--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The nation’s leaders keep throwing out…" description: "\"“The nation’s leaders keep throwing out the word “Washington” as a vulgar abstraction. Nothing new here: the anti-Washington reflex in American politic..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/mark-leibovich-14257_american-politics_the-nation-s-leaders-keep-throwing-out-t_2185983.jpg" --- # The nation’s leaders keep throwing out the word… ![“The nation’s leaders keep throwing out the word “Washington” as a vulgar abstraction. Nothing new here: the anti-Washington reflex in American politics has been honed for centuries, often by candidates who deride the capital as a swamp, only to settle into the place as if it were a soothing…” quote by Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/mark-leibovich-14257_american-politics_the-nation-s-leaders-keep-throwing-out-t_2185983.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/mark-leibovich-14257_american-politics_the-nation-s-leaders-keep-throwing-out-t_2185983.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/mark-leibovich-14257_american-politics_the-nation-s-leaders-keep-throwing-out-t_2185983.jpg) > ““The nation’s leaders keep throwing out the word “Washington” as a vulgar abstraction. Nothing new here: the anti-Washington reflex in American politics has been honed for centuries, often by candidates who deride the capital as a swamp, only to settle into the place as if it were a soothing whirlpool bath once they get elected. The city exists to be condemned.”” [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political rhetoric often vilifies Washington, yet leaders later embrace it, exposing hypocrisy. **In simple terms:** Leaders criticize then join the capital. Key Takeaway Beware of political double standards. Themes politics hypocrisy power media leadership Mood critical analytical Type political media When to use this quote - election campaigns - policy debates - media analysis Key Concepts symbolic geography public perception Questions to Reflect On - Why do politicians use the same rhetoric? - What are the consequences of such hypocrisy? A Different Perspective Critics may still benefit from the system they condemn. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-politics/) [Anti Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-washington-4560364/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington/) [Washington Reflex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington-reflex-4048669/) [Washington Vulgar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington-vulgar-4742833/) [Word Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word-washington-4393331/) ## Related quotes > [I think that the reality is, is that there's a shift in the mood in the USA that's very anti-Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reince-priebus/i-think-that-the-reality-is-is-that-there-s-a-shift-in-the-mood-in/) [Reince Priebus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reince-priebus/) > [Too often our Washington reflex is to discover a problem and then throw money at it, hoping it will somehow go away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-keating/too-often-our-washington-reflex-is-to-discover-a-problem-and-then/) [Kenneth Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keating/) > [And I'm here to tell you, the reaction that I'm getting around the country, people are sick and tired of this word in Washington,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/and-i-m-here-to-tell-you-the-reaction-that-i-m-getting-around-the/) [Herman Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-cain/) > [The Washington reflex: you discover a problem, throw money at it and hope somehow that it will go away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-keating/the-washington-reflex-you-discover-a-problem-throw-money-at-it-and/) [Kenneth Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keating/) > [Freedom and democracy, That's the word from Washington every day. Put America to sleep with warm milk and clichés, And people are expendable along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/freedom-and-democracy-that-s-the-word-from-washington-every-day-put/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [Washington has always had a pretty healthy amount of self-loathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/washington-has-always-had-a-pretty-healthy-amount-of-self-loathing/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [When you live in Washington, D.C., you do get a sense, in a very direct way, of the durability of our government and really,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/when-you-live-in-washington-d-c-you-do-get-a-sense-in-a-very-direct/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Spirituality in Washington can be more of a - I don't want to say it - but, a networking opportunity. Religion is often used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/spirituality-in-washington-can-be-more-of-a-i-don-t-want-to-say-it/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Washington has become this place that people don't leave. It has become this permanent feudal class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/washington-has-become-this-place-that-people-don-t-leave-it-has/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [To cover politics in Washington allows you to live in the very, very wide gap between what the actual truth is, and how people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/to-cover-politics-in-washington-allows-you-to-live-in-the-very-very/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [The shaming of Washington, insofar as it is even possible, is a very noble pursuit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/the-shaming-of-washington-insofar-as-it-is-even-possible-is-a-very/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Hart is still like that little tub of vaguely milklike gunk that comes with airline coffee. It is labeled a "nondairy" product. Fine: we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/hart-is-still-like-that-little-tub-of-vaguely-milklike-gunk-that/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [Here's the point - and Jonah Goldberg reminds us of this. He wrote a blog post that was titled "The MacGuffinization of American Politics."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/here-s-the-point-and-jonah-goldberg-reminds-us-of-this-he-wrote-a/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has taken American politics by storm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-hannity/republican-presidential-candidate-donald-trump-has-taken-american/) [Sean Hannity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-hannity/) ## More by Mark Leibovich > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [“The low point occurred in July, during Romney’s junior week abroad, in which the press became increasingly frustrated over Romney’s refusal to talk to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/the-low-point-occurred-in-july-during-romney-s-junior-week-abroad-in/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [To cover politics in Washington allows you to live in the very, very wide gap between what the actual truth is, and how people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/to-cover-politics-in-washington-allows-you-to-live-in-the-very-very/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Politicians, in many cases - their moral code will be dictated by what can get them reelected, what they can get away with. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/politicians-in-many-cases-their-moral-code-will-be-dictated-by-what/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [“The Founding Fathers are always spinning in their graves over something, as is Ronald Reagan, or FDR. Edward R. Murrow is a perennial grave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/the-founding-fathers-are-always-spinning-in-their-graves-over/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Media has changed dramatically, as you and I know. We're in a world now where you're rewarded for being outrageous. Punditry has replaced reporting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/media-has-changed-dramatically-as-you-and-i-know-we-re-in-a-world-now/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Washington has always had a pretty healthy amount of self-loathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/washington-has-always-had-a-pretty-healthy-amount-of-self-loathing/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [I always keep my repertorial hat on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-always-keep-my-repertorial-hat-on/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [The shaming of Washington, insofar as it is even possible, is a very noble pursuit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/the-shaming-of-washington-insofar-as-it-is-even-possible-is-a-very/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Washington has become this place that people don't leave. It has become this permanent feudal class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/washington-has-become-this-place-that-people-don-t-leave-it-has/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [I'm just a journalist. I shine a mirror to the culture. I give the cop-out answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-m-just-a-journalist-i-shine-a-mirror-to-the-culture-i-give-the-cop/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [“a mantra she attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt: women in politics, she said, “need to develop skin as tough as a rhinoceros hide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/a-mantra-she-attributed-to-eleanor-roosevelt-women-in-politics-she/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [I work for a big newspaper, and I guess I'm an insider. I don't have the luxury of calling myself a foreign correspondent and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-work-for-a-big-newspaper-and-i-guess-i-m-an-insider-i-don-t-have/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Spirituality in Washington can be more of a - I don't want to say it - but, a networking opportunity. Religion is often used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/spirituality-in-washington-can-be-more-of-a-i-don-t-want-to-say-it/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [I have been a print reporter my whole career. It's all I ever wanted to be. I specialize in political profiles. I have probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-been-a-print-reporter-my-whole-career-it-s-all-i-ever-wanted/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) [Explore all 47 Mark Leibovich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) ## More American politics quotes > [Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has taken American politics by storm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-hannity/republican-presidential-candidate-donald-trump-has-taken-american/) [Sean Hannity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-hannity/) > [Here's the point - and Jonah Goldberg reminds us of this. He wrote a blog post that was titled "The MacGuffinization of American Politics."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/here-s-the-point-and-jonah-goldberg-reminds-us-of-this-he-wrote-a/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Hart is still like that little tub of vaguely milklike gunk that comes with airline coffee. It is labeled a "nondairy" product. Fine: we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/hart-is-still-like-that-little-tub-of-vaguely-milklike-gunk-that/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [The only thing we have to fear is fear itself-and possibly teh bogey man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-paulsen/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself-and-possibly-teh-bogey/) [Pat Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-paulsen/) > [Would anyone else like to say anything nice about women?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/would-anyone-else-like-to-say-anything-nice-about-women/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [We are creating a political demolition derby, not a presidential debate. Those strange impulses in the American soul that have produced mud wrestling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/we-are-creating-a-political-demolition-derby-not-a-presidential/) [Hugh Sidey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-sidey/) > [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/) > [“The CIA is behind it all. That’s the conclusion of Mae Brussell—one of America’s foremost assassination experts—a researcher who has collected every pertinent newspaper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-brussell/the-cia-is-behind-it-all-that-s-the-conclusion-of-mae-brussell-one-of/) [Mae Brussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-brussell/) > [We picked their cotton. We cooked their food. We nursed their babies. Now we can run their cities. We can run their states. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-picked-their-cotton-we-cooked-their-food-we-nursed-their-babies/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [You know, compromise can't be a dirty word in American politics. There's plenty to argue about. Trump administration is still talking about ridiculous tax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/you-know-compromise-can-t-be-a-dirty-word-in-american-politics-there/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [In his study of Atlanta over the last 60 years, Kevin Kruse convincingly describes the critical connections between race, Sun Belt suburbanization, the rise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-carter/in-his-study-of-atlanta-over-the-last-60-years-kevin-kruse/) [Dan Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-carter/) > [Affirming belief that America is an exceptional nation has become a test of patriotism in American politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/affirming-belief-that-america-is-an-exceptional-nation-has-become-a/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [ \[Ronald\] Reagan had an agenda, three agenda items. George W. Bush had some. But \[Donald\] Trump, because people weren't listening, Trump has the longest… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/ronald-reagan-had-an-agenda-three-agenda-items-george-w-bush-had-some/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The good news is that the president gets another chance. The bad news is that he'll be two weeks older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/the-good-news-is-that-the-president-gets-another-chance-the-bad-news/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [You can never underestimate the ability of the Democrats to wet their finger and hold it in the wind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-can-never-underestimate-the-ability-of-the-democrats-to-wet-their/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Browse all 412 American politics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-politics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The nation’s leaders keep throwing out the word “Washington” as a vulgar abstraction. Nothing new here: the anti-Washington reflex in American politics has been honed for centuries, often by candidates who deride the capital as a swamp, only to settle into the place as if it were a soothing whirlpool bath once they get elected. The city exists to be condemned.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark Leibovich" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/the-nation-s-leaders-keep-throwing-out-the-word-washington-as-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American politics" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/the-nation-s-leaders-keep-throwing-out-the-word-washington-as-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/mark-leibovich-14257_american-politics_the-nation-s-leaders-keep-throwing-out-t_2185983.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/mark-leibovich-14257_american-politics_the-nation-s-leaders-keep-throwing-out-t_2185983.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/mark-leibovich-14257_american-politics_the-nation-s-leaders-keep-throwing-out-t_2185983.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The nation’s leaders keep throwing out the word “Washington” as a vulgar abstraction. Nothing new here: the…” — Mark Leibovich", "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": "Mark Leibovich", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The nation’s leaders keep throwing out...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/the-nation-s-leaders-keep-throwing-out-the-word-washington-as-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/the-nation-s-leaders-keep-throwing-out-the-word-washington-as-a/#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 } } ] } ```