--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But the people at home if we're doing a…" description: "\"But the people at home if we're doing a town meeting or a town format. You have to answer the question that is asked. And what people at home are gaugi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/339/mark-shields-1572_barack_but-the-people-at-home-if-we-re-doing-a_1479402.png" --- # But the people at home if we're doing a town meeting or a… ![“But the people at home if we're doing a town meeting or a town format. You have to answer the question that is asked. And what people at home are gauging how does this candidate respond to the questioner? Do they show respect to the questioner? Do they try to understand why the questioner is…” quote by Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/339/mark-shields-1572_barack_but-the-people-at-home-if-we-re-doing-a_1479402.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/339/mark-shields-1572_barack_but-the-people-at-home-if-we-re-doing-a_1479402.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/339/mark-shields-1572_barack_but-the-people-at-home-if-we-re-doing-a_1479402.png) > “But the people at home if we're doing a town meeting or a town format. You have to answer the question that is asked. And what people at home are gauging how does this candidate respond to the questioner? Do they show respect to the questioner? Do they try to understand why the questioner is asking that? Do they respond to the question? Is there a human connection between the two? It's where Barack Obama beat Mitt Romney in 2012. He lost the voters on who was a stronger leader, who had a vision for the future, but on who cares about people like me, he trounced Mitt Romney.” [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective leadership is judged by how respectfully and empathetically a candidate engages with voters' questions, showing genuine concern and understanding. **In simple terms:** Leaders win by listening and caring. Key Takeaway Listen and respond with empathy. Themes leadership communication empathy politics voter engagement Mood reflective analytical inspirational Type political leadership communication When to use this quote - town meetings - debates - campaign rallies - media interviews Key Concepts public speaking political strategy human connection Questions to Reflect On - How can candidates show genuine empathy? - What signals indicate true concern? A Different Perspective Respectful dialogue can be perceived as insincere if not authentic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Human connection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-connection/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Meetings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meetings/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) [Vision For The Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision-for-the-future/) [Voters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voters/) ## Related quotes > [“Sooner or later on this journey, every traveller faces the same question: Are you a human intending to be a god, or a god…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-micha-el-leventhal/sooner-or-later-on-this-journey-every-traveller-faces-the-same/) [Eric Micha'el Leventhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-micha-el-leventhal/) > [I see the 'z' in 'Humanz' as referring to robots, AI, programming, brainwashing, indoctrination. 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The question, Why are we here?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/the-most-important-question-a-human-being-has-to-face-what-is-it-the/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [It's trying to answer that age-old question that if we, as human beings, had the chance, would we do a better job the second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-durance/it-s-trying-to-answer-that-age-old-question-that-if-we-as-human/) [Erica Durance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-durance/) > [To me, it's the kind of interesting question the human race should be investing in. Is there intelligent life out there? Are there other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/to-me-it-s-the-kind-of-interesting-question-the-human-race-should-be/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [The most important question any human being will ever face: 'Who do you say that Jesus is?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-mathison/the-most-important-question-any-human-being-will-ever-face-who-do-you/) [Keith Mathison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-mathison/) > [For a novelist, a given historic situation is an anthropologic laboratory in which he explores his basic question: What is human existence?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/for-a-novelist-a-given-historic-situation-is-an-anthropologic/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Maybe what we are faced with in our own day is a similar challenge: to focus not on the question of which human beings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/maybe-what-we-are-faced-with-in-our-own-day-is-a-similar-challenge-to/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“So it is that once a person has settled on the question as to what is wrong, the choice of cures is limited. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-l-lowry/so-it-is-that-once-a-person-has-settled-on-the-question-as-to-what-is/) [Eugene L. Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-l-lowry/) > [I could not flourish in the Hollywood system because the first thing spoken about is "What genre is it?" and "Who's it for?" It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcpherson/i-could-not-flourish-in-the-hollywood-system-because-the-first-thing/) [Conor McPherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcpherson/) > [I always ask myself one question: what is human? What does it mean to be human? Maybe people will consider my new films brutal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ki-duk/i-always-ask-myself-one-question-what-is-human-what-does-it-mean-to/) [Kim Ki-duk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ki-duk/) > [“Making friends?” Tripp asked. “I’m a people person,” Adam said. “You know he’s the VP of the board, right?” “I must remember to genuflect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/making-friends-tripp-asked-i-m-a-people-person-adam-said-you-know-he/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [“How was your day?” he asked. I faltered, unaccustomed to the question. The look on my face must have been strange because he laughed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaylynne-spauls/how-was-your-day-he-asked-i-faltered-unaccustomed-to-the-question-the/) [Kaylynne Spauls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaylynne-spauls/) ## More by Mark Shields > [I'm not sure Betsy DeVos has ever spent a day in a public school. And I don't - I'm pretty sure Donald Trump hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-m-not-sure-betsy-devos-has-ever-spent-a-day-in-a-public-school-and/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Donald Trump is sounding the same theme he has sounded since May or June of 2015.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/donald-trump-is-sounding-the-same-theme-he-has-sounded-since-may-or/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [I do look upon the secretary of education's primary responsibility as the quality of education that - and improving the education that every child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-do-look-upon-the-secretary-of-education-s-primary-responsibility-as/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Dan Coats, retiring senator from Indiana, a mild-mannered man, a former United States ambassador to Germany, former congressman, said of Ted Cruz he's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/dan-coats-retiring-senator-from-indiana-a-mild-mannered-man-a-former/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [It's interesting how identity politics and Ann Coulter-style tactics have now blossomed. But they were always there in CPAC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/it-s-interesting-how-identity-politics-and-ann-coulter-style-tactics/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [When you run for president of the United States, everybody does the same thing in the campaign-they talk about veterans, how much they admire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/when-you-run-for-president-of-the-united-states-everybody-does-the/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Americans don't like powerful figures who punch down, that is, who pick on someone less powerful and less able to speak for themselves than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/americans-don-t-like-powerful-figures-who-punch-down-that-is-who-pick/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Everyone has to take Donald Trump seriously, and I think that's what we're seeing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/everyone-has-to-take-donald-trump-seriously-and-i-think-that-s-what/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Donald Trump defies gravity. And so I guess he has to be Donald Trump. It's gotten him so far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/donald-trump-defies-gravity-and-so-i-guess-he-has-to-be-donald-trump/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [ My church \[Catholisism\] is hurting from arrogance and from its indifference to the suffering of children that were abused and the inclination of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/my-church-catholisism-is-hurting-from-arrogance-and-from-its/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [America is Republican until 5:00 or 6:00 at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/america-is-republican-until-5-00-or-6-00-at-night/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [John Kerry's biography was central to his campaign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/john-kerry-s-biography-was-central-to-his-campaign/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [I think Guantanamo, has been synonymous with the staining of American values and American legal tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-think-guantanamo-has-been-synonymous-with-the-staining-of-american/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Stronger together is, I think, a preposition and a comparative adjective, but it's not really an action verb or what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/stronger-together-is-i-think-a-preposition-and-a-comparative/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [If you only make fights that you're going to win, there would be no women's vote in America, there would be no civil rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/if-you-only-make-fights-that-you-re-going-to-win-there-would-be-no/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) [Explore all 227 Mark Shields quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) ## More Barack quotes > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. 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They're in Raqqa, Syria.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-tell-you-who-s-planning-terroris-attacks-the-leaders-of-isil/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [ The president \[Barack Obama\] asked for a commitment of, I think, 100,000 jobs for veterans and military spouses over the next couple of years.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/the-president-barack-obama-asked-for-a-commitment-of-i-think-100-000/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [The big story today, Barack Obama was accused of insulting Sarah Palin when he criticized Republican policies by saying, you can put lipstick on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/the-big-story-today-barack-obama-was-accused-of-insulting-sarah-palin/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [ I think the president's \[Barack Obama\] position has been very clear on Syria. He wants more aggressive, he's put the Special Ops on the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/i-think-the-president-s-barack-obama-position-has-been-very-clear-on/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [ It cannot be an American fight. And I think what the president \[Barack Obama\] has consistently said - which I agree with - is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-cannot-be-an-american-fight-and-i-think-what-the-president-barack/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [It doesn't matter to me where Barack Obama goes. If he wants to go to Hawaii because it's his home state, fine! Hunky-dory. Plastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-doesn-t-matter-to-me-where-barack-obama-goes-if-he-wants-to-go-to/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ It wasn't \[Barack\] Obama per se; it was the feeling on the ground; it was seeing an old black woman in a wheelchair being… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/it-wasn-t-barack-obama-per-se-it-was-the-feeling-on-the-ground-it-was/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [I don't think that we really know a whole lot about Barack Obama at all that you would really call distinctive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-mcwhorter/i-don-t-think-that-we-really-know-a-whole-lot-about-barack-obama-at/) [John H. McWhorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-mcwhorter/) > [Just like Barack Obama, my views on gay marriage have evolved, and now I am a reluctant groom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/just-like-barack-obama-my-views-on-gay-marriage-have-evolved-and-now/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [I think President Barack Obama has been an extraordinarily successful president, and that this period will record that with a bunch of exclamation points.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/i-think-president-barack-obama-has-been-an-extraordinarily-successful/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [The archives recall not one single incriminating incident, not one drunken escapade, not one reported affair, not one spat with a team-mate or reporter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atherton/the-archives-recall-not-one-single-incriminating-incident-not-one/) Michael Atherton > [In public, Barack Obama's giving the simple version of his beliefs for the mass public. In private, he can discuss it at a really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-chait/in-public-barack-obama-s-giving-the-simple-version-of-his-beliefs-for/) [Jonathan Chait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-chait/) Browse all 1,672 Barack quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But the people at home if we're doing a town meeting or a town format. You have to answer the question that is asked. And what people at home are gauging how does this candidate respond to the questioner? Do they show respect to the questioner? Do they try to understand why the questioner is asking that? Do they respond to the question? Is there a human connection between the two? It's where Barack Obama beat Mitt Romney in 2012. 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