--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Within the paradigm of Democratic…" description: "\"Within the paradigm of Democratic politics, even though people probably think I'm a centrist, I'm more a liberal, except for abortion.\" — Kirsten Powers" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61c/kirsten-powers-9672_abortion_within-the-paradigm-of-democratic-politi_81203.png" --- # Within the paradigm of Democratic politics, even though… ![“Within the paradigm of Democratic politics, even though people probably think I'm a centrist, I'm more a liberal, except for abortion.” quote by Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61c/kirsten-powers-9672_abortion_within-the-paradigm-of-democratic-politi_81203.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61c/kirsten-powers-9672_abortion_within-the-paradigm-of-democratic-politi_81203.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61c/kirsten-powers-9672_abortion_within-the-paradigm-of-democratic-politi_81203.png) > “Within the paradigm of Democratic politics, even though people probably think I'm a centrist, I'm more a liberal, except for abortion.” [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) ## 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 claims a liberal stance on most issues, but diverges on abortion, highlighting nuanced political identity beyond simple labels. **In simple terms:** Complex political self‑identification. Key Takeaway Labels can mask nuanced views. Themes political identity liberalism abortion centrist perception nuance Mood thoughtful defensive Type personal statement political commentary When to use this quote - political discussion - media interview - personal branding - voter outreach Key Concepts self‑identification policy divergence Practical Applications - targeted messaging - policy advocacy Questions to Reflect On - How do personal beliefs shape public political labels? - What are the risks of oversimplifying political identities? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) [Centrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/centrist/) [Centrist Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/centrist-liberal-1033271/) [Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal/) [Liberal Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal-abortion-1033272/) [Paradigm Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradigm-democratic-1033274/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Think Centrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-centrist-1033273/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) ## Related quotes > [I don't know of a Democrat - whether they're a conservative, a centrist or a liberal Democrat - that doesn't think that it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/i-don-t-know-of-a-democrat-whether-they-re-a-conservative-a-centrist/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [Only in Washington can the pursuit of a conservative agenda, with centrist policies, be depicted as liberal reform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/only-in-washington-can-the-pursuit-of-a-conservative-agenda-with/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [I feel like a centrist, an issue-specific person. I'm pretty conservative fiscally and pretty liberal on social issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gordon/i-feel-like-a-centrist-an-issue-specific-person-i-m-pretty/) [Howard Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gordon/) > [Centrist voters typically decide general elections, so hard-left or hard-right platforms don't help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-daley/centrist-voters-typically-decide-general-elections-so-hard-left-or/) [William M. Daley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-daley/) > [I think that what's actually happening is the collapse of the Center - the centrist semi-coalitions, mildly social-democrat, mildly conservative, that have been running…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-think-that-what-s-actually-happening-is-the-collapse-of-the-center/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [My audience is much more center right, or centrist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/my-audience-is-much-more-center-right-or-centrist/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [I'm getting a little tired of politicians trying to prove how 'moderate' and 'centrist' they are by taking more of my money and freedom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/i-m-getting-a-little-tired-of-politicians-trying-to-prove-how/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [My lesson from history is that if there is a strong moderate centrist party which can lead the country, there is no room for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-orban/my-lesson-from-history-is-that-if-there-is-a-strong-moderate-centrist/) [Viktor Orban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-orban/) > [How is it that labels like 'centrist' and 'moderate,' which common sense tells us should reflect the views of a majority of Americans, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/how-is-it-that-labels-like-centrist-and-moderate-which-common-sense/) [Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/) > [What I want to try to do is unify the two wings of the Democratic Party. What's considered the more progressive wing of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-i-want-to-try-to-do-is-unify-the-two-wings-of-the-democratic/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I am not a centrist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-abzug/i-am-not-a-centrist/) [Bella Abzug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-abzug/) > [Obama behaves like a centrist who leans tentatively left on certain social programs but boldly right on military force and civil liberties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-k-shipler/obama-behaves-like-a-centrist-who-leans-tentatively-left-on-certain/) [David K. Shipler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-k-shipler/) > [We're living in a world that's divided into two economies: the economy of the 1%, and the economy of the bottom 99%. I guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/we-re-living-in-a-world-that-s-divided-into-two-economies-the-economy/) [Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/) > [I'm a true centrist: my beliefs put me in the middle... You know what happens to people who drive in the middle of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-m-a-true-centrist-my-beliefs-put-me-in-the-middle-you-know-what/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [I consider my voice to be a centrist moderate voice among the nine Democratic candidates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-graham/i-consider-my-voice-to-be-a-centrist-moderate-voice-among-the-nine/) [Bob Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-graham/) ## More by Kirsten Powers > [Illiberal feminists turn simple ideological disagreements, whether about the federal budget or the Second Amendment or anything else, into excuses to engage in character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/illiberal-feminists-turn-simple-ideological-disagreements-whether/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Trump loves free speech only when he or his supporters are speaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/trump-loves-free-speech-only-when-he-or-his-supporters-are-speaking/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Protesters can't violate First Amendment rights. Only the government can do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/protesters-can-t-violate-first-amendment-rights-only-the-government/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Women are often forced to maintain good relations with men who abuse them precisely because those men have power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/women-are-often-forced-to-maintain-good-relations-with-men-who-abuse/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [If I had a dollar for every time somebody said, 'I don't understand: how can you be a Democrat and be a Christian?' I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-somebody-said-i-don-t-understand-how/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [It's true that Americans are less than thrilled with President Obama and congressional Democrats. Their approval ratings are nothing to celebrate. But electoral politics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/it-s-true-that-americans-are-less-than-thrilled-with-president-obama/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Women likely are rejecting Trump because they know the presidential race isn't just about taxes or ISIL or immigration. It's about their place in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/women-likely-are-rejecting-trump-because-they-know-the-presidential/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Bernie is a problem Hillary can't figure out how to solve, perhaps because he's not the problem. She is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/bernie-is-a-problem-hillary-can-t-figure-out-how-to-solve-perhaps/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Perhaps all of our anxiety is not caused by broken brains but by working nonstop, missing out on time with our friends and families…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/perhaps-all-of-our-anxiety-is-not-caused-by-broken-brains-but-by/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [I've been harassed or on the receiving end of sexist and inappropriate behavior almost every place I've ever worked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/i-ve-been-harassed-or-on-the-receiving-end-of-sexist-and/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Trump may not like the fact that 20-plus anonymous sources provided the 'Times' with an unflattering portrait of his campaign, but that doesn't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/trump-may-not-like-the-fact-that-20-plus-anonymous-sources-provided/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Donald Trump has a curious understanding of what freedom of speech means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/donald-trump-has-a-curious-understanding-of-what-freedom-of-speech/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [I know I deal with it, I'm sure a lot of other people deal with it: you have that little funny dig you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/i-know-i-deal-with-it-i-m-sure-a-lot-of-other-people-deal-with-it-you/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [People are really nice at Fox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/people-are-really-nice-at-fox/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Women cannot be equal participants in a society that views sexual assault and sexual harassment the way Donald Trump and his defenders do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/women-cannot-be-equal-participants-in-a-society-that-views-sexual/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) [Explore all 71 Kirsten Powers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) ## More Abortion quotes > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) [Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/) > [Hey everyone, in case y'all didn't hear, I'm pregnat, and after discussing it w/ my family, I've decided to get an abortion, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-badesheim/hey-everyone-in-case-y-all-didn-t-hear-i-m-pregnat-and-after/) [Madison Badesheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-badesheim/) > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [My favorite Founding Fathers, Christians like John Adams, were absolutely appalled by slavery, and did not own slaves. I think we're going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/my-favorite-founding-fathers-christians-like-john-adams-were/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [“David Bereit, Founder of Forty Days for Life, points out that any abortion clinic in America should have a sign in its window that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-price/david-bereit-founder-of-forty-days-for-life-points-out-that-any/) [John Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-price/) > [The Chinese describe themselves as political refugees. Many base that claim on China's strict population laws, which allow them to have only one child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/the-chinese-describe-themselves-as-political-refugees-many-base-that/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [I'm a pro-life candidate because I believe that science is proving us right every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-m-a-pro-life-candidate-because-i-believe-that-science-is-proving-us/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion…has been born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-noticed-that-everyone-who-is-for-abortion-has-been-born/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [We talk a lot about how abortion is a medical procedure, but actually if you look at what the other side is doing, they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-northup/we-talk-a-lot-about-how-abortion-is-a-medical-procedure-but-actually/) [Nancy Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-northup/) > [“The Vatican won't prosecute pedophile priests but I decide I'm not ready for motherhood and it's condemnation for me? These are the same people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-renee-taylor/the-vatican-won-t-prosecute-pedophile-priests-but-i-decide-i-m-not/) [Sonya Renee Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-renee-taylor/) > [Pro-lifers have long been castigated for bringing private values into the public square. But actually it is the pro-abortion position that is based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/pro-lifers-have-long-been-castigated-for-bringing-private-values-into/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [I am 100 percent pro-life and have been my whole life. That means I am opposed to abortion at any stage of pregnancy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hawley/i-am-100-percent-pro-life-and-have-been-my-whole-life-that-means-i-am/) [Josh Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hawley/) > [Any woman should have the right to a safe and legal abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-ford/any-woman-should-have-the-right-to-a-safe-and-legal-abortion/) [Betty Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-ford/) > [“For Republicans, life begins at conception but ends at birth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-adam-snyder/for-republicans-life-begins-at-conception-but-ends-at-birth/) [J.Adam Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-adam-snyder/) > [I think fundamentally, the real power behind the anti-choice movement in regard to abortion and the opposition to the rights of LGBT Americans is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-w-lynn/i-think-fundamentally-the-real-power-behind-the-anti-choice-movement/) [Barry W. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-w-lynn/) [Browse all 1,629 Abortion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Within the paradigm of Democratic politics, even though people probably think I'm a centrist, I'm more a liberal, except for abortion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kirsten Powers" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/within-the-paradigm-of-democratic-politics-even-though-people/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abortion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/within-the-paradigm-of-democratic-politics-even-though-people/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61c/kirsten-powers-9672_abortion_within-the-paradigm-of-democratic-politi_81203.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61c/kirsten-powers-9672_abortion_within-the-paradigm-of-democratic-politi_81203.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61c/kirsten-powers-9672_abortion_within-the-paradigm-of-democratic-politi_81203.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Within the paradigm of Democratic politics, even though people probably think I'm a centrist, I'm more a…” — Kirsten Powers", "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": "Kirsten Powers", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Within the paradigm of Democratic politics,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/within-the-paradigm-of-democratic-politics-even-though-people/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/within-the-paradigm-of-democratic-politics-even-though-people/#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 } } ] } ```