--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: President Barack Obama, to his credit…" description: "\"President Barack Obama, to his credit, has given - issued personal pardons in deserving cases. But he should go far beyond. He should proceed to what i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f86/noam-chomsky-42_barack_president-barack-obama-to-his-credit-has_629767.jpg" --- # President Barack Obama, to his credit, has given - issued… ![“President Barack Obama, to his credit, has given - issued personal pardons in deserving cases. But he should go far beyond. He should proceed to what is in fact an urgent necessity: to grant a general pardon to 11 million people who are living and working here, productive citizens in all but name…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f86/noam-chomsky-42_barack_president-barack-obama-to-his-credit-has_629767.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f86/noam-chomsky-42_barack_president-barack-obama-to-his-credit-has_629767.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f86/noam-chomsky-42_barack_president-barack-obama-to-his-credit-has_629767.jpg) > “President Barack Obama, to his credit, has given - issued personal pardons in deserving cases. But he should go far beyond. He should proceed to what is in fact an urgent necessity: to grant a general pardon to 11 million people who are living and working here, productive citizens in all but name, threatened with deportation by the incoming Donald Trump administration. This would be a horrible humanitarian tragedy, a moral outrage.” [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. Granting a broad pardon would prevent a humanitarian crisis, protecting millions from unjust deportation. **In simple terms:** A broad pardon would avert a humanitarian crisis. Key Takeaway Advocate for mass amnesty. Themes immigration human rights policy justice humanitarian Mood urgent empathetic political Type activist policy humanitarian When to use this quote - Legislative debate - community organizing - legal advocacy - public opinion Key Concepts Political ethics law reform social justice Questions to Reflect On - What are the moral obligations of a nation to migrants? - How can policy balance security and compassion? A Different Perspective Opponents argue it may encourage illegal entry. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barack/) [Deserving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deserving/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Horrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horrible/) [Humanitarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanitarian/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Pardon 11](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pardon-11-5078510/) [Pardons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pardons-850409/) [Pardons Deserving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pardons-deserving-5078509/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Personal Pardons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-pardons-5078508/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President barack obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-barack-obama/) [Productive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productive/) [Threatened Deportation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threatened-deportation-5078511/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) ## Related quotes > [We can't let ourselves stop believing in Second Chances for everyone. That's why my role on the Board of Pardons is so important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/we-can-t-let-ourselves-stop-believing-in-second-chances-for-everyone/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [Nature encourages no looseness; pardons no errors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/nature-encourages-no-looseness-pardons-no-errors/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The issue of prohibiting pardons shouldn't be a political one, but a legal and moral one that relates to the details of the specific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-shaked/the-issue-of-prohibiting-pardons-shouldn-t-be-a-political-one-but-a/) [Ayelet Shaked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-shaked/) > [Originally, in fact, the power to pardon was used precisely for economic and political ends. Legal historians have noted that in England, kings used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/originally-in-fact-the-power-to-pardon-was-used-precisely-for/) [Asha Rangappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/) > [The man who pardons easily courts injury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/the-man-who-pardons-easily-courts-injury/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [The exceptions of the scrupulous put one in mind of some general pardons where everything is forgiven except crimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/the-exceptions-of-the-scrupulous-put-one-in-mind-of-some-general/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [It's a tradition in Islamic society to issue pardons at the end of Ramadan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hooman-majd/it-s-a-tradition-in-islamic-society-to-issue-pardons-at-the-end-of/) [Hooman Majd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hooman-majd/) > [The offender never pardons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/the-offender-never-pardons/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [He could'nt get laid in a womens prison with a hand full of pardons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow/he-could-nt-get-laid-in-a-womens-prison-with-a-hand-full-of-pardons/) [Unknow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknow/) > [I am a president who also gives pardons. Usually my considerations are humane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/i-am-a-president-who-also-gives-pardons-usually-my-considerations-are/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Nature: She pardons no mistakes. Her yea is yea, and her nay, nay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/nature-she-pardons-no-mistakes-her-yea-is-yea-and-her-nay-nay/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [God pardons like a mother, who kisses the offense into everlasting forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/god-pardons-like-a-mother-who-kisses-the-offense-into-everlasting/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [In PA, the Lieutenant Governor serves as the Chair of the Board of Pardons. That means that I sit as the head of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/in-pa-the-lieutenant-governor-serves-as-the-chair-of-the-board-of/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [Trump revels in issuing pardons, because that power is essentially absolute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-t-conway-iii/trump-revels-in-issuing-pardons-because-that-power-is-essentially/) [George T. Conway III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-t-conway-iii/) > [He who pardons easily invites offense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/he-who-pardons-easily-invites-offense/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) ## 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": "President Barack Obama, to his credit, has given - issued personal pardons in deserving cases. But he should go far beyond. He should proceed to what is in fact an urgent necessity: to grant a general pardon to 11 million people who are living and working here, productive citizens in all but name, threatened with deportation by the incoming Donald Trump administration. This would be a horrible humanitarian tragedy, a moral outrage.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Noam Chomsky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/president-barack-obama-to-his-credit-has-given-issued-personal/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Barack" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/president-barack-obama-to-his-credit-has-given-issued-personal/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f86/noam-chomsky-42_barack_president-barack-obama-to-his-credit-has_629767.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f86/noam-chomsky-42_barack_president-barack-obama-to-his-credit-has_629767.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f86/noam-chomsky-42_barack_president-barack-obama-to-his-credit-has_629767.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“President Barack Obama, to his credit, has given - issued personal pardons in deserving cases. But he should…” — Noam Chomsky", "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": "Noam Chomsky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "President Barack Obama, to his credit,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/president-barack-obama-to-his-credit-has-given-issued-personal/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/president-barack-obama-to-his-credit-has-given-issued-personal/#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 } } ] } ```