Rob Portman Quotes

Powerful Rob Portman for Daily Growth

About Rob Portman

Rob Portman, born Robert Jones Portman on January 19, 1955, in Cincinnati, Ohio, is an accomplished American politician, lawyer, and former U.S. diplomat, currently serving as the senior United States Senator from Ohio since 2011. Born to a family with deep political roots, Portman's father, Bill Portman, was a congressman and his grandfather, Donald J. McConnell, served as an Ohio state senator. This political background significantly influenced Portman's career choice. He attended Boston University and the University of Michigan Law School before embarking on a legal career in Cincinnati. Portman's political journey began in 1984 when he was elected to the Ohio State Senate, where he served until 1993. In 1995, Portman joined George H. W. Bush's administration as U.S. Trade Representative and later as Director of Office of Management and Budget under President George W. Bush from 2006 to 2007. In 2005, Portman was appointed United States Trade Representative by President George W. Bush, a role he held until 2007 when he became the Director of Office of Management and Budget. His tenure in these roles saw significant advancements in international trade agreements such as the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) and the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS). Returning to Ohio, Portman was elected as the 50th Governor of Ohio in 2010. He held this position until his resignation in January 2011 to run for the Senate seat left vacant by the retiring George Voinovich. Portman won the election and has been serving since then. Throughout his political career, Portman has been recognized for his bipartisan efforts, particularly in addressing fiscal responsibility and national security issues. His major works include advocating for balanced budgets, promoting free trade agreements, and supporting the National Defense Authorization Act.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"We have a responsibility to our country and our constituents to come together and find solutions."

This quote by Rob Portman highlights the need for unity, cooperation, and problem-solving within the political sphere. By emphasizing "coming together" and "finding solutions," he underscores the importance of setting aside partisan differences to address national issues effectively. The responsibility mentioned here is a shared obligation between politicians and their constituents to work collaboratively towards the betterment of the country. This quote encourages a bipartisan approach, promoting productive dialogue and cooperation for the greater good.


"I'm not a career politician. I've always wanted to make a difference in the private sector, and then as a public servant."

Rob Portman, in this quote, emphasizes that he is not solely motivated by politics or the prospect of a lifelong political career but rather by the desire to contribute positively, first in the private sector and later in public service. This indicates a strong focus on practical problem-solving and the belief that one can make a more substantial impact by combining experience from both the private and public sectors.


"If you have a good idea, it doesn't matter if it comes from the left or the right, we should pursue it together for the American people."

This quote emphasizes the importance of bi-partisanship, where ideas are valued regardless of their origin - be it left (liberal) or right (conservative). The goal is to work collaboratively towards what's best for the American people by pursuing good ideas, not ideologies. It suggests a unifying approach to policy-making, promoting unity and progress over partisan division.


"The American dream is still possible, but it is slipping away for too many families because Washington isn't working like it should."

The quote highlights the concern that the attainment of the "American Dream" – a common ideal representing the belief that any individual, regardless of their background, can achieve success and prosperity through hard work and determination – is becoming increasingly elusive for many families due to ineffective governance at the federal level. This implies dissatisfaction with the current political system's ability to address critical issues like economic mobility, affordable education, and equitable opportunities that enable individuals to build better lives for themselves and their families.


"We can have a strong defense and be fiscally responsible at the same time."

This quote by Rob Portman emphasizes that it is possible to maintain a robust national defense while also being financially prudent, meaning the government should not overspend or accumulate unsustainable debt. The implication is that efficient resource allocation can achieve both objectives: ensuring military strength and preserving fiscal health. It's an invitation for policymakers to find ways to balance these priorities responsibly.


Having deinstitutionalized mental health, we have not created the structure and the institutions to take care of people, to identify when there is a mental health problem, and to get the treatment to people.

- Rob Portman

Treatment, Having, Identify, Institutions

When you analyze all the data, there is a warming trend according to science. But the jury is out on the degree of how much is manmade.

- Rob Portman

Data, Jury, Trend, Manmade

Out of college, I had two job offers. One was to be a canoe instructor for Outward Bound. And frankly, that would have paid better than the job I took, working on a policy commission in Washington that focused on immigration policy and refugees. But that decision made all the difference.

- Rob Portman

College, Had, Refugees, Canoe

President Obama likes to talk about the Buffett Rule. Well, here's a Buffett Rule that all Americans should be able to support: mom and pop businesses should not pay a higher tax rate than Fortune 500 corporations like Warren Buffett's.

- Rob Portman

Here, All Americans, Obama, Tax Rate

What I support is a whole different approach with regard to drug use, and that is spending less money on the prosecution and incarceration side and more money on prevention and education, which I know works.

- Rob Portman

Education, Side, Which, Prosecution

We need a broader party. If we're not doing better with millennials and women and Hispanics, African Americans, Asian Americans and others, we will have a tough time being a majority party at the national level.

- Rob Portman

Doing, African Americans, Hispanics

Trump is going to be the change agent. Hillary Clinton is going to be the status quo. Bernie Sanders is not going to be in the mix.

- Rob Portman

Going, Trump, Agent, Status Quo

My dad did everything he could. It was a start-up, and the banks didn't want to lend him enough money, so he mortgaged our house.

- Rob Portman

Could, Banks, Dad, Enough Money

When it is fair, American workers can compete and win. I cannot support the TPP in its current form because it doesn't provide that level playing field.

- Rob Portman

American, Compete, Level, Level Playing Field

We want more of our products going overseas, but the trick is to have a level playing field.

- Rob Portman

Field, Level, Going, Level Playing Field

When you tax capital gains income, you don't help the economy, you hurt the economy, which is why President Kennedy, President Reagan, President Clinton and President Bush all believed we should have a lower rate for capital gains.

- Rob Portman

Income, Capital, Reagan, President Kennedy

Our country needs people who are maybe a little less focused on themselves and on the flash and a little more focused on how do we actually create a better environment for success for our young people, how do we get people back to work, how do we regain our standing internationally.

- Rob Portman

Young, Country, Maybe, Internationally

Instead of focusing on growing jobs and reigniting our economy, President Obama focused on growing government and tried to remake the United States into the image of the debt-laden countries of Europe. His approach has been more spending, more regulation, and higher taxes.

- Rob Portman

United, Been, Obama, Remake

People vote for the president, not the vice president. I think sometimes people that are in the veepstakes talk too much about this and certainly the media does. I don't think that it's that important.

- Rob Portman

Think, Vice, Certainly, Vice President

We should not approve an agreement that fails to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and does nothing to address Iranian behavior that threatens our allies and our interests.

- Rob Portman

Agreement, Address, Iranian, Threatens

What we need is fundamental tax reform.

- Rob Portman

Need, Reform, Fundamental, Tax Reform

I may sound naive, since everyone's decided the next two years are going to be all about 2016, but I look at what's happened over the years when there's been divided government. That's when we've done tax reform, that's when we've done entitlement reform - to move this economy forward on these big issues.

- Rob Portman

Big, Next, Been, Tax Reform

The broad goal, laid out by Congress, the Obama administration, and the U.N. Security Council, was that Iran would suspend all enrichment-related activities and not be permitted a path to ever pursue a nuclear weapons program.

- Rob Portman

Congress, Administration, Permitted

Senator Brown and I have different philosophies as represented in our different ratings: I am a conservative, and he is a liberal.

- Rob Portman

Conservative, Brown, Am, Ratings

We need to do a much better job when people are addicted to take them through treatment and recovery.

- Rob Portman

Through, Addicted, Treatment, Better Job

The way to an American economic comeback, the way to help those out of work today find a paycheck, is to unleash the forces of job creation in America. The source of new jobs isn't going to be the bureaucracies of Washington, but rather the creativity, ingenuity, and hard work of the American people.

- Rob Portman

American, Rather, New Jobs, Comeback

You could have another downgrade. You could certainly have a stock market reaction that would be negative. And, I think nobody who looks at it objectively would want to happen.

- Rob Portman

Think, Happen, Certainly, Objectively

I have come to believe that if two people are prepared to make a lifetime commitment to love and care for each other in good times and in bad, the government shouldn't deny them the opportunity to get married.

- Rob Portman

Love, Bad, Other, Get Married

This past year has been very turbulent for the Middle East, and my conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu strengthened my belief that we need to remain vigilant in our support of our critical ally.

- Rob Portman

Been, Prime, Very, Turbulent

The Obama administration has refused to back down on the insurance mandate that needlessly pits health care against the rights of the religious... This administration simply doesn't get it.

- Rob Portman

Insurance, Religious, This Administration

No one should discriminate.

- Rob Portman

Should, Discriminate

All of our sons and daughters ought to have the same opportunity to experience the joy and stability of marriage.

- Rob Portman

Same, Daughters, Sons, Stability

At the end of the day, all the best negotiating techniques can't overcome the most substantive policy differences.

- Rob Portman

Best, Differences, Overcome, Negotiating

My concern about Barack Obama is he ran a campaign in 2008 where he said we're going to bring people together and solve big problems. And he specifically talked about the need to reach across the aisle and deal with issues like the economy, which was obviously the top issue in 2008. It has not happened.

- Rob Portman

Reach, Big, Deal, Ran

I'm on the Armed Services Committee, which gives me the opportunity to get involved on some of these international issues. My focus is, as you know, on the economic issues and budget issues.

- Rob Portman

Committee, Some, Which, International

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