--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Barack Obama is an opportunist, mostly…" description: "\"Barack Obama is an opportunist, mostly supported by the financial institutions. He had no positions on anything. He's very intelligent. If you look at ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/noam-chomsky-42_barack_barack-obama-is-an-opportunist-mostly-su_1246952.jpg" --- # Barack Obama is an opportunist, mostly supported by the… ![“Barack Obama is an opportunist, mostly supported by the financial institutions. He had no positions on anything. He's very intelligent. If you look at his program, almost no substance. Change, hope, what's that? I mean, he had some policies, but it was almost certain that he would give them up…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/noam-chomsky-42_barack_barack-obama-is-an-opportunist-mostly-su_1246952.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/noam-chomsky-42_barack_barack-obama-is-an-opportunist-mostly-su_1246952.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/noam-chomsky-42_barack_barack-obama-is-an-opportunist-mostly-su_1246952.jpg) > “Barack Obama is an opportunist, mostly supported by the financial institutions. He had no positions on anything. He's very intelligent. If you look at his program, almost no substance. Change, hope, what's that? I mean, he had some policies, but it was almost certain that he would give them up instantly, which he did.” [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He asserts Obama lacked substantive policies and was swayed by finance. **In simple terms:** Obama was seen as lacking depth. Key Takeaway Scrutinize political substance. Themes politics leadership policy analysis Mood analytical skeptical Type political critical When to use this quote - elections - policy debates - media coverage Key Concepts opportunism institutional influence ideology Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports claims of opportunism? - How to assess genuine policy impact? A Different Perspective Oversimplifies complex political dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barack/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Financial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/financial/) [Financial institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/financial-institutions/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Institutions Positions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions-positions-3914127/) [Intelligent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligent/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Obama Opportunist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obama-opportunist-3914125/) [Opportunist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunist/) [Opportunist Supported](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunist-supported-3914126/) [Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Positions Intelligent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positions-intelligent-2143853/) [Program](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/program/) [Substance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/substance/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) ## Related quotes > [I think women have come a long way. Women are in positions not because they're women, they're in positions because they're intelligent and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-women-have-come-a-long-way-women-are-in-positions-not-because/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [Latin America was the most obedient follower of the neoliberal regime that was instituted by the United States, its allies and the international financial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/latin-america-was-the-most-obedient-follower-of-the-neoliberal-regime/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Obama's primary constituency was financial institutions. They were the core of the funding for his campaign. They expect to be paid back. And they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/obama-s-primary-constituency-was-financial-institutions-they-were-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It seems to be extensively believed by photographers that meanings are to be found in the world much in the way rabbits are found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-burgin/it-seems-to-be-extensively-believed-by-photographers-that-meanings/) [Victor Burgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-burgin/) > [I like to call myself an "equal opportunist," as I love both dogs and cats, but over the last couple years, both Howard and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ostrosky-stern/i-like-to-call-myself-an-equal-opportunist-as-i-love-both-dogs-and/) [Beth Ostrosky Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ostrosky-stern/) > [An opportunist doesn't wait for a grand opportunity to come about. He simply transforms events to exploitable situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chandrababu-vs/an-opportunist-doesn-t-wait-for-a-grand-opportunity-to-come-about-he/) [Chandrababu VS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chandrababu-vs/) > [Criminals are opportunists. If you've got a booming market, they're going to get away with more fraud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-matthews/criminals-are-opportunists-if-you-ve-got-a-booming-market-they-re/) [William Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-matthews/) > [They crave attention though, they always saying show me som but girl you aint the only one that's tryna be the only one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/they-crave-attention-though-they-always-saying-show-me-som-but-girl/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [“Evolution is, as an engineer, an opportunist, not a perfectionist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanis-aw-lem/evolution-is-as-an-engineer-an-opportunist-not-a-perfectionist/) [Stanisław Lem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanis-aw-lem/) > [We must walk rapidly but not run. We must not be opportunists, nor allow our enthusiasms to make us lose the vision of concrete…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amilcar-cabral/we-must-walk-rapidly-but-not-run-we-must-not-be-opportunists-nor/) [Amilcar Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amilcar-cabral/) > [To be led by a fool is to be led by the opportunists who control the fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/to-be-led-by-a-fool-is-to-be-led-by-the-opportunists-who-control-the/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [“If you are opportunist, then you are already one step closer to achieve your target!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanshu-joshi/if-you-are-opportunist-then-you-are-already-one-step-closer-to/) [PRIYANSHU JOSHI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanshu-joshi/) > [“An opportunist ventures nothing, believes in nothing and invests in nothing, therefore he ends with nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicko-widjaja/an-opportunist-ventures-nothing-believes-in-nothing-and-invests-in/) [Nicko Widjaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicko-widjaja/) > [Choose your leaders with wisdom and forethought. To be led by a coward is to be controlled by all that the coward fears. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/choose-your-leaders-with-wisdom-and-forethought-to-be-led-by-a-coward/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A lot of other bands have tried to go out there and say we've got views on this and views on that. But some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-rhodes/a-lot-of-other-bands-have-tried-to-go-out-there-and-say-we-ve-got/) [Nick Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-rhodes/) ## More by Noam Chomsky > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are questions as to whether it should even exist. Who should corporations be responsive to, the management of a corporation? Theoretically they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-questions-as-to-whether-it-should-even-exist-who-should/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Governments regard their own citizens as their main enemy, and they have to be - protect themselves. That's why you have state secret laws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-regard-their-own-citizens-as-their-main-enemy-and-they/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The first thing you ought to do is verify what I present. Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ I wrote an article about the marine landing \[in Haiti\] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-landing-in-haiti-right-away-but/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [American society is now remarkably atomized. Political organizations have collapsed. In fact, it seems like even bowling leagues are collapsing. The left has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/american-society-is-now-remarkably-atomized-political-organizations/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things. Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/discovery-is-the-ability-to-be-puzzled-by-simple-things-noam-chomsky/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [This is class war on an international scale, and power is in the hands of those who control the international economic system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/this-is-class-war-on-an-international-scale-and-power-is-in-the-hands/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are big, extremely irrational parts of the society, and they have now been mobilized politically by the Republican establishment, hoping that these people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-big-extremely-irrational-parts-of-the-society-and-they-have/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's plenty to criticize about the mass media, but they are the source of regular information about a wide range of topics. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-plenty-to-criticize-about-the-mass-media-but-they-are-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The 50,000 Korean mercenaries we had in Vietnam were professional killers and just massacred people outright. And the American army did plenty of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-50-000-korean-mercenaries-we-had-in-vietnam-were-professional/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) [Explore all 2,129 Noam Chomsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More Barack quotes > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [We know the candidate Barack Obama, what he was like - the anti-war government nig... America was a source for division around the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-know-the-candidate-barack-obama-what-he-was-like-the-anti-war/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [We're in more wars today under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton than under George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan. Yet they tell you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-re-in-more-wars-today-under-barack-obama-and-hillary-clinton-than/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I can tell you who's planning terroris attacks. The leaders of ISIL. And I can tell you where they're at. 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barack/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Barack Obama is an opportunist, mostly supported by the financial institutions. He had no positions on anything. He's very intelligent. If you look at his program, almost no substance. Change, hope, what's that? 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