Both Obama and Romney ended up in the wrong place: the former thought American exceptionalism was no longer true and should be given up while the latter thought it was still true. Neither was willing to tell Americans that they were no longer exceptional but should try to be again. George Packer
About This Quote

After the election, there were many people who felt that America no longer deserved to be proud of itself. They felt that we had become a mediocre country and that we wanted to be like other countries where people were just as mediocre. They thought that we should give up on our past and start to assimilate into the rest of the world, where everyone was just as mediocre. A few years ago, Obama said that American exceptionalism was no longer true. Now Romney believes it is still true, but he refuses to tell Americans that they are no longer exceptional.

Source: The Unwinding: An Inner History Of The New America

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