Tom Perez Quotes

Powerful Tom Perez for Daily Growth

About Tom Perez

Tom Perez is an influential American politician, lawyer, and former labor union leader, born on July 28, 1962, in Buffalo, New York. He is most notably recognized as the Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) since February 2017. Perez's journey to political prominence was marked by a strong commitment to public service and social justice. After graduating with a Bachelor's degree from Brown University, he earned a law degree from Harvard Law School. Post-graduation, Perez worked as an attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice under President Bill Clinton. In 1994, Perez joined the Department of Labor and served as the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Civil Rights during the second term of President Clinton. Later, he served as Secretary of Labor under President Barack Obama from 2013 to 2017. His tenure was marked by efforts to strengthen worker protections and promote labor rights. In 2016, Perez ran for the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee but lost to Keith Ellison. However, following the resignation of Debbie Wasserman Schultz, he was elected as the DNC Chair in February 2017. As the DNC Chair, Perez has been instrumental in organizing and mobilizing Democrats for key elections, including the 2018 midterm elections and the 2020 presidential election. Throughout his career, Tom Perez has demonstrated a deep commitment to social justice, workers' rights, and the democratic process. His influential works include "Making Justice: How Labor Laws Impact American Families" (2014), co-authored with Jonathan Blanks, which explores the impact of labor laws on families in America. Perez continues to be a powerful voice for progressive change in American politics.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"We can't just talk about hope; we have to be agents of hope."

This quote emphasizes that talking about hope isn't enough; it's crucial to actively embody and foster hope in our actions. It encourages individuals to not only discuss the desire for positive change but also to work towards realizing it, thus becoming 'agents' or instruments of hope. Essentially, this quote calls upon us to be proactive in creating a more optimistic future.


"The role of government is to protect our most vulnerable citizens and provide every American with a fair shot at the American Dream."

Tom Perez's quote suggests that the primary function of government should be twofold: (1) to safeguard the rights, welfare, and well-being of society's most vulnerable members, such as children, elderly, or disadvantaged individuals; and (2) to create an equitable environment for all Americans by offering fair opportunities to pursue their dreams, often symbolized by "the American Dream." Essentially, Perez envisions a government that fosters both social justice and economic mobility, ensuring the prosperity of its citizens regardless of background or circumstance.


"Democrats don't just show up when it's time to vote. We fight for justice, fairness, and opportunity every single day."

This quote emphasizes that Democrats actively engage in promoting justice, fairness, and opportunities beyond just voting. They strive to make a positive impact on society daily, not only during elections but also through their actions, advocacy, and policies. It signifies a commitment to continuous, unwavering efforts towards social equality and progress.


"The best way to shut down hate speech is not more hate speech, but more love speech."

This quote emphasizes the importance of addressing hate speech with compassion and understanding rather than retaliation or further incitement of hostility. By responding with "love speech" – positive, empathetic, and inclusive communication – we can effectively challenge and counteract hate speech in a constructive manner, fostering unity and respect among individuals from diverse backgrounds.


"We must strive to be a party that fights for dignity, for the value of work, for fairness in the economy, for good schools for our kids, and for affordable health care for all."

Tom Perez's quote emphasizes a commitment to a political party that champions causes promoting dignity, economic justice, education, and universal healthcare access. This implies a focus on uplifting the downtrodden, advocating for fair labor practices, investing in quality education for future generations, and ensuring everyone has affordable healthcare as fundamental human rights. Overall, it highlights a vision of a society that prioritizes social equality and economic well-being for all its citizens.


Donald Trump has shown no interest in working toward increasing the minimum wage, no interest in doing anything but immigrant baiting, no interest in doing anything but filling the swamp with a band of billionaires who are simply trying to help the wealthy.

- Tom Perez

Doing, Trump, Donald, Filling

Every president since Nixon has embraced a policy of 'self-determination without termination' - the idea that Native Americans are best equipped to govern themselves. Trump is breaking with this position.

- Tom Perez

Trump, Termination, Nixon, Native Americans

Responding to a natural disaster is a complex problem.

- Tom Perez

Problem, Natural Disaster, Responding

I was in the U.K. and Germany and went to Volkswagen and learned about their apprenticeship model - young people become paid apprentices in trades. It's not a coincidence that youth unemployment is far lower in Germany than the United States because there are paid opportunities for young people to get experience.

- Tom Perez

Young, United, Germany, Trades

The Democratic Party has learned from the terrible mistakes of the past. Our platform requires that we honor, fulfill, and strengthen the federal government's trust responsibility to American Indians. We take this responsibility seriously.

- Tom Perez

Trust, Fulfill, Learned, American Indians

Frankly, what we need to be looking at is whether this election was rigged by Donald Trump and his buddy Vladimir Putin.

- Tom Perez

Election, Trump, Donald, Putin

I am proud of our diversity, and when you attack the federal workforce, you are having significant impact on women - many of whom are single moms working to support their family - and you're having a significant impact on communities of color.

- Tom Perez

Diversity, Color, Our, Workforce

I remember a good friend of mine whose father worked at Bethlehem Steel for 40 years with just a high school degree. That was a remarkable pathway to prosperity that sustained generations of working families.

- Tom Perez

Father, Steel, I Remember, Good Friend

As long as we're united, and as long as we continue to organize, invest, and lead with our values, we'll be unstoppable.

- Tom Perez

Continue, United, Invest, Organize

When you recruit good candidates and you have a good message and you have energy and organization and partnership, you always have a fighting chance.

- Tom Perez

Chance, Always, Candidates, Recruit

Growing up in Buffalo, I saw shuttered factories that once housed thousands of steel manufacturing jobs. I remember the hollowing-out of the middle class in our community. I witnessed hope turn to hardship as a once-thriving city reckoned with a fast-changing world.

- Tom Perez

City, Steel, I Remember, Manufacturing

We're the party that has fought for Medicare. We're the party that has fought for Social Security. The Republicans have tried to privatize Social Security and voucherize Medicare.

- Tom Perez

Security, Tried, Social, Medicare

Our message of opportunity and inclusion is, I think, a very powerful message that does indeed speak to Americans, but we've got to do a better job of listening.

- Tom Perez

Listening, Think, Very, Better Job

Joe Arpaio built a wall. His was a wall of distrust, and when you don't have the trust of the community, you don't have anything. He claimed to be a law-and-order sheriff, but he was really lawlessness and disorder.

- Tom Perez

Trust, Joe, Built, Sheriff

You're more likely to see someone fatally struck by lightning than witness a case of in-person voter fraud.

- Tom Perez

Lightning, More, Likely, Struck

Sometimes you have to push the envelope in pursuit of the right thing.

- Tom Perez

Sometimes, Pursuit, Envelope

If you're going to be a big tent party as we are, and you're going to help elect democrats who have generated support in their communities... the will of those voters is the will that we must respect.

- Tom Perez

Big, Tent, Going, Communities

Budgets are moral documents. They reflect the values of any government and when you're compromising clean air, clean water, and lead, you're making a statement about communities you don't care about.

- Tom Perez

Values, Clean Water, Making, Communities

I've said that we need to elect Democrats from the school board to the Senate.

- Tom Perez

School, Need, School Board, Board

Donald Trump is anathema to America.

- Tom Perez

Donald Trump, Trump, Donald, Anathema

When my grandchildren ask, 'Where were you when Donald Trump took a sledgehammer to Lady Liberty?' I want to make sure I can tell them I was there protecting America.

- Tom Perez

Protecting, Took, Donald, None

Donald Trump is a fraud. Listening to him talk about how he's going to put American first again, he's spent his entire career putting his own profits first.

- Tom Perez

Listening, Profits, Donald, None

The Democratic Party and DNC have to be a very conspicuous face of the opposition to Donald Trump and all his divisiveness. At the same time, we have to communicate our, I think, positive and inclusive message to everyone.

- Tom Perez

Trump, Very, Donald, None

Our message has been muddled, especially in 2016. Voters in Ohio heard from Trump, 'I'm going to save your coal jobs.' And while that was a lie, what it told them is, 'I'm going to feel your pain.' What they heard from the Democratic side was, 'Vote for us because Donald Trump is crazy.'

- Tom Perez

Been, Trump, Donald, None

I happen to think Donald Trump is crazy, but that's not an economic message.

- Tom Perez

Think, Happen, Donald, None

Donald Trump, you don't stand for our values.

- Tom Perez

Values, Trump, Donald, None

If Donald Trump wants to raise the minimum wage to $15, yes, I will work with Donald Trump.

- Tom Perez

Will, Trump, Donald, None

If Donald Trump wants to acknowledge that we have a pay gap for women and we need to address it, I would work with Donald Trump.

- Tom Perez

Trump, Address, Donald, None

If Donald Trump wants to pass comprehensive immigration reform, I will work with Donald Trump.

- Tom Perez

Immigration Reform, Donald, None

The Republican playbook is voter suppression.

- Tom Perez

Republican, Voter, Suppression

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