--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I just think the American people had…" description: "\"I just think the American people had better understand what's going on. This is a bunch of scumbags. That's what [Russians] are!\" — Maxine Waters" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a4/maxine-waters-3448_american-people_i-just-think-the-american-people-had-bet_2433030.png" --- # I just think the American people had better understand… ![“I just think the American people had better understand what's going on. This is a bunch of scumbags. That's what [Russians] are!” quote by Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a4/maxine-waters-3448_american-people_i-just-think-the-american-people-had-bet_2433030.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a4/maxine-waters-3448_american-people_i-just-think-the-american-people-had-bet_2433030.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a4/maxine-waters-3448_american-people_i-just-think-the-american-people-had-bet_2433030.png) > “I just think the American people had better understand what's going on. This is a bunch of scumbags. That's what \[Russians\] are!” [Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She warns that the public must recognize the true nature of corrupt actors, labeling them as scumbags and comparing them to Russians. **In simple terms:** People need to see the real threat. Key Takeaway Stay informed, question narratives. Themes politics media trust corruption national security Mood skeptical concerned Type political opinion warning When to use this quote - voting - media consumption - community dialogue - activism Key Concepts propaganda political rhetoric public awareness Questions to Reflect On - How do we differentiate between legitimate criticism and conspiracy? - What evidence supports her comparison? A Different Perspective Her claim may oversimplify complex geopolitical issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Bunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bunch/) [Bunch Scumbags](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bunch-scumbags-305084/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) [Russians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russians/) [Scumbags](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scumbags/) [Scumbags Russians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scumbags-russians-305083/) [Think American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-american-258873/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [All of these people who are organized with these oil-and-gas interests, that's in the administration and friends of the President of the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-waters/all-of-these-people-who-are-organized-with-these-oil-and-gas/) [Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) > [ We have, a Democrat Party once again adding to the civility of the discourse, Maxine Waters claiming that \[Donald\] Trump and his people are… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-have-a-democrat-party-once-again-adding-to-the-civility-of-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [It's not Brits who think American readers are a bunch of whinging morons with the geo-social understanding of a wire coathanger, it's American editors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-not-brits-who-think-american-readers-are-a-bunch-of-whinging/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I love men, even though they're lying, cheating scumbags.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/i-love-men-even-though-they-re-lying-cheating-scumbags/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [I don't want to overstate tantra because I'm sure there are scumbags everywhere, but it seems like it's an ideology that actually respects female…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/i-don-t-want-to-overstate-tantra-because-i-m-sure-there-are-scumbags/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [Elderly people, I have found, when they're being honest, are also scumbags, and enjoy a little prurient humour as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-delaney/elderly-people-i-have-found-when-they-re-being-honest-are-also/) [Rob Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-delaney/) > [The men were all scumbags, but the whole point of the film is to show the development of that. Each guy is going in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-dane/the-men-were-all-scumbags-but-the-whole-point-of-the-film-is-to-show/) [Taylor Dane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-dane/) > [From one scumbag to another...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-ambrose/from-one-scumbag-to-another/) [Dean Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-ambrose/) > [Is he a scumbag in training?” Richard glanced at the gunman. “At least have the decency to hold the gun properly, you fool. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/is-he-a-scumbag-in-training-richard-glanced-at-the-gunman-at-least/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [I was a stage actor for 20 years or so; I was leading men in classical things. 'Shakespeare,' you know. And now, I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-michael-higgins/i-was-a-stage-actor-for-20-years-or-so-i-was-leading-men-in-classical/) [John Michael Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-michael-higgins/) > [People don't know where to place me. Terry Gilliam used me as a quirky cop in 'Twelve Monkeys', and then he hired me again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-meloni/people-don-t-know-where-to-place-me-terry-gilliam-used-me-as-a-quirky/) [Christopher Meloni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-meloni/) > [The British press are a group of unremitting scumbags. And sometimes they use that scumbaggery to good ends, and often not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-oliver/the-british-press-are-a-group-of-unremitting-scumbags-and-sometimes/) [John Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-oliver/) > [Every time I talk to a fancy journalist and they ask what I do in my free time my scumbag brain goes 'say masturbate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kendrick/every-time-i-talk-to-a-fancy-journalist-and-they-ask-what-i-do-in-my/) [Anna Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kendrick/) > [And I could always set Coach Hedge on fire,” Leo volunteered. “Then he can be fire.” The thought of a blazing satyr screaming, “Die,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/and-i-could-always-set-coach-hedge-on-fire-leo-volunteered-then-he/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Governments are not running the show anymore. Scumbag Entrepreneurs are, and they have a harsh and ruthless agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-steadman/governments-are-not-running-the-show-anymore-scumbag-entrepreneurs/) [Ralph Steadman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-steadman/) ## More by Maxine Waters > [I was very impressed with that that women have come here to say that we're going to fight you, Donald Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-waters/i-was-very-impressed-with-that-that-women-have-come-here-to-say-that/) [Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) > [President Trump basically has interfered with an investigation where he may be implicated. That's outrageous. And that's why we're having so much of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-waters/president-trump-basically-has-interfered-with-an-investigation-where/) [Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) > [As you know in this committee, we have all of HUD, and HUD is responsible for so many programs that determine the quality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-waters/as-you-know-in-this-committee-we-have-all-of-hud-and-hud-is/) [Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) > [You cannot be successful and continue to be a victim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-waters/you-cannot-be-successful-and-continue-to-be-a-victim/) [Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) > [I have been working hard trying to implement Dodd-Frank reforms. We went through a terrible crisis in 2008. Many people lost their homes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-waters/i-have-been-working-hard-trying-to-implement-dodd-frank-reforms-we/) [Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) > [It's very important that people who are feeling the need to do something... get activated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-waters/it-s-very-important-that-people-who-are-feeling-the-need-to-do/) [Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) > [The women's movement was just coming into being, and I got involved with Gloria Steinem and Bella Abzug and all these great women. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-waters/the-women-s-movement-was-just-coming-into-being-and-i-got-involved/) [Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) > [It's time for the bully pulpit of the White House to bring the gangstas in, put them around the table and let them know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-waters/it-s-time-for-the-bully-pulpit-of-the-white-house-to-bring-the/) [Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) > [Policy, for the most part, has been made by white people in America, not by people of color. And they have tended to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-waters/policy-for-the-most-part-has-been-made-by-white-people-in-america-not/) [Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) > [If China is not going to solve North Korea, we will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-waters/if-china-is-not-going-to-solve-north-korea-we-will/) [Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) > [ \[Rex Tillerson\] is gonna continue to work on \[sanctions lifting\]. This is important for him. He was there \[in White House\] because he negotiated… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-waters/rex-tillerson-is-gonna-continue-to-work-on-sanctions-lifting-this-is/) [Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) > [I could not remove myself from this debate about Trump. I could not abide his indecency. I could not live with the way he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-waters/i-could-not-remove-myself-from-this-debate-about-trump-i-could-not/) [Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) > [There's a history of enslaved African-Americans having to make their slave masters comfortable. This business of what we call skinning and grinning - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-waters/there-s-a-history-of-enslaved-african-americans-having-to-make-their/) [Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) > [ We know who you are \[ Donald Trump\] and what you said you will do. And we don't want the public policy that you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-waters/we-know-who-you-are-donald-trump-and-what-you-said-you-will-do-and-we/) [Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) > [Take a look at the way that Trump has described some of the foreign countries that we deal with - some that are allies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-waters/take-a-look-at-the-way-that-trump-has-described-some-of-the-foreign/) [Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) [Explore all 130 Maxine Waters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) ## More American people quotes > [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/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-as-much-as-government-can-do-and-must-do-it-is-ultimately-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Given a choice between two bald political candidates, the American people will vote for the less bald of the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-gold/given-a-choice-between-two-bald-political-candidates-the-american/) [Victor Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-gold/) > [When the American people saw the LA riots and crowds of Blacks cheering O.J. Simpson (who was acquitted by the almost all Black jury),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/when-the-american-people-saw-the-la-riots-and-crowds-of-blacks/) [David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/) > [In any event, it is one thing to assert, then or now, that the Iraq war was ill-advised. It is quite another to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-silberman/in-any-event-it-is-one-thing-to-assert-then-or-now-that-the-iraq-war/) [Laurence Silberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-silberman/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [I don't know a politician who enjoys fundraising. The system is such that the American people have lost faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-don-t-know-a-politician-who-enjoys-fundraising-the-system-is-such/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Probably the greatest single obstacle to the progress and happiness of the American people lies in the willingness of so many men to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/probably-the-greatest-single-obstacle-to-the-progress-and-happiness/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [If a financial institution has business operations in the United States, hires people in the United States, if they are clogged with illiquid assets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/if-a-financial-institution-has-business-operations-in-the-united/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [The coronavirus has yet again exposed the strong contrast between President Trump - who is working ardently for the American people - and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/the-coronavirus-has-yet-again-exposed-the-strong-contrast-between/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [The American people demand results, not rhetoric, especially when it comes to national security issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-hayworth/the-american-people-demand-results-not-rhetoric-especially-when-it/) [J. D. Hayworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-hayworth/) > [Hillary Clinton truly is sincere, but she has to connect more with the American people in terms of what she believes in and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/hillary-clinton-truly-is-sincere-but-she-has-to-connect-more-with-the/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [The American people are incredibly generous and even playful when you open yourself up and feed the media beast until it goes away satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-ball/the-american-people-are-incredibly-generous-and-even-playful-when-you/) [Krystal Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-ball/) [Browse all 2,233 American people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I just think the American people had better understand what's going on. This is a bunch of scumbags. 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