Tom Coburn Quotes About Politics

Quotes about: Politics

• Statesmen exhibit five key commitments: 1) A commitment to principles above politics; 2) An ability to compromise without abandoning principle; 3) A commitment to truth over spin; 4) A commitment to courage over cowardice; and 5) A commitment, or willingness, to give up power.

  Tom Coburn

  Giving Up, Commitment, Keys

• Careerism: the self-centered philosophy of governing to win the next election above all else.

  Tom Coburn

  Philosophy, Winning, Self

  Senator Tom Coburn, John Hart (2013). “Breach of Trust: How Washington Turns Outsiders Into Insiders”, p.19, Thomas Nelson Inc

• People that had the guts to put their loyalty to the Constitution ahead of their loyalty to their political party were citizen legislators.

  Tom Coburn

  Loyalty, Party, People

• I still believe that term limits is the best way to ensure that the next generation, not the next election, is the central concern in our elected bodies.

  Tom Coburn

  Believe, Political, Limits

• The career politicians in Washington had transformed a government "for the people" into a government for themselves and for special interests.

  Tom Coburn

  Careers, Government, People

  Senator Tom Coburn, John Hart (2013). “Breach of Trust: How Washington Turns Outsiders Into Insiders”, p.21, Thomas Nelson

• The founding fathers never once rationalized getting in power and having control so they could stay in power.

  Tom Coburn

  Father, Political, Term Limits

• Careerism in Washington "goes to the heart of what's wrong in America right now."

  Tom Coburn

  Heart, America, Political

  Senator Tom Coburn, John Hart (2013). “Breach of Trust: How Washington Turns Outsiders Into Insiders”, p.10, Thomas Nelson Inc

• The voting records of virtually every member of Congress reveal that the oath of office is more a ceremonial gesture than a sacred commitment.

  Tom Coburn

  Commitment, Oath Of Office, Political

  Senator Tom Coburn, John Hart (2013). “Breach of Trust: How Washington Turns Outsiders Into Insiders”, p.19, Thomas Nelson Inc

• Few things infuse a member of Congress with more courage than self-imposed term limits or an imminent retirement. The issues they choose to focus on in their final months say a great deal about what are really the most important issues in the country.

  Tom Coburn

  Country, Retirement, Issues

  Senator Tom Coburn, John Hart (2013). “Breach of Trust: How Washington Turns Outsiders Into Insiders”, p.208, Thomas Nelson Inc

• When I came to Washington, I was troubled to observe so many similarities between the behaviors of drug-addicted patients and my political colleagues. In Washington power is like morphine.

  Tom Coburn

  Political, Drug, Term Limits

  Senator Tom Coburn, John Hart (2013). “Breach of Trust: How Washington Turns Outsiders Into Insiders”, p.32, Thomas Nelson Inc

• I would like to believe I would not have behaved differently had I not made a term limits pledge, but my own frailties and human desire for prestige and position tell me my term limits pledge did make a difference in how I approached my job in Congress.

  Tom Coburn

  Jobs, Believe, Differences

  Senator Tom Coburn, John Hart (2013). “Breach of Trust: How Washington Turns Outsiders Into Insiders”, p.209, Thomas Nelson Inc

• It is easy to see how after receiving this adoration for a term or two most members become convinced they are indispensable.

  Tom Coburn

  Two, Political, Receiving

  Senator Tom Coburn, John Hart (2013). “Breach of Trust: How Washington Turns Outsiders Into Insiders”, p.33, Thomas Nelson Inc

• The longer a politician bears power, the more he is controlled by that power.

  Tom Coburn

  Political, Term Limits, Politics

  Senator Tom Coburn, John Hart (2013). “Breach of Trust: How Washington Turns Outsiders Into Insiders”, p.213, Thomas Nelson Inc

• Career politicians do not have the courage to prioritize spending and say no to demanding special interest groups who do not reflect the best interests of the country.

  Tom Coburn

  Country, Careers, Political

• The traits in career politicians the public detests most are produced when ego triumphs over principle.

  Tom Coburn

  Careers, Political, Ego

• What makes this mentality dangerous is that when the team is held together by careerism and mindless partisanship, individual members are punished for thinking for themselves.

  Tom Coburn

  Team, Thinking, Political

  Senator Tom Coburn, John Hart (2013). “Breach of Trust: How Washington Turns Outsiders Into Insiders”, p.79, Thomas Nelson Inc

• We can achieve much greater representation through term-limited members.

  Tom Coburn

  Political, Term Limits, Politics

  Senator Tom Coburn, John Hart (2013). “Breach of Trust: How Washington Turns Outsiders Into Insiders”, p.218, Thomas Nelson Inc

• Tactics and strategies ought to be based on what the real world is, and we do not have the political power to do this. We're not about to shut the government down over the fact that we cannot, only controlling one house of Congress, tell the president that we're not going to fund any portion of [Obamacare]. Because we can't do that.

  Tom Coburn

  Leadership, Money, Real

  "Tom Coburn Says Republicans Pushing To Defund Obamacare Are Not Based In The ‘Real World’". www.huffingtonpost.com. September 22, 2013.

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