--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started as a White House…" description: "\"When I started as a White House correspondent, there was a lot of criticism from guys saying, 'She focuses too much on the person but not enough on pol..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/548/maureen-dowd-6927_agree_when-i-started-as-a-white-house-correspo_1856717.jpg" --- # When I started as a White House correspondent, there was a… ![“When I started as a White House correspondent, there was a lot of criticism from guys saying, 'She focuses too much on the person but not enough on policy.' I never understood that argument at all. I just didn't agree with the premise.” quote by Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/548/maureen-dowd-6927_agree_when-i-started-as-a-white-house-correspo_1856717.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/548/maureen-dowd-6927_agree_when-i-started-as-a-white-house-correspo_1856717.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/548/maureen-dowd-6927_agree_when-i-started-as-a-white-house-correspo_1856717.jpg) > “When I started as a White House correspondent, there was a lot of criticism from guys saying, 'She focuses too much on the person but not enough on policy.' I never understood that argument at all. I just didn't agree with the premise.” [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer dismisses criticism that she focuses on personality over policy, emphasizing that personal aspects are relevant to political analysis. **In simple terms:** Personal focus can be essential in political reporting. Key Takeaway Consider both character and policy in analysis. Themes political journalism media criticism personal narrative Mood analytical reflective Type media journalism When to use this quote - news reporting - editorial writing - media analysis - public discourse Key Concepts journalistic ethics media bias public perception Questions to Reflect On - How does personal behavior affect policy decisions? - Should journalists balance personality and policy? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on personality may distract from substantive issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [White house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-house/) ## Related quotes > [My job as a reporter, my job as a senior White House correspondent for CNN, is to report the news, but also to highlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-acosta/my-job-as-a-reporter-my-job-as-a-senior-white-house-correspondent-for/) [Jim Acosta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-acosta/) > [Peter is often our White House correspondent, standing on the North Lawn, talking about the President... but of course as his dad, I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-doocy/peter-is-often-our-white-house-correspondent-standing-on-the-north/) [Steve Doocy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-doocy/) > [I was playing and having a lot of success, but I also felt a lot of criticism behind it. I didn't know why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muggsy-bogues/i-was-playing-and-having-a-lot-of-success-but-i-also-felt-a-lot-of/) [Muggsy Bogues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muggsy-bogues/) > [I was a newcomer and I was asked to put on weight for 'Veer' since I was playing a princess from the era gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zareen-khan/i-was-a-newcomer-and-i-was-asked-to-put-on-weight-for-veer-since-i/) [Zareen Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zareen-khan/) > [Well you know I've attracted a lot of criticism by, for example, suggesting that child benefit should be taken away from higher rate taxpaying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/well-you-know-i-ve-attracted-a-lot-of-criticism-by-for-example/) [George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/) > [I got a lot of criticism online and a lot of harsh comments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fallon-sherrock/i-got-a-lot-of-criticism-online-and-a-lot-of-harsh-comments/) [Fallon Sherrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fallon-sherrock/) > [After I finished racing in the United States, I received a lot of criticism for being dangerous, a little bit stupid, insane, you name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-zanardi/after-i-finished-racing-in-the-united-states-i-received-a-lot-of/) [Alex Zanardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-zanardi/) > [Any negative review you write, they'll say, "Oh, you're being so mean." I think the problem with a lot of criticism is that too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/any-negative-review-you-write-they-ll-say-oh-you-re-being-so-mean-i/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [That's part of this industry. It's hard a lot of the time, especially when you get knocked down a lot. There's a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-paige/that-s-part-of-this-industry-it-s-hard-a-lot-of-the-time-especially/) [Yasmin Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-paige/) > [I am used to a lot of criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/i-am-used-to-a-lot-of-criticism/) [Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) > [You can learn a lot from criticism if you can take what's constructive out of it. 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It's normal when you come from South America, when you have a country pushing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pastor-maldonado/i-m-used-to-having-a-lot-of-criticism-it-s-normal-it-s-normal-when/) [Pastor Maldonado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pastor-maldonado/) > [But, when I had this feeling and started painting sacred art, as I had this feeling to do, then it come to me: my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-finster/but-when-i-had-this-feeling-and-started-painting-sacred-art-as-i-had/) [Howard Finster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-finster/) ## More by Maureen Dowd > [If there's one thing white men have never had a problem with in this clubby, white marble enclave of Washington, it's getting pulled up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/if-there-s-one-thing-white-men-have-never-had-a-problem-with-in-this/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [When you're young, and even at times when you're older, it's hard to fathom this: What needs to be nurtured is the stuff that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/when-you-re-young-and-even-at-times-when-you-re-older-it-s-hard-to/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [“Who knows? If women all end up with the same face and body, men may gravitate toward the quirky. Then the chicks with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/who-knows-if-women-all-end-up-with-the-same-face-and-body-men-may/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [Why can't Google, which likes to see itself as a 'Don't Be Evil' benevolent force in society, just write us a big check for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/why-can-t-google-which-likes-to-see-itself-as-a-don-t-be-evil/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [“Materialism has defeated feminism as well. In a sign of the times, Gloria Steinem was on the picket line when the first American DeBeers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/materialism-has-defeated-feminism-as-well-in-a-sign-of-the-times/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [“Romantic googling can be as dangerous as drunk text messaging. Of course hell hath no fury like a woman who Google-bombs her old flames…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/romantic-googling-can-be-as-dangerous-as-drunk-text-messaging-of/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [Paul Ryan, who teamed up with Akin in the House to sponsor harsh anti-abortion bills, may look young and hip and new generation, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/paul-ryan-who-teamed-up-with-akin-in-the-house-to-sponsor-harsh-anti/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [Obama invented himself against all odds and repeated parental abandonment, and he worked hard to regiment his emotions. But now that can come across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/obama-invented-himself-against-all-odds-and-repeated-parental/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [Feminism died in 1998 when Hillary allowed henchlings and Democrats to demonize Monica as an unbalanced stalker, and when Gloria Steinem defended Mr. Clinton…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/feminism-died-in-1998-when-hillary-allowed-henchlings-and-democrats/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [President Obama thinks he can use emotion to bring pressure on Congress. But that's not how adults with power respond to things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/president-obama-thinks-he-can-use-emotion-to-bring-pressure-on/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [ Now that Hillary \[Clinton\] has won Pennsylvania, it will take a village to help Obama escape from the suffocating embrace of his rival. Certainly… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/now-that-hillary-clinton-has-won-pennsylvania-it-will-take-a-village/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [I don't understand men. I don't even understand what I don't understand about men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/i-don-t-understand-men-i-don-t-even-understand-what-i-don-t/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [Good and evil are not like the Redskins and the Cowboys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/good-and-evil-are-not-like-the-redskins-and-the-cowboys/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [And as far as doing God's work, I think the bankers who took government money and then gave out obscene bonuses are the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/and-as-far-as-doing-god-s-work-i-think-the-bankers-who-took/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [It is men's worst fear, personally and professionally, that women will pin the sin on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/it-is-men-s-worst-fear-personally-and-professionally-that-women-will/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) [Explore all 96 Maureen Dowd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) ## More Agree quotes > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. 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