--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've made it clear that I'm not taking…" description: "\"I've made it clear that I'm not taking special interest PAC money or accepting donations from lobbyists - ever. I want to represent the interests of th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b2/stephen-pagliuca-22316_accepting_i-ve-made-it-clear-that-i-m-not-taking-s_318415.jpg" --- # I've made it clear that I'm not taking special interest… ![“I've made it clear that I'm not taking special interest PAC money or accepting donations from lobbyists - ever. I want to represent the interests of the citizens.” quote by Stephen Pagliuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b2/stephen-pagliuca-22316_accepting_i-ve-made-it-clear-that-i-m-not-taking-s_318415.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b2/stephen-pagliuca-22316_accepting_i-ve-made-it-clear-that-i-m-not-taking-s_318415.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b2/stephen-pagliuca-22316_accepting_i-ve-made-it-clear-that-i-m-not-taking-s_318415.jpg) > “I've made it clear that I'm not taking special interest PAC money or accepting donations from lobbyists - ever. I want to represent the interests of the citizens.” [Stephen Pagliuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-pagliuca/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He pledges to reject special interests and lobbyist money, prioritizing citizens’ needs over corporate influence. **In simple terms:** He refuses lobbyist money to serve citizens. Key Takeaway Hold leaders accountable for unbiased representation. Themes ethics politics public service integrity Mood critical determined Type political ethical When to use this quote - political campaigns - policy making - public office Key Concepts campaign finance reform citizen advocacy conflict of interest Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens ensure true representation? - What safeguards protect against undue influence? A Different Perspective Political realities may limit ability to stay completely independent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Donations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/donations/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Lobbyists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lobbyists/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Special interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-interest/) ## Related quotes > [Britain should take pride in a foreign policy that reflects her values and responsibilities - but it must be grounded in the tangible interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-raab/britain-should-take-pride-in-a-foreign-policy-that-reflects-her/) [Dominic Raab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-raab/) > [Although our interests as citizens vary, each one is an artery to the heart that pumps life through the body politic, and each is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/although-our-interests-as-citizens-vary-each-one-is-an-artery-to-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [I gave Mitt Romney some donations for his campaign because he was a friend, and friendship came first. I've always been a Democrat, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-pagliuca/i-gave-mitt-romney-some-donations-for-his-campaign-because-he-was-a/) [Stephen Pagliuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-pagliuca/) > [What is the basic principle of democracy? In the end, it is loyalty to the nation. We Central Europeans know from historical experience that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-orban/what-is-the-basic-principle-of-democracy-in-the-end-it-is-loyalty-to/) [Viktor Orban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-orban/) > [The job of elected leaders is to deliver results that represent the interests of the citizens who placed them in a position of authority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/the-job-of-elected-leaders-is-to-deliver-results-that-represent-the/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [Angela Merkel has been focused on the right things. She has focused on the interests of her citizens - and not just in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-trudeau/angela-merkel-has-been-focused-on-the-right-things-she-has-focused-on/) [Justin Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-trudeau/) > [What I will stand up for is what I think is right and for the best interests of the citizens of the state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-judge/what-i-will-stand-up-for-is-what-i-think-is-right-and-for-the-best/) [Patty Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-judge/) > [I've owned a business for 26 years. My family isn't in politics and my supporters aren't special interest groups in Madison and Milwaukee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-neumann/i-ve-owned-a-business-for-26-years-my-family-isn-t-in-politics-and-my/) [Mark Neumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-neumann/) > [In Maine, we are fortunate to have a Clean Elections system that allows legislators to turn down corporate special interest money. At the national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/in-maine-we-are-fortunate-to-have-a-clean-elections-system-that/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) > [I desire an special interest in your prayers that my faith fail not in the day of adversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hawley/i-desire-an-special-interest-in-your-prayers-that-my-faith-fail-not/) [John Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hawley/) > [I think the press has an interest in communicating to its viewers or readers, and their viewers or readers drive profit for those news…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/i-think-the-press-has-an-interest-in-communicating-to-its-viewers-or/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [If everyone in America can easily see who and what their lawmakers are requesting taxpayer money for, we can keep elected officials honest, end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gillibrand/if-everyone-in-america-can-easily-see-who-and-what-their-lawmakers/) [Kirsten Gillibrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gillibrand/) > [Campaign finance and ethics reform only works if it curtails all special interest groups equally and does not carve out any exceptions to benefit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-kean-jr/campaign-finance-and-ethics-reform-only-works-if-it-curtails-all/) [Thomas Kean, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-kean-jr/) > [I'm not going to take any special interest money or any PAC money... when I get to Washington I want to be the voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-mcmahon/i-m-not-going-to-take-any-special-interest-money-or-any-pac-money/) [Linda McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-mcmahon/) > [At a time when special interest money is being showered on legislators in Washington, grassroots donors offer members of Congress a refreshing independence. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sarbanes/at-a-time-when-special-interest-money-is-being-showered-on/) [John Sarbanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sarbanes/) ## More by Stephen Pagliuca > [The whole tax code should be looked at, all the way from farm subsidies to carried interest to - to corporate loopholes, because we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-pagliuca/the-whole-tax-code-should-be-looked-at-all-the-way-from-farm/) [Stephen Pagliuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-pagliuca/) > [I love Indian food. London also has great Indian food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-pagliuca/i-love-indian-food-london-also-has-great-indian-food/) [Stephen Pagliuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-pagliuca/) > [We need someone in Washington who knows how to build jobs from the ground up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-pagliuca/we-need-someone-in-washington-who-knows-how-to-build-jobs-from-the/) [Stephen Pagliuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-pagliuca/) > [Instead of being a teacher, I got a job with a company called Bain & Co., consulting firm, and they taught me how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-pagliuca/instead-of-being-a-teacher-i-got-a-job-with-a-company-called-bain-co/) [Stephen Pagliuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-pagliuca/) > [We really wake up every day trying to build businesses. That is the goal of private equity. It's a misnomer out there that private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-pagliuca/we-really-wake-up-every-day-trying-to-build-businesses-that-is-the/) [Stephen Pagliuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-pagliuca/) > [One place I haven't made it to - mainly because it's so far away - is Australia, so I'd love to go there. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-pagliuca/one-place-i-haven-t-made-it-to-mainly-because-it-s-so-far-away-is/) [Stephen Pagliuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-pagliuca/) > [I've probably done more venture capital deals and expansion financings than I have done private equity deals. But both are the same. Private equity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-pagliuca/i-ve-probably-done-more-venture-capital-deals-and-expansion/) [Stephen Pagliuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-pagliuca/) > [I think business, government and unions have to work together, and the common enemies to the global economy. We're being beaten by the global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-pagliuca/i-think-business-government-and-unions-have-to-work-together-and-the/) [Stephen Pagliuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-pagliuca/) > [I was an international tax specialist. Yeah, I was an international man of mystery and tax specialist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-pagliuca/i-was-an-international-tax-specialist-yeah-i-was-an-international-man/) [Stephen Pagliuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-pagliuca/) > [I'm not for a temporary war tax. We're putting actual dollars in one way or the other, and so if we're gonna look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-pagliuca/i-m-not-for-a-temporary-war-tax-we-re-putting-actual-dollars-in-one/) [Stephen Pagliuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-pagliuca/) > [My father was a veteran and my mother a schoolteacher. They taught me the value of a good job and an honest day's work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-pagliuca/my-father-was-a-veteran-and-my-mother-a-schoolteacher-they-taught-me/) [Stephen Pagliuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-pagliuca/) > [I gave Mitt Romney some donations for his campaign because he was a friend, and friendship came first. I've always been a Democrat, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-pagliuca/i-gave-mitt-romney-some-donations-for-his-campaign-because-he-was-a/) [Stephen Pagliuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-pagliuca/) > [Boston and America is really resilient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-pagliuca/boston-and-america-is-really-resilient/) [Stephen Pagliuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-pagliuca/) > [Boston is really a small town, and the pro sports here are almost like a college sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-pagliuca/boston-is-really-a-small-town-and-the-pro-sports-here-are-almost-like/) [Stephen Pagliuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-pagliuca/) > [I think we have to look at the whole way campaigns are financed. The No. 1 problem is PAC and special-interest money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-pagliuca/i-think-we-have-to-look-at-the-whole-way-campaigns-are-financed-the/) [Stephen Pagliuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-pagliuca/) [Explore all 27 Stephen Pagliuca quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-pagliuca/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've made it clear that I'm not taking special interest PAC money or accepting donations from lobbyists - ever. I want to represent the interests of the citizens.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Pagliuca" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-pagliuca/i-ve-made-it-clear-that-i-m-not-taking-special-interest-pac-money-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-pagliuca/i-ve-made-it-clear-that-i-m-not-taking-special-interest-pac-money-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b2/stephen-pagliuca-22316_accepting_i-ve-made-it-clear-that-i-m-not-taking-s_318415.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b2/stephen-pagliuca-22316_accepting_i-ve-made-it-clear-that-i-m-not-taking-s_318415.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b2/stephen-pagliuca-22316_accepting_i-ve-made-it-clear-that-i-m-not-taking-s_318415.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've made it clear that I'm not taking special interest PAC money or accepting donations from lobbyists…” — Stephen Pagliuca", "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": "Stephen Pagliuca", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-pagliuca/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've made it clear that I'm...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-pagliuca/i-ve-made-it-clear-that-i-m-not-taking-special-interest-pac-money-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-pagliuca/i-ve-made-it-clear-that-i-m-not-taking-special-interest-pac-money-or/#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 } } ] } ```