'While they complain about candidates pandering to special-interest groups, 217 years of this republic have shown that deep down people want candidates who strive to be all things to all men. People say they want office-seekers who are candid, frank, straightforward, genuine, who tell the truth even when it hurts. Who are on the up-and-up, guileless, unartful, undesigning, unequivocal. But nobody has won running on that platform, including Lincoln, FDR and Reagan, and you will be no exception. Voters elect only candidates who are deceptive, duplicitous, bluffers, cunning, crafty and Machiavellian. That's because voters want politicians like themselves. The media agrees. So why are you out of step? Thus, you've botched your campaign. You're going to lose by a landslide. I accuse you of being politically pure, clean, pristine, impeccable and untarnished. Your very presence embarrasses the system because you don't play by the historic rules.' - Thomas Roeser to Keyes in the Chicago Sun Times.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The quote argues that voters prefer deceptive politicians, suggesting that honesty is politically disadvantageous and predicting electoral loss for the speaker.
- In plain terms
- Voters want deceptive politicians; honesty leads to loss.
- What can you take from it?
- Political success often relies on strategic image management rather than pure honesty.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is honesty truly a disadvantage in politics?
- How can candidates balance integrity with electability?
Another view
The claim generalizes voter behavior and may overlook exceptions.
More from Alan Keyes
On all the matters that touch upon the critical moral issues, Arnold Schwarzenegger is on the evil side. This is a fact. A mere list of the positions he suppor…
Permalink to quote #51 The first principle of a Keyes administration, it will apply in foreign policy, it will apply in domestic policy, it will apply everywhere. There is a God, and…
Permalink to quote #50 'A Keyes speech on the moral erosion of America is one of those transcendent experiences where you just have to be there. It's hard to explain how he touches t…
Permalink to quote #49
Related quotes
This memorandum addresses the matter of how we can maximize the fact of our incumbency in dealing with persons known to be active in their opposition to our Ad…
John DeanJohn Dean quote #3 Surely these are sufficient reasons to make it clear to the American people that it is time for a change and that a Republican victory is necessary to the secu…
Margaret Chase SmithMargaret Chase Smith quote #9 So the next thing I assume I'll be hearing from Republicans, they want to change rules some way, as they do on the House when you get a problem with ethics, th…
Harry ReidHarry Reid quote #16