Barack Quote by Tom Coburn
“My relationship with Barack Obama isn't based on my political philosophy or his.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Senate Hearing, 2009
Personal relationships with leaders are based on shared values, not just political agreement.
In simple terms: Friendship isn’t about politics.
Key Takeaway
Seek common ground beyond politics.
Themes
politics
relationships
values
leadership
Mood
thoughtful
hopeful
Type
political
reflective
When to use this quote
- policy negotiation
- community building
- public speaking
- networking
Key Concepts
bipartisan dialogue
personal rapport
Questions to Reflect On
- What values unite you with those you disagree with?
- How can you maintain respect despite policy clashes?
A Different Perspective
Differences can still cause tension.
![“If I'm not mistaken, that relationship [of Barack Obama] with Mr.[Bill] Ayers on this board continued after 9/11 and after his reported comments, which were deeply hurtful to people in New York and, I would hope, to every American, because they were published on 9/11, and he said that he was just…” quote by Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/13e/hillary-clinton-51_barack_if-i-m-not-mistaken-that-relationship-of_2613469.jpg)
![“People of Haiti, I am the heir to the political philosophy, the doctrine and the revolution which my late father incarnated as president-for-life [and] I have decided to continue his work with the same fierce energy and the same intransigence.” quote by Jean-Claude Duvalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0d4/jean-claude-duvalier-45337_decided_people-of-haiti-i-am-the-heir-to-the-pol_50097.jpg)
![“I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect [Donald Trump], or then-president [Barack Obama]. But it's - I'm very clear. I voted for the change that put the Army Field Manual in place as a member of Congress. I understand that law very, very quickly and am also deeply aware…” quote by James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/761/james-mattis-9515_army_i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-th_3990.jpg)
![“The president [Barack Obama] asked for a commitment of, I think, 100,000 jobs for veterans and military spouses over the next couple of years. And we announced during the tour last week that we have gotten more than 60,000 jobs, and we're well on our way to just crashing that goal out of the…” quote by Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/83d/michelle-obama-518_barack_the-president-barack-obama-asked-for-a-c_15651.jpg)
![“I think the president's [Barack Obama] position has been very clear on Syria. He wants more aggressive, he's put the Special Ops on the ground, in fact one of the Republican criticisms is he's got thousands of Americans there. We just don't call them troops on the ground, we don't admit to it. But…” quote by Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f9c/juan-williams-7909_aggressive_i-think-the-president-s-barack-obama-pos_17086.jpg)
![“It cannot be an American fight. And I think what the president [Barack Obama] has consistently said - which I agree with - is that we will support those who take the fight to ISIS. That is why we have troops in Iraq that are helping to train and build back up the Iraqi military, why we have…” quote by Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f1e/hillary-clinton-51_agree_it-cannot-be-an-american-fight-and-i-thi_19737.jpg)
![“It wasn't [Barack] Obama per se; it was the feeling on the ground; it was seeing an old black woman in a wheelchair being wheeled by her son waving a big American flag, and then seeing a guy with his baby in his arms saying, "I didn't want her to miss tonight! I wanted to be able to tell her!" And…” quote by Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/806/bill-ayers-1848_able_it-wasn-t-barack-obama-per-se-it-was-the_20409.jpg)
