--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My concern about Barack Obama is he ran a…" description: "\"My concern about Barack Obama is he ran a campaign in 2008 where he said we're going to bring people together and solve big problems. And he specifical..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/rob-portman-16929_aisle_my-concern-about-barack-obama-is-he-ran_3081195.jpg" --- # My concern about Barack Obama is he ran a campaign in 2008… ![“My concern about Barack Obama is he ran a campaign in 2008 where he said we're going to bring people together and solve big problems. And he specifically talked about the need to reach across the aisle and deal with issues like the economy, which was obviously the top issue in 2008. It has not…” quote by Rob Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/rob-portman-16929_aisle_my-concern-about-barack-obama-is-he-ran_3081195.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/rob-portman-16929_aisle_my-concern-about-barack-obama-is-he-ran_3081195.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/rob-portman-16929_aisle_my-concern-about-barack-obama-is-he-ran_3081195.jpg) > “My concern about Barack Obama is he ran a campaign in 2008 where he said we're going to bring people together and solve big problems. And he specifically talked about the need to reach across the aisle and deal with issues like the economy, which was obviously the top issue in 2008. It has not happened.” [Rob Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-portman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A politician reflects on unmet promises of unity and problem‑solving, highlighting the gap between rhetoric and reality. **In simple terms:** Politician sees promises unfulfilled. Key Takeaway Push for concrete bipartisan actions. Themes politics trust leadership Mood cautious critical Type political reflective When to use this quote - legislation - public policy - campaign promises Key Concepts promise vs. delivery partisanship Questions to Reflect On - What concrete steps can bridge partisan divides? - How can accountability be enforced? A Different Perspective Idealistic goals often clash with political realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Campaigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaigns/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) ## Related quotes > [It appears to me that no one has learned a thing; that Wall Street is still operating as if 2008 never happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-appears-to-me-that-no-one-has-learned-a-thing-that-wall-street-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Since the issues surrounding President Obama's birth certificate began during his campaign in 2008, I have rejected the notion that he is anything other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/since-the-issues-surrounding-president-obama-s-birth-certificate/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) > [President Obama ran a campaign in 2008 that was entirely expected from a non-incumbent. You promise, and you imply that if you elect me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/president-obama-ran-a-campaign-in-2008-that-was-entirely-expected/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [When the next big problem comes online, be it the Euro crisis, nuclear proliferation, an overstretched Internet, a killer flu, or any of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-casti/when-the-next-big-problem-comes-online-be-it-the-euro-crisis-nuclear/) [John L. Casti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-casti/) > [We have a presidential election coming up. And I think the big problem, of course, is that someone will win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-crimmins/we-have-a-presidential-election-coming-up-and-i-think-the-big-problem/) [Barry Crimmins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-crimmins/) > [The key thing about all the world's big problems is that they have to be dealt with collectively. If we don't get collectively smarter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-engelbart/the-key-thing-about-all-the-world-s-big-problems-is-that-they-have-to/) [Douglas Engelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-engelbart/) > [I quit drinking. That was a big problem for a lot of years. Then after that, I just started feeling grateful again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crystal/i-quit-drinking-that-was-a-big-problem-for-a-lot-of-years-then-after/) [Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crystal/) > [There is a big problem. The problem is the country borrowed too much. We went on a borrowing binge, there was a housing boom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/there-is-a-big-problem-the-problem-is-the-country-borrowed-too-much/) [George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/) > [When you have a big problem to solve, break it down to smaller ones first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddharth-katragadda/when-you-have-a-big-problem-to-solve-break-it-down-to-smaller-ones/) [Siddharth Katragadda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddharth-katragadda/) > [I'm not anti-Muslim, I'm not anti-immigration; I'm saying we've got big problems in our cities. It's not very smart to make the problem bigger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pim-fortuyn/i-m-not-anti-muslim-i-m-not-anti-immigration-i-m-saying-we-ve-got-big/) [Pim Fortuyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pim-fortuyn/) > [We're facing growing climate change, more floods, more droughts, more crisis on a planetary level, and the systems we put in place in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/we-re-facing-growing-climate-change-more-floods-more-droughts-more/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [I do have a very, very big problem with someone who saw me coming and exploited me as a mascot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-vine/i-do-have-a-very-very-big-problem-with-someone-who-saw-me-coming-and/) [Stella Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-vine/) > [Its a big problem for American movies that all their movies are produced to be global.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-a-big-problem-for-american-movies-that-all-their-movies-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't be pretentious is my first advice to young writers. This is the big problem - just because you're getting an MFA doesn't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/don-t-be-pretentious-is-my-first-advice-to-young-writers-this-is-the/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [Nerves are always a big problem for me, which is why I loved doing American sitcoms. Because you know when you do the take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/nerves-are-always-a-big-problem-for-me-which-is-why-i-loved-doing/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) ## More by Rob Portman > [How does the weakness of the dollar affect your business?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-portman/how-does-the-weakness-of-the-dollar-affect-your-business/) [Rob Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-portman/) > [Do you agree with me that we can't afford four more years of Barack Obama?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-portman/do-you-agree-with-me-that-we-can-t-afford-four-more-years-of-barack/) [Rob Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-portman/) > [I think what people are looking for right now is not the kind of pizzazz and pop that perhaps we thought we got in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-portman/i-think-what-people-are-looking-for-right-now-is-not-the-kind-of/) [Rob Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-portman/) > [It's not about sizzle for me. I think it's fine. I mean, America made a decision in 2008 to go with a president who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-portman/it-s-not-about-sizzle-for-me-i-think-it-s-fine-i-mean-america-made-a/) [Rob Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-portman/) > [Our folks have a lot of passion. They're very concerned about the direction of the country and concerned the record debt and deficit and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-portman/our-folks-have-a-lot-of-passion-they-re-very-concerned-about-the/) [Rob Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-portman/) > [Folks, do you agree with me that we cannot afford four more years of Barack Obama?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-portman/folks-do-you-agree-with-me-that-we-cannot-afford-four-more-years-of/) [Rob Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-portman/) > [We shouldn't be debating whether to deal with the current code by allowing it to be extended or not. We should have a president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-portman/we-shouldn-t-be-debating-whether-to-deal-with-the-current-code-by/) [Rob Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-portman/) > [The tax code is now nine times longer than the Bible, and not nearly as interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-portman/the-tax-code-is-now-nine-times-longer-than-the-bible-and-not-nearly/) [Rob Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-portman/) > [That isn't how I've always felt. As a congressman, and more recently as a senator, I opposed marriage for same-sex couples. Then something happened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-portman/that-isn-t-how-i-ve-always-felt-as-a-congressman-and-more-recently-as/) [Rob Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-portman/) > [With the strong bipartisan rejection of the Dorgan amendment today, the Senate cast a vote in favor of the U.S. working to knock down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-portman/with-the-strong-bipartisan-rejection-of-the-dorgan-amendment-today/) [Rob Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-portman/) > [The problem is that this round from its inception has had agriculture at its centerpiece. The EU and the U. S. and other WTO…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-portman/the-problem-is-that-this-round-from-its-inception-has-had-agriculture/) [Rob Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-portman/) > [We have a paralysis in Washington that's not serving our country. We have to address these issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-portman/we-have-a-paralysis-in-washington-that-s-not-serving-our-country-we/) [Rob Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-portman/) > [Instead of focusing on growing jobs and reigniting our economy, President Obama focused on growing government and tried to remake the United States into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-portman/instead-of-focusing-on-growing-jobs-and-reigniting-our-economy/) [Rob Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-portman/) > [You could have another downgrade. You could certainly have a stock market reaction that would be negative. And, I think nobody who looks at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-portman/you-could-have-another-downgrade-you-could-certainly-have-a-stock/) [Rob Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-portman/) > [The reality is that until we can agree on a formula that reduces tariffs globally we cannot meet this Doha promise for development. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-portman/the-reality-is-that-until-we-can-agree-on-a-formula-that-reduces/) [Rob Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-portman/) [Explore all 38 Rob Portman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-portman/) ## More Aisle quotes > [The nation, as you know, is at a critical point. At a time like this we can't risk partisan bickering and political posturing. Our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/the-nation-as-you-know-is-at-a-critical-point-at-a-time-like-this-we/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [It has been said that a bride's attitude towards her betrothed can be summed up in three words: Aisle. Alter. Hymn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-muir/it-has-been-said-that-a-bride-s-attitude-towards-her-betrothed-can-be/) [Frank Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-muir/) > [I see the world as a knowledge hardware story, and every day I'm just walking through the aisles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/i-see-the-world-as-a-knowledge-hardware-story-and-every-day-i-m-just/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) > [There is a bunch of racism in America, and sadly, most of it's on the left side of the aisle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-is-a-bunch-of-racism-in-america-and-sadly-most-of-it-s-on-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The hand that rounded Peter's dome, And groined the aisles of Christian Rome, Wrought in a sad sincerity; Himself from God he could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-hand-that-rounded-peter-s-dome-and-groined-the-aisles-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Let that get you up in the morning and put the light in your eyes. I'm telling you, it makes you a better husband,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/let-that-get-you-up-in-the-morning-and-put-the-light-in-your-eyes-i-m/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [Heaven is not a place for those who are afraid of hell; it’s a place for those who love God. You can scare people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/heaven-is-not-a-place-for-those-who-are-afraid-of-hell-it-s-a-place/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [Every presidential candidate for decades has released his tax returns, and I've released 33 years of my tax returns. The American people deserve to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/every-presidential-candidate-for-decades-has-released-his-tax-returns/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I'll never forget that first night with the team. Going to the ballpark on the bus was the hardest 30 minutes of my life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-kaline/i-ll-never-forget-that-first-night-with-the-team-going-to-the/) [Al Kaline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-kaline/) > [ In modern day evangelism, this precious doctrine \[of regeneration\] has been reduced to nothing more than a human decision to raise one's hand, walk… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/in-modern-day-evangelism-this-precious-doctrine-of-regeneration-has/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [I've had diseases that lasted longer than my marriages. You know you are in a bad marriage if you walk down the aisle thinking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nell-carter/i-ve-had-diseases-that-lasted-longer-than-my-marriages-you-know-you/) [Nell Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nell-carter/) > [I want to be here for a long time, so I am going to do everything I have to do to be here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-want-to-be-here-for-a-long-time-so-i-am-going-to-do-everything-i/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [There are smart people on our side of the aisle who have known as early as I did who Obama was and should have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-are-smart-people-on-our-side-of-the-aisle-who-have-known-as/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I am all in favor of pay equity for women, but this kind of legislation, as is typical of what's being proposed by my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-am-all-in-favor-of-pay-equity-for-women-but-this-kind-of/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I think that people have to reward those individuals who are prepared to work across the political aisle. I don't see any other way;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-king/i-think-that-people-have-to-reward-those-individuals-who-are-prepared/) [Angus King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-king/) Browse all 203 Aisle quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My concern about Barack Obama is he ran a campaign in 2008 where he said we're going to bring people together and solve big problems. And he specifically talked about the need to reach across the aisle and deal with issues like the economy, which was obviously the top issue in 2008. 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