--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I care about is whether or not a…" description: "\"What I care about is whether or not a leader will work with America's working people, whether or not a leader cares about responsibility and honest wor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80d/richard-trumka-23732_alive_what-i-care-about-is-whether-or-not-a-le_1039209.jpg" --- # What I care about is whether or not a leader will work… ![“What I care about is whether or not a leader will work with America's working people, whether or not a leader cares about responsibility and honest work and whether or not a leader will fight to keep the American Dream alive.” quote by Richard Trumka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80d/richard-trumka-23732_alive_what-i-care-about-is-whether-or-not-a-le_1039209.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80d/richard-trumka-23732_alive_what-i-care-about-is-whether-or-not-a-le_1039209.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80d/richard-trumka-23732_alive_what-i-care-about-is-whether-or-not-a-le_1039209.jpg) > “What I care about is whether or not a leader will work with America's working people, whether or not a leader cares about responsibility and honest work and whether or not a leader will fight to keep the American Dream alive.” [Richard Trumka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-trumka/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A leader should work with everyday Americans, value responsibility, honest work, and fight to preserve the American Dream. **In simple terms:** Leaders must align with workers, honesty, and the Dream. Key Takeaway Demand accountable, people‑focused leadership. Themes leadership working class responsibility honesty American Dream Mood determined urgent inspirational Type political motivational When to use this quote - elections - union negotiations - policy debates - community organizing Key Concepts political economy labor rights social contract democracy Questions to Reflect On - How can workers hold leaders accountable? - What actions protect the Dream today? A Different Perspective Political realities may limit a leader’s ability to fulfill all promises. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-working-671536/) [American dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-dream/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Cares Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cares-responsibility-2419324/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Honest work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-work/) [I care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-care/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leader Cares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader-cares-2419322/) [Leader Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader-work-2225535/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Responsibility Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility-honest-2419323/) [Working people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-people/) ## Related quotes > [“Why should i have fake smile on my face , If my heart and soul suffering in unrest. it's not my duty to entertain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/why-should-i-have-fake-smile-on-my-face-if-my-heart-and-soul/) [Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/) > [The real existential challenge is to live up to your fullest potential, along with living up to your intense sense of responsibility and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fei-fei-li/the-real-existential-challenge-is-to-live-up-to-your-fullest/) [Fei-Fei Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fei-fei-li/) > [To inculcate sense of responsibility, you must be honest to yourself first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-sinha/to-inculcate-sense-of-responsibility-you-must-be-honest-to-yourself/) [Anil Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-sinha/) > [To remain a credible leader, I must always work first, hardest, and longest on changing myself. This is neither easy nor natural, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/to-remain-a-credible-leader-i-must-always-work-first-hardest-and/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [America needs leader that work for them, not partisan gain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-drew/america-needs-leader-that-work-for-them-not-partisan-gain/) [Jeff Van Drew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-drew/) > [People regardless of age are able to do a good job if they're inspired by the leader they work with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritesh-agarwal/people-regardless-of-age-are-able-to-do-a-good-job-if-they-re/) [Ritesh Agarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritesh-agarwal/) > [He will never, ever, give up. And, most importantly, he will never, ever, let you down. Donald is, and always has been, an amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melania-trump/he-will-never-ever-give-up-and-most-importantly-he-will-never-ever/) [Melania Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melania-trump/) > [I'm just here to be a leader and work on my game, work on my jump-hooks, my low-post game and just continue to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-drummond/i-m-just-here-to-be-a-leader-and-work-on-my-game-work-on-my-jump/) [Andre Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-drummond/) > [When the best leader's work is done the people say, 'We did it ourselves.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/when-the-best-leader-s-work-is-done-the-people-say-we-did-it-ourselves/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“Growing personally and as a leader is work. It requires that you get off the sidelines, take off your protective gear, and get in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/growing-personally-and-as-a-leader-is-work-it-requires-that-you-get/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The first job of a leader-at work or at home-is to inspire trust. It's to bring out the best in people by entrusting them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-first-job-of-a-leader-at-work-or-at-home-is-to-inspire-trust-it-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [America should be working more with the Mexicans to prevent the flow of guns going south into Mexico that have fueled so much of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bersin/america-should-be-working-more-with-the-mexicans-to-prevent-the-flow/) [Alan Bersin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bersin/) > [And so I think that the idea of America working with other countries to solve problems is good for us, and it is part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/and-so-i-think-that-the-idea-of-america-working-with-other-countries/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [I am very career minded, and I think my personality is more suited to America. I am a working mum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-beckham/i-am-very-career-minded-and-i-think-my-personality-is-more-suited-to/) [Victoria Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-beckham/) > [I am always getting messages that I am paid by America, that I work for America, that I am connected with CIA... blah blah…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/i-am-always-getting-messages-that-i-am-paid-by-america-that-i-work/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) ## More by Richard Trumka > [The bottom has fallen out of America's wage floor. And the erosion of the minimum wage has lowered pay and working standards for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-trumka/the-bottom-has-fallen-out-of-america-s-wage-floor-and-the-erosion-of/) [Richard Trumka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-trumka/) > [We're building an independent political program that can run electoral politics and then turn on a dime to hold our leaders to task, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-trumka/we-re-building-an-independent-political-program-that-can-run/) [Richard Trumka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-trumka/) > [We can support President Barack Obama, because he supports us. We can support Barack Obama, because he shares our values and our vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-trumka/we-can-support-president-barack-obama-because-he-supports-us-we-can/) [Richard Trumka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-trumka/) > [Friends, I'm angry about what's happening in politics today! Why is it wrong to ask the wealthiest people and most profitable corporations to pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-trumka/friends-i-m-angry-about-what-s-happening-in-politics-today-why-is-it/) [Richard Trumka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-trumka/) > [And, you know, money is - the money edge is really dangerous to democracy. Because what you have right now - people have said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-trumka/and-you-know-money-is-the-money-edge-is-really-dangerous-to-democracy/) [Richard Trumka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-trumka/) > [You can be dogmatic, like Donald Trump, and say don't tell me any of the facts, I have made up my mind, I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-trumka/you-can-be-dogmatic-like-donald-trump-and-say-don-t-tell-me-any-of/) [Richard Trumka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-trumka/) > [I say let's go back to a truer use of the word 'freedom.' Let's start with President Franklin Roosevelt's Four Freedoms: freedom of speech…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-trumka/i-say-let-s-go-back-to-a-truer-use-of-the-word-freedom-let-s-start/) [Richard Trumka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-trumka/) > [Time after time we're told corporations should have freedom from pesky job safety regulations, environmental protections and labor standards - giving working people the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-trumka/time-after-time-we-re-told-corporations-should-have-freedom-from/) [Richard Trumka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-trumka/) > [I do believe that freedom isn't free - but today the corporate and political right wing is trying to cheapen this truly American value.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-trumka/i-do-believe-that-freedom-isn-t-free-but-today-the-corporate-and/) [Richard Trumka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-trumka/) > [You see, to me, it doesn't really matter if an elected official has a D or an R behind her name, or his name.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-trumka/you-see-to-me-it-doesn-t-really-matter-if-an-elected-official-has-a-d/) [Richard Trumka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-trumka/) > [There is nothing stronger than the American labor movement. United, we cannot and we will not be turned aside. We'll work for it, sisters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-trumka/there-is-nothing-stronger-than-the-american-labor-movement-united-we/) [Richard Trumka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-trumka/) > [When the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act, Sarah Palin tweeted, 'Obama lies; freedom dies.' She's referring, I guess, to the freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-trumka/when-the-u-s-supreme-court-upheld-the-affordable-care-act-sarah-palin/) [Richard Trumka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-trumka/) > [Better world. Better life for everybody, every worker. Poor kids oughta be able to go anyplace their brains will take them. Not where Daddy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-trumka/better-world-better-life-for-everybody-every-worker-poor-kids-oughta/) [Richard Trumka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-trumka/) > [We have a raising wages agenda. And that includes tax policy, trade policy. TPP is a very bad agreement. Covers 40 percent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-trumka/we-have-a-raising-wages-agenda-and-that-includes-tax-policy-trade/) [Richard Trumka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-trumka/) > [The ultimate goal of those who blame workers for Wall Street's economic crisis is to unravel the fabric of our common life in pursuit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-trumka/the-ultimate-goal-of-those-who-blame-workers-for-wall-street-s/) [Richard Trumka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-trumka/) [Explore all 25 Richard Trumka quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-trumka/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What I care about is whether or not a leader will work with America's working people, whether or not a leader cares about responsibility and honest work and whether or not a leader will fight to keep the American Dream alive.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Trumka" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-trumka/what-i-care-about-is-whether-or-not-a-leader-will-work-with-america-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-trumka/what-i-care-about-is-whether-or-not-a-leader-will-work-with-america-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80d/richard-trumka-23732_alive_what-i-care-about-is-whether-or-not-a-le_1039209.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80d/richard-trumka-23732_alive_what-i-care-about-is-whether-or-not-a-le_1039209.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80d/richard-trumka-23732_alive_what-i-care-about-is-whether-or-not-a-le_1039209.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What I care about is whether or not a leader will work with America's working people, whether or not a…” — Richard Trumka", "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": "Richard Trumka", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-trumka/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What I care about is whether...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-trumka/what-i-care-about-is-whether-or-not-a-leader-will-work-with-america-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-trumka/what-i-care-about-is-whether-or-not-a-leader-will-work-with-america-s/#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 } } ] } ```