--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm looking for leaders who are going to…" description: "\"I'm looking for leaders who are going to go to Washington for a season, not career politicians. People who understand that the strength of America come..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/keith-rothfus-43465_america_i-m-looking-for-leaders-who-are-going-to_2375780.jpg" --- # I'm looking for leaders who are going to go to Washington… ![“I'm looking for leaders who are going to go to Washington for a season, not career politicians. People who understand that the strength of America comes from the private sector, not Washington, D.C.” quote by Keith Rothfus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/keith-rothfus-43465_america_i-m-looking-for-leaders-who-are-going-to_2375780.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/keith-rothfus-43465_america_i-m-looking-for-leaders-who-are-going-to_2375780.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/keith-rothfus-43465_america_i-m-looking-for-leaders-who-are-going-to_2375780.jpg) > “I'm looking for leaders who are going to go to Washington for a season, not career politicians. People who understand that the strength of America comes from the private sector, not Washington, D.C.” [Keith Rothfus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-rothfus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders should come from business, not career politics, to reflect America's private‑sector strength. **In simple terms:** Business leaders, not career politicians, should guide policy. Key Takeaway Prioritize private‑sector experience in leadership. Themes leadership politics private sector America government Mood cautious optimistic Type political advisory When to use this quote - campaign staffing - policy advisory - government appointments Key Concepts public policy entrepreneurship civic duty Questions to Reflect On - How can private‑sector skills be adapted for public service? - What checks prevent corporate bias in politics? A Different Perspective Business experience may not translate to effective governance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Career politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career-politicians/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians/) [Private sector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private-sector/) [Season](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/season/) [Seasons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seasons/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) [Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington/) ## Related quotes > [I want to be one of the leaders that's going to keep the light shining bright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-fournette/i-want-to-be-one-of-the-leaders-that-s-going-to-keep-the-light/) [Leonard Fournette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-fournette/) > [When people can see which direction the leaders are going in it becomes easier to motivate them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lakshmi-mittal/when-people-can-see-which-direction-the-leaders-are-going-in-it/) [Lakshmi Mittal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lakshmi-mittal/) > [We're not going to have the America that we want until we elect leaders who are going to tell the truth - not most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-richards/we-re-not-going-to-have-the-america-that-we-want-until-we-elect/) [Ann Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-richards/) > [It's absolutely right that we scrutinise the leaders who after all are going to be in a position of great power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-truss/it-s-absolutely-right-that-we-scrutinise-the-leaders-who-after-all/) [Liz Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-truss/) > [We can't wait for Washington. Business leaders are going to have to galvanize their own constituencies and do everything they can to demonstrate confidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/we-can-t-wait-for-washington-business-leaders-are-going-to-have-to/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [Both parties are injured by what is going on at Washington. Both are, therefore, more and more disposed to look for candidates outside of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/both-parties-are-injured-by-what-is-going-on-at-washington-both-are/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [I can't really criticize the Tea Party people, because I came into the White House pretty much on the same basis that they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/i-can-t-really-criticize-the-tea-party-people-because-i-came-into-the/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Many Americans have sensed there is a very corrupt pay-to-play system going on in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-long/many-americans-have-sensed-there-is-a-very-corrupt-pay-to-play-system/) [Wendy Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-long/) > [If 'extreme' means that I am unwilling to go to Washington, D.C., and do what President Obama tells me, then so be it. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-buck/if-extreme-means-that-i-am-unwilling-to-go-to-washington-d-c-and-do/) [Ken Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-buck/) > [The way I see it, I'm not going to Washington to be the 60th Democratic senator. I'm going to Washington to be the second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/the-way-i-see-it-i-m-not-going-to-washington-to-be-the-60th/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [Bill Kristol, is the focus going to be now on Washington and a real consolidation in Washington now. Republicans in control of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stephanopoulos/bill-kristol-is-the-focus-going-to-be-now-on-washington-and-a-real/) [George Stephanopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stephanopoulos/) > [I'm going to Washington on a fateful, even historic, mission. I feel that I am an emissary of all Israel's citizens, even those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/i-m-going-to-washington-on-a-fateful-even-historic-mission-i-feel/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [I'm tired of politicians saying one thing to get elected and then going to Washington, D.C., or Denver or wherever and completely forgetting about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-glenn/i-m-tired-of-politicians-saying-one-thing-to-get-elected-and-then/) [Darryl Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-glenn/) > [I always try to keep my constituents as up-to-date as possible with what's going on here in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-israel/i-always-try-to-keep-my-constituents-as-up-to-date-as-possible-with/) [Steve Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-israel/) > [Not only are we going to New Hampshire ... we're going to South Carolina and Oklahoma and Arizona and North Dakota and New Mexico,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/not-only-are-we-going-to-new-hampshire-we-re-going-to-south-carolina/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) ## More by Keith Rothfus > [I talk about the three R's, that jobs equals three R's: Repeal Obamacare. Reform our tax-and-spend policies to make us the most competitive in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-rothfus/i-talk-about-the-three-r-s-that-jobs-equals-three-r-s-repeal/) [Keith Rothfus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-rothfus/) > [Ive been on Wall Street once in my life in 1980 as a tourist. I went to see the stock exchange when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-rothfus/ive-been-on-wall-street-once-in-my-life-in-1980-as-a-tourist-i-went/) [Keith Rothfus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-rothfus/) > [I've been on Wall Street once in my life in 1980 as a tourist. I went to see the stock exchange when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-rothfus/i-ve-been-on-wall-street-once-in-my-life-in-1980-as-a-tourist-i-went/) [Keith Rothfus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-rothfus/) > [I went to see the stock exchange when I was 18 years old. I'm not a Wall Street lawyer, I'm a Stanwix Street lawyer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-rothfus/i-went-to-see-the-stock-exchange-when-i-was-18-years-old-i-m-not-a/) [Keith Rothfus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-rothfus/) > [By no stretch of the imagination can you describe me as a Wall Street lawyer. If you're going to do that, you'd have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-rothfus/by-no-stretch-of-the-imagination-can-you-describe-me-as-a-wall-street/) [Keith Rothfus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-rothfus/) > [Im a transactional lawyer; I negotiate all types of things, but with a particular focus in software licenses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-rothfus/im-a-transactional-lawyer-i-negotiate-all-types-of-things-but-with-a/) [Keith Rothfus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-rothfus/) > [I have a reputation in my professional work, negotiating contracts, where I've gone into deals where other people haven't closed the deal, and I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-rothfus/i-have-a-reputation-in-my-professional-work-negotiating-contracts/) [Keith Rothfus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-rothfus/) > [I'm a transactional lawyer; I negotiate all types of things, but with a particular focus in software licenses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-rothfus/i-m-a-transactional-lawyer-i-negotiate-all-types-of-things-but-with-a/) [Keith Rothfus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-rothfus/) [Explore all 9 Keith Rothfus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-rothfus/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm looking for leaders who are going to go to Washington for a season, not career politicians. 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