Finally, the president added, 'The American people are idealists, but they also want their leaders to be realistic...

Bob Woodward
About This Quote

Finally, the president added, 'The American people are idealists, but they also want their leaders to be realistic.' The phrase "idealists vs. realists" is one of the most common political debates today. These debates can be pretty heated and very contentious. Many people get angry when they hear these words uttered, even though nobody wants bad leaders or bad policies.

The point of all this is that we don't want leaders who think the American people are simply idealists and must be deterred from ever complaining about policy and foreign affairs. We want leaders who will listen to our complaints and take them seriously while also trying to understand our concerns and how best we can solve problems.

Source: Obamas Wars

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