--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Barack Obama destroyed the middle class…" description: "\"Barack Obama destroyed the middle class. Whatever you want to say about his rhetoric, the rich got richer, but the poor got poorer, and the middle clas..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/steve-scalise-4534_barack-obama_barack-obama-destroyed-the-middle-class_891401.jpg" --- # Barack Obama destroyed the middle class. Whatever you want… ![“Barack Obama destroyed the middle class. Whatever you want to say about his rhetoric, the rich got richer, but the poor got poorer, and the middle class got wiped out. That's really what Trump appealed to and inspired in the forgotten man.” quote by Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/steve-scalise-4534_barack-obama_barack-obama-destroyed-the-middle-class_891401.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/steve-scalise-4534_barack-obama_barack-obama-destroyed-the-middle-class_891401.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/steve-scalise-4534_barack-obama_barack-obama-destroyed-the-middle-class_891401.jpg) > “Barack Obama destroyed the middle class. Whatever you want to say about his rhetoric, the rich got richer, but the poor got poorer, and the middle class got wiped out. That's really what Trump appealed to and inspired in the forgotten man.” [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement claims that Obama’s policies favored the wealthy, harmed the poor, and eliminated the middle class, which Trump later used to rally disaffected voters. **In simple terms:** Obama’s policies allegedly hurt the middle class, helping the rich and poor differently. Key Takeaway Question policy impacts on economic classes. Themes politics economics class conflict Mood critical analytical Type political economic controversial When to use this quote - campaign strategy - voter outreach - policy debate - media analysis Key Concepts wealth inequality policy analysis populism Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure middle‑class health? - What policies truly affect wealth distribution? A Different Perspective Critics argue the claim oversimplifies complex economic trends. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Middle class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-class/) [Rhetoric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhetoric/) ## Related quotes > [Obama destroyed this party, folks, literally has destroyed the Democratic Party while elevating himself to whatever heights, if he's really achieved them, I still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/obama-destroyed-this-party-folks-literally-has-destroyed-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ Around the world, America's influence has declined while this president \[Barack Obama\] has destroyed our military, our allies no longer trust us, and our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/around-the-world-america-s-influence-has-declined-while-this/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Bill Clinton is just as gross as Donald Trump - so much so that the Clinton campaign can't really back Trump into a corner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/bill-clinton-is-just-as-gross-as-donald-trump-so-much-so-that-the/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [ \[People\] know what \[Donald\] Trump wants. They are fascinated with the idea, "Can Trump really get this?" Because Trump, there's nothing professional about him. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/people-know-what-donald-trump-wants-they-are-fascinated-with-the-idea/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [You know, what genuinely makes me uneasy with the way things are going are not - is not really that Trump is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-pierce/you-know-what-genuinely-makes-me-uneasy-with-the-way-things-are-going/) [Charlie Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-pierce/) > [Barack Obama, he just sits out. He sits back; he criticizes everybody. He's got his professorial attitude, real condescending, as if he's got all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/barack-obama-he-just-sits-out-he-sits-back-he-criticizes-everybody-he/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [We had eight years of Barack Obama depleting our military, ignoring a lot of the threats around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/we-had-eight-years-of-barack-obama-depleting-our-military-ignoring-a/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [“Been living on this earth for so long now and still don't know what a happy life feels like. I'm ready for a change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-anthony-burkett/been-living-on-this-earth-for-so-long-now-and-still-don-t-know-what-a/) [Jonathan Anthony Burkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-anthony-burkett/) > [President Barack Obama is a doer. And we in America will do big things with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hunt/president-barack-obama-is-a-doer-and-we-in-america-will-do-big-things/) [Jim Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hunt/) > [When the 2008 victory of Barack Obama and the defeat of grumpy old John McCain began looking, um, inevitable, I started fielding inquiries about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/when-the-2008-victory-of-barack-obama-and-the-defeat-of-grumpy-old/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [It has been my honor to support and work with President Barack Obama, a man who has brought courage and character to the presidency.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reid/it-has-been-my-honor-to-support-and-work-with-president-barack-obama/) [Harry Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reid/) > [Just like Barack Obama, my views on gay marriage have evolved, and now I am a reluctant groom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/just-like-barack-obama-my-views-on-gay-marriage-have-evolved-and-now/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [As a Democrat following the 2012 presidential election closely, I was happy to see that South Carolina voted overwhelmingly for Newt Gingrich, a candidate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/as-a-democrat-following-the-2012-presidential-election-closely-i-was/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [There has certainly been ugly, right-wing hatred targeting Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/there-has-certainly-been-ugly-right-wing-hatred-targeting-barack-obama/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [In 2008, Barack Obama did a phenomenal job of reaching out to minority groups, to younger people, and a lot of newer voters, Hispanics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-p-bush/in-2008-barack-obama-did-a-phenomenal-job-of-reaching-out-to-minority/) [George P. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-p-bush/) ## More by Steve Scalise > [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [We are not giving up on repealing and replacing Obamacare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/we-are-not-giving-up-on-repealing-and-replacing-obamacare/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [There are a lot of people in the Rust Belt who felt like, 'Nobody's concerned about me, and my shot at the American dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/there-are-a-lot-of-people-in-the-rust-belt-who-felt-like-nobody-s/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [Many people who have insurance can't even use it because they have $10,000 or higher deductibles. This is something families are facing all across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/many-people-who-have-insurance-can-t-even-use-it-because-they-have-10/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [We shouldn't be bailing out insurance companies under ObamaCare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/we-shouldn-t-be-bailing-out-insurance-companies-under-obamacare/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [Look at what happened in the 1990s: when they balanced the federal budget, it was through growth in the economy and controlling spending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/look-at-what-happened-in-the-1990s-when-they-balanced-the-federal/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [There's a general understanding amongst, I think, most people in this country that whether or not you have a preexisting condition, it's not your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/there-s-a-general-understanding-amongst-i-think-most-people-in-this/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [While we always strive to reach 218 with Republican votes, sometimes that is not possible with divided government, and the story of a bill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/while-we-always-strive-to-reach-218-with-republican-votes-sometimes/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [If you're making enemies along the way, you're going to limit the ability for yourself to be successful in advancing your causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/if-you-re-making-enemies-along-the-way-you-re-going-to-limit-the/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [There are going to be times when we disagree with our leadership, but ultimately, we've got to work hard to pull our leadership to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/there-are-going-to-be-times-when-we-disagree-with-our-leadership-but/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [There's no excuse for breaking the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/there-s-no-excuse-for-breaking-the-law/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [Especially in the whip operation, you're in constant contact with the members and their chiefs of staff, so having a chief who's approachable and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/especially-in-the-whip-operation-you-re-in-constant-contact-with-the/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [We want to say nobody should lose their health care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/we-want-to-say-nobody-should-lose-their-health-care/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [Mexico secures their border. Why shouldn't we be able to secure ours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/mexico-secures-their-border-why-shouldn-t-we-be-able-to-secure-ours/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [We can pass conservative policy that unites us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/we-can-pass-conservative-policy-that-unites-us/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) [Explore all 109 Steve Scalise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) ## More Barack obama quotes > [In 2008, Barack Obama did a phenomenal job of reaching out to minority groups, to younger people, and a lot of newer voters, Hispanics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-p-bush/in-2008-barack-obama-did-a-phenomenal-job-of-reaching-out-to-minority/) [George P. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-p-bush/) > [There has certainly been ugly, right-wing hatred targeting Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/there-has-certainly-been-ugly-right-wing-hatred-targeting-barack-obama/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [As a Democrat following the 2012 presidential election closely, I was happy to see that South Carolina voted overwhelmingly for Newt Gingrich, a candidate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/as-a-democrat-following-the-2012-presidential-election-closely-i-was/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [Just like Barack Obama, my views on gay marriage have evolved, and now I am a reluctant groom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/just-like-barack-obama-my-views-on-gay-marriage-have-evolved-and-now/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [It has been my honor to support and work with President Barack Obama, a man who has brought courage and character to the presidency.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reid/it-has-been-my-honor-to-support-and-work-with-president-barack-obama/) [Harry Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reid/) > [When the 2008 victory of Barack Obama and the defeat of grumpy old John McCain began looking, um, inevitable, I started fielding inquiries about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/when-the-2008-victory-of-barack-obama-and-the-defeat-of-grumpy-old/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [President Barack Obama is a doer. And we in America will do big things with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hunt/president-barack-obama-is-a-doer-and-we-in-america-will-do-big-things/) [Jim Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hunt/) > [“Been living on this earth for so long now and still don't know what a happy life feels like. I'm ready for a change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-anthony-burkett/been-living-on-this-earth-for-so-long-now-and-still-don-t-know-what-a/) [Jonathan Anthony Burkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-anthony-burkett/) > [“Attacking a lightning rod doesn't make you lightning..." Regarding Barack Obama”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-rafael-cimino/attacking-a-lightning-rod-doesn-t-make-you-lightning-regarding-barack/) [T. Rafael Cimino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-rafael-cimino/) > [Tell me why the limousine fleet has increased by 42 percent since Barack Obama took office. Why are we spending taxpayers' money on that?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-neumann/tell-me-why-the-limousine-fleet-has-increased-by-42-percent-since/) [Mark Neumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-neumann/) > [Trudeau, like President Barack Obama, is a champion of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/trudeau-like-president-barack-obama-is-a-champion-of-change/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [There is the bipartisan pretense that the FBI is the only government agency in Washington that is above reproach. Yet, this is the agency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-fitton/there-is-the-bipartisan-pretense-that-the-fbi-is-the-only-government/) [Tom Fitton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-fitton/) > [Income inequality has gotten worse under President Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/income-inequality-has-gotten-worse-under-president-barack-obama/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [For even the most seasoned observers of American politics, Barack Obama is a phenomenon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lammy/for-even-the-most-seasoned-observers-of-american-politics-barack/) [David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/) > [When Caroline Kennedy endorsed Barack Obama in 2008 as her father's rightful heir, she laid upon him the mantle of Camelot and the enduring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-kelley/when-caroline-kennedy-endorsed-barack-obama-in-2008-as-her-father-s/) [Kitty Kelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-kelley/) Browse all 363 Barack obama quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Barack Obama destroyed the middle class. 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