--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think its also safe to say that Barack…" description: "\"“I think its also safe to say that Barack Obama of 2007 would be right down here with me arguing against this drone-strike program if he were in the Se..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/rand-paul-606_senate_i-think-its-also-safe-to-say-that-barack_3222179.jpg" --- # I think its also safe to say that Barack Obama of 2007… ![“I think its also safe to say that Barack Obama of 2007 would be right down here with me arguing against this drone-strike program if he were in the Senate.” quote by Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/rand-paul-606_senate_i-think-its-also-safe-to-say-that-barack_3222179.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/rand-paul-606_senate_i-think-its-also-safe-to-say-that-barack_3222179.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/rand-paul-606_senate_i-think-its-also-safe-to-say-that-barack_3222179.jpg) > ““I think its also safe to say that Barack Obama of 2007 would be right down here with me arguing against this drone-strike program if he were in the Senate.”” [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even high-profile critics may be absent from formal decision‑making, yet their perspectives remain relevant to policy debates. **In simple terms:** Critics can be absent but still matter. Key Takeaway Consider all viewpoints, even if not present. Themes politics drone warfare policy absence critique Mood concerned analytical thoughtful Type political ethical When to use this quote - senate hearings - public discourse - military policy - ethical review Key Concepts democratic process ethical debate strategic oversight Questions to Reflect On - How does missing dissent affect legislation? - What mechanisms ensure diverse voices are heard? A Different Perspective Absence of critics can skew policy outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [2007 Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/2007-right-6061877/) [Arguing Drone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing-drone-6061876/) [Drone Strike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drone-strike-1477043/) [Program Senate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/program-senate-6061878/) [Senate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senate/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) ## Related quotes > [On vague wording of drone strike criteria: “Are you going to just drop a hellfire missile on Jane Fonda? Are you going to drop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/on-vague-wording-of-drone-strike-criteria-are-you-going-to-just-drop/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I can't wait to write a defense of the drone strike that takes out Julian Assange.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grunwald/i-can-t-wait-to-write-a-defense-of-the-drone-strike-that-takes-out/) [Michael Grunwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grunwald/) > [A drone strike is a terror weapon, we don't talk about it that way. It is; just imagine you are walking down the street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/a-drone-strike-is-a-terror-weapon-we-don-t-talk-about-it-that-way-it/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It's become extremely difficult to speak to active ISIS members now. I was speaking to them in 2015, and the last one was killed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rukmini-maria-callimachi/it-s-become-extremely-difficult-to-speak-to-active-isis-members-now-i/) [Rukmini Maria Callimachi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rukmini-maria-callimachi/) > [Two days after the Boston marathon bombings, there was a drone strike in Yemen attacking a peaceful village, which killed a target who could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/two-days-after-the-boston-marathon-bombings-there-was-a-drone-strike/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ US government policies are continuing to do exactly the same thing \[produce terrorism\]. Two days after the Boston marathon bombings, there was a drone… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/us-government-policies-are-continuing-to-do-exactly-the-same-thing/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I worry that the Senate is working to consider a series of little-noticed provisions in comprehensive immigration reform that may provide a pathway to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-worry-that-the-senate-is-working-to-consider-a-series-of-little/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [Members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate are not there by accident. Each managed to get there for some reason. Learn what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/members-of-the-u-s-house-and-the-u-s-senate-are-not-there-by-accident/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [It is amazing how soon one becomes accustomed to the sound of ones voice, when forced to repeat a speech five or six times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/it-is-amazing-how-soon-one-becomes-accustomed-to-the-sound-of-ones/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [ Four states where \[Democrats\] have the governorship and both houses of the legislature. That's it. They have lost seats. They are not gonna win… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/four-states-where-democrats-have-the-governorship-and-both-houses-of/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [The reason that minorities and women don't have a better shot at getting elected to the Senate or to statewide office is because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-moseley-braun/the-reason-that-minorities-and-women-don-t-have-a-better-shot-at/) [Carol Moseley Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-moseley-braun/) > [When a member of the House moves over to the Senate, he raises the IQ of both bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everett-dirksen/when-a-member-of-the-house-moves-over-to-the-senate-he-raises-the-iq/) [Everett Dirksen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everett-dirksen/) > [Combining the experience of a seasoned university president with the analysis of a respected legal scholar, Derek Bok explores what he concludes are 'signs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-h-t-rhodes/combining-the-experience-of-a-seasoned-university-president-with-the/) [Frank H. T. Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-h-t-rhodes/) > [I'm going to do everything I can to get myself elected, but that's not enough. I'm going to try to help move the Senate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-m-going-to-do-everything-i-can-to-get-myself-elected-but-that-s-not/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) ## More by Rand Paul > [I have a question, a question for the president: Do you hate all rich people, or just rich people who don't contribute to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-have-a-question-a-question-for-the-president-do-you-hate-all-rich/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [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/) > [There comes a time, in the history of Nations when fear and forgetfulness cause a nation to hesitate, to waver and perhaps even to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/there-comes-a-time-in-the-history-of-nations-when-fear-and/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [As long as I sit at Henry Clay's desk, I will remember his lifelong desire to forge agreement, but I will also keep close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/as-long-as-i-sit-at-henry-clay-s-desk-i-will-remember-his-lifelong/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I believe people ought to be treated fairly under the law. I see no reason why if the marriage contract conveys certain things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-believe-people-ought-to-be-treated-fairly-under-the-law-i-see-no/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I think that, most importantly, when I see issues of war, I see them in a personal vein, and I am reluctant to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-that-most-importantly-when-i-see-issues-of-war-i-see-them-in/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I would have handled it differently than the mayor of Baltimore, that's for sure. I think it's a mistake to say, hey, guys, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-would-have-handled-it-differently-than-the-mayor-of-baltimore-that/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We have to think before we act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-have-to-think-before-we-act/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I would introduce and support legislation to send Roe v. Wade back to the states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-would-introduce-and-support-legislation-to-send-roe-v-wade-back-to/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [President Obama, I think, wanted what was best for the country, but I think it didn't work well. I think we have the death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/president-obama-i-think-wanted-what-was-best-for-the-country-but-i/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I think it's a mistake to downgrade and say surveillance is no big deal. It is a huge deal that we are collecting millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-downgrade-and-say-surveillance-is-no-big/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We need a revival in the country,” Paul said. “We need another Great Awakening with tent revivals of thousands of people saying, 'reform or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-need-a-revival-in-the-country-paul-said-we-need-another-great/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We do not project power from bankruptcy court. We're borrowing a million dollars a minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-do-not-project-power-from-bankruptcy-court-we-re-borrowing-a/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I can use most of the tools that every American teenager can master. Maybe not all of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-use-most-of-the-tools-that-every-american-teenager-can-master/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) [Explore all 449 Rand Paul quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) ## More Senate quotes > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [I'm going to do everything I can to get myself elected, but that's not enough. I'm going to try to help move the Senate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-m-going-to-do-everything-i-can-to-get-myself-elected-but-that-s-not/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Combining the experience of a seasoned university president with the analysis of a respected legal scholar, Derek Bok explores what he concludes are 'signs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-h-t-rhodes/combining-the-experience-of-a-seasoned-university-president-with-the/) [Frank H. T. Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-h-t-rhodes/) > [When a member of the House moves over to the Senate, he raises the IQ of both bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everett-dirksen/when-a-member-of-the-house-moves-over-to-the-senate-he-raises-the-iq/) [Everett Dirksen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everett-dirksen/) > [The reason that minorities and women don't have a better shot at getting elected to the Senate or to statewide office is because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-moseley-braun/the-reason-that-minorities-and-women-don-t-have-a-better-shot-at/) [Carol Moseley Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-moseley-braun/) > [ Senator \[Tom\] Cotton has campaigned on wanting to kill Obamacare. He voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act back in January, but he now… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/senator-tom-cotton-has-campaigned-on-wanting-to-kill-obamacare-he/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [I feel very confident that that information should be sufficient for the members of the Senate to make an informed decision about John Roberts'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/i-feel-very-confident-that-that-information-should-be-sufficient-for/) [Alberto Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/) > [ Four states where \[Democrats\] have the governorship and both houses of the legislature. That's it. They have lost seats. They are not gonna win… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/four-states-where-democrats-have-the-governorship-and-both-houses-of/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [If I can get enough signatures, to present an apology to slavery, I will present it to the President. The House of Representatives has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/if-i-can-get-enough-signatures-to-present-an-apology-to-slavery-i/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [The decision of such judges as Claudius and his Senate is worth very little in the question of a man's innocence or guilt; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-decision-of-such-judges-as-claudius-and-his-senate-is-worth-very/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The question for the Republicans running the confirmation hearings in the United States Senate is whose rules are they going to use?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/the-question-for-the-republicans-running-the-confirmation-hearings-in/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) > [It is amazing how soon one becomes accustomed to the sound of ones voice, when forced to repeat a speech five or six times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/it-is-amazing-how-soon-one-becomes-accustomed-to-the-sound-of-ones/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [In the U.S. Senate, in the short term we need to reduce the tax burden on hard working individuals, families, and small businesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-ernst/in-the-u-s-senate-in-the-short-term-we-need-to-reduce-the-tax-burden/) [Joni Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-ernst/) > [Members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate are not there by accident. Each managed to get there for some reason. Learn what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/members-of-the-u-s-house-and-the-u-s-senate-are-not-there-by-accident/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [If you go through the regular process of the House and Senate passing companion bills and then try and work out differences in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-scott/if-you-go-through-the-regular-process-of-the-house-and-senate-passing/) [Austin Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-scott/) [Browse all 1,034 Senate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I think its also safe to say that Barack Obama of 2007 would be right down here with me arguing against this drone-strike program if he were in the Senate.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rand Paul" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-its-also-safe-to-say-that-barack-obama-of-2007-would-be-right/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Senate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-its-also-safe-to-say-that-barack-obama-of-2007-would-be-right/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/rand-paul-606_senate_i-think-its-also-safe-to-say-that-barack_3222179.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/rand-paul-606_senate_i-think-its-also-safe-to-say-that-barack_3222179.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c2/rand-paul-606_senate_i-think-its-also-safe-to-say-that-barack_3222179.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think its also safe to say that Barack Obama of 2007 would be right down here with me arguing against this…” — Rand Paul", "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": "Rand Paul", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I think its also safe to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-its-also-safe-to-say-that-barack-obama-of-2007-would-be-right/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-its-also-safe-to-say-that-barack-obama-of-2007-would-be-right/#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 } } ] } ```