figure-out-before-i-die-whether-i-want-to-be-happy-or-i/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [Prior to the Civil War, most libraries were either privately owned or housed in universities or churches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/prior-to-the-civil-war-most-libraries-were-either-privately-owned-or/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [In the South, we drink the Bible with our mother's milk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/in-the-south-we-drink-the-bible-with-our-mother-s-milk/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [Denise Mina is probably one of the most gifted writers out there, whether it's mystery or literary or whatever label you want to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/denise-mina-is-probably-one-of-the-most-gifted-writers-out-there/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [If there is still an American dream, reading is one of the bootstraps by which we can all pull ourselves up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/if-there-is-still-an-american-dream-reading-is-one-of-the-bootstraps/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I love reading almost as much as I love writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/i-love-reading-almost-as-much-as-i-love-writing/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [“a large chifforobe wedged into a small closet that their mother said they’d have to pay Tom Robinson a nickel to bust up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/a-large-chifforobe-wedged-into-a-small-closet-that-their-mother-said/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) [Explore all 237 Karin Slaughter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) ## More Criminal justice quotes > [We need to incorporate that age-old concept of redemption into the work that we do in the criminal justice system in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/we-need-to-incorporate-that-age-old-concept-of-redemption-into-the/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) > [“But a punishment like forced labour or even imprisonment – mere loss of liberty – has never functioned without a certain additional element of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/but-a-punishment-like-forced-labour-or-even-imprisonment-mere-loss-of/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [It's encouraging to watch bipartisan leaders from different states recognize the need for fair and rational legislation focused on creating second chances for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/it-s-encouraging-to-watch-bipartisan-leaders-from-different-states/) [Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/) > [America's criminal justice system isn't known for rehabilitation. I'm not sure that, as a society, we are even interested in that concept anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/america-s-criminal-justice-system-isn-t-known-for-rehabilitation-i-m/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [The people who have been unjustly disenfranchised by our criminal justice system and the people who daily fight for them always have, and always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jenkins/the-people-who-have-been-unjustly-disenfranchised-by-our-criminal/) [Malcolm Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jenkins/) > [Like a lot of people, I'm very, very concerned about Senator Clinton's record. I'm very, very concerned about where her positions were in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/like-a-lot-of-people-i-m-very-very-concerned-about-senator-clinton-s/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [Our criminal justice system has swallowed up too many people I love. I am proud to join the ACLU in the fight to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/our-criminal-justice-system-has-swallowed-up-too-many-people-i-love-i/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [We think of justice sometimes as getting what you deserve, you know - what crime was committed and what is the punishment for that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/we-think-of-justice-sometimes-as-getting-what-you-deserve-you-know/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [Biden's political positions have been evolving for decades, shifting more to the left on critical issues such as criminal justice reform, gay marriage, health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-tarlov/biden-s-political-positions-have-been-evolving-for-decades-shifting/) [Jessica Tarlov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-tarlov/) > [As a prosecutor and a senator, one of my main criminal justice priorities has been enforcing and reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/as-a-prosecutor-and-a-senator-one-of-my-main-criminal-justice/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [I think that we are in a position to continue to make progress, but it's gonna require us to both recognize what the problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-that-we-are-in-a-position-to-continue-to-make-progress-but-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [A large portion of American citizens, especially people of color, have lost confidence in our criminal justice system. Many have called for appointing special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/a-large-portion-of-american-citizens-especially-people-of-color-have/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Victims of crime and the wider community deserve a grown-up debate on our criminal justice system and how we can make it work -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/victims-of-crime-and-the-wider-community-deserve-a-grown-up-debate-on/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [Whether or not we can save Lake Michigan, whether or not we can avoid a breakdown in our criminal justice system are more important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-scott/whether-or-not-we-can-save-lake-michigan-whether-or-not-we-can-avoid/) [Bill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-scott/) > [I'm very mindful of the need to ensure we have a criminal justice system in which people have confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/i-m-very-mindful-of-the-need-to-ensure-we-have-a-criminal-justice/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) [Browse all 336 Criminal justice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminal-justice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“a Democrat is a Republican who’s been through the criminal justice system.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Karin Slaughter" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/a-democrat-is-a-republican-who-s-been-through-the-criminal-justice/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Criminal justice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/a-democrat-is-a-republican-who-s-been-through-the-criminal-justice/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de8/karin-slaughter-1463_criminal-justice_a-democrat-is-a-republican-who-s-been-th_2507968.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de8/karin-slaughter-1463_criminal-justice_a-democrat-is-a-republican-who-s-been-th_2507968.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de8/karin-slaughter-1463_criminal-justice_a-democrat-is-a-republican-who-s-been-th_2507968.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“a Democrat is a Republican who’s been through the criminal justice system.” — Karin Slaughter", "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": "Karin Slaughter", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“a Democrat is a Republican who’s...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/a-democrat-is-a-republican-who-s-been-through-the-criminal-justice/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/a-democrat-is-a-republican-who-s-been-through-the-criminal-justice/#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 } } ] } ```