--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's a deft trick to turn American…" description: "\"It's a deft trick to turn American exceptionalism into an exceptional political tactic.\" — Ron Fournier" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/ron-fournier-7206_america_it-s-a-deft-trick-to-turn-american-excep_3078229.png" --- # It's a deft trick to turn American exceptionalism into an… ![“It's a deft trick to turn American exceptionalism into an exceptional political tactic.” quote by Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/ron-fournier-7206_america_it-s-a-deft-trick-to-turn-american-excep_3078229.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/ron-fournier-7206_america_it-s-a-deft-trick-to-turn-american-excep_3078229.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/ron-fournier-7206_america_it-s-a-deft-trick-to-turn-american-excep_3078229.png) > “It's a deft trick to turn American exceptionalism into an exceptional political tactic.” [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He critiques the manipulation of American exceptionalism, turning it into a strategic political tool rather than a genuine belief. **In simple terms:** American exceptionalism is used as a political tactic. Key Takeaway Question narratives that serve political agendas. Themes nationalism political strategy media rhetoric Mood thoughtful analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - campaign speeches - policy debates - public messaging Key Concepts propaganda identity politics Questions to Reflect On - How does framing policies as “exceptional” affect public perception? - Can exceptionalism be reclaimed positively? A Different Perspective Overuse of exceptionalism can erode genuine patriotism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [American exceptionalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-exceptionalism/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Tactics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tactics/) [Trick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trick/) ## Related quotes > [American exceptionalism? Exceptional at what? Waging wars against innocent people for fake reasons? Exceptional at what? Being addicted to pharmaceutical drugs that have people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-celente/american-exceptionalism-exceptional-at-what-waging-wars-against/) [Gerald Celente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-celente/) > [Hillary Clinton, President Obama, they're trying to turn the American dream into the European nightmare. We need to rescue the country from socialism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/hillary-clinton-president-obama-they-re-trying-to-turn-the-american/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [“More accustomed to relying upon himself to shape events, he took the greatest control of the process leading up to the nomination, displaying a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/more-accustomed-to-relying-upon-himself-to-shape-events-he-took-the/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [Everyone in the street where I grew up was given the same message: You can be anything; you can do anything. That wasn't extraordinary;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yance-ford/everyone-in-the-street-where-i-grew-up-was-given-the-same-message-you/) [Yance Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yance-ford/) > [A time-tested political tactic guaranteed to raise a president's popularity rating by at least 30 points. It is especially useful during election years and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-bufe/a-time-tested-political-tactic-guaranteed-to-raise-a-president-s/) [Chaz Bufe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-bufe/) > [Ascribing racial animus to people who are trying to safeguard democratic integrity is a crude yet effective political tactic that obscures the truth. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-meese/ascribing-racial-animus-to-people-who-are-trying-to-safeguard/) [Edwin Meese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-meese/) > [Civil disobedience is a viable political tactic, and a non-violent tactic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/civil-disobedience-is-a-viable-political-tactic-and-a-non-violent/) [William Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/) > [American exceptionalism is the recurring character in the nation's narrative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/american-exceptionalism-is-the-recurring-character-in-the-nation-s/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [I had a dual goal in my running that was to win and to achieve excellence, so I was never happy with a slow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-elliott/i-had-a-dual-goal-in-my-running-that-was-to-win-and-to-achieve/) [Herb Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-elliott/) > [My tactic is to make my opponent suffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniil-medvedev/my-tactic-is-to-make-my-opponent-suffer/) [Daniil Medvedev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniil-medvedev/) > [Low standards are a tactic that takes pressure off teachers' unions by accepting mediocrity and failure for kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/low-standards-are-a-tactic-that-takes-pressure-off-teachers-unions-by/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [“Sometimes it takes every weapon, every tactic, and every strength to get to what I call a good idea.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sameh-elsayed/sometimes-it-takes-every-weapon-every-tactic-and-every-strength-to/) [Sameh Elsayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sameh-elsayed/) > [A good tactic is one that your people enjoy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/a-good-tactic-is-one-that-your-people-enjoy/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [“Instead, he leaned on an old military tactic—when in doubt, state the obvious. “She doesn’t like me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-hart/instead-he-leaned-on-an-old-military-tactic-when-in-doubt-state-the/) Jennifer L. Hart > [Of course I enjoy playing the villain. Some of these players are 10 times better than you on the pitch, so you've got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-barnes/of-course-i-enjoy-playing-the-villain-some-of-these-players-are-10/) [Ashley Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-barnes/) ## More by Ron Fournier > [It's an appeal as old as America and its presidency: This is an extraordinary country populated by hard-working, big-dreaming, freedom-loving people graced by God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/it-s-an-appeal-as-old-as-america-and-its-presidency-this-is-an/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [Christie led the way - with a bulldozer. The governor is blunt, brash, and self-consciously authentic, the antithesis to what turns off today's voters:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/christie-led-the-way-with-a-bulldozer-the-governor-is-blunt-brash-and/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [Political reporters and political professionals rushed to judgment against Romney because we crave clear, unambiguous story lines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/political-reporters-and-political-professionals-rushed-to-judgment/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [According to a Public Policy Polling survey, most Americans find lice and colonoscopies more appealing than Capitol Hill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/according-to-a-public-policy-polling-survey-most-americans-find-lice/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [Part of the problem is voters know relatively little about Romney. And some of what they know about him complicates his task: Romney has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/part-of-the-problem-is-voters-know-relatively-little-about-romney-and/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [Anything can go wrong in a debate, and Obama is not a perfect debater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/anything-can-go-wrong-in-a-debate-and-obama-is-not-a-perfect-debater/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [Don't underestimate questions from the crowd; technology has made voters more informed than ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/don-t-underestimate-questions-from-the-crowd-technology-has-made/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [Climate change was a point of division between Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney. The president declared climate change a global threat, acknowledged that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/climate-change-was-a-point-of-division-between-obama-and-republican/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [In Washington, compromise has become a dirty word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/in-washington-compromise-has-become-a-dirty-word/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [The failure of the White House and Congress to seriously address the nation's fiscal situation is certain to broaden the belief among many voters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/the-failure-of-the-white-house-and-congress-to-seriously-address-the/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [Obama will learn from his mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/obama-will-learn-from-his-mistakes/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [Most political journalists come to Washington because they're snappy writers, big thinkers, or news breakers. Me? My ticket to the big leagues had little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/most-political-journalists-come-to-washington-because-they-re-snappy/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [Obama shows no sign of easing up on negativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/obama-shows-no-sign-of-easing-up-on-negativity/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [One side of the American psyche wants smaller government, lower taxes, and more choices for individuals, even if those choices increase risk. The other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/one-side-of-the-american-psyche-wants-smaller-government-lower-taxes/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [Clearly, the Obama presidency hasn't wiped out racial prejudices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/clearly-the-obama-presidency-hasn-t-wiped-out-racial-prejudices/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) [Explore all 93 Ron Fournier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) ## More America quotes > [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/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. 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