Zachary Taylor Quotes

I'm surprised that we've gotten to a point where we don't put our country first and put our party first.

Nobody who ever runs for President should be the leader of a party.

No partisan political activity transpired in my office during the recount period.

The most biased people are the Democrats.

I do not understand those who divide political life from the point of view of political parties.

Although... the Chief Magistrate must almost of necessity be chosen by a party and stand pledged to its principles and measures, yet in his official action he should not be the President of a party only, but of the whole people of the United States.

If a political party becomes a sectarian party, that is a problem…. Dividing the country along religious lines is just not worth any possible benefit.

Important issues do not always split along party lines.

The people who vote in the primaries are at the ideological edge of their party.

People don't vote parties. They vote individuals.

The main question that is decided by an election in our country is, which political party shall have the privilege of dispensing the offices of Government?

Our two-party system has served us well over the years, but never better than in those times of great challenge when we came together not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans united in a common cause.

I’m against parties. Take the party designations from the ballot and make politicians run on their names only.

As far as party primaries are concerned, both Republican and Democratic Party primaries are dominated by the most zealous voters, whose views may not reflect the views of most members of their own respective parties, much less the views of those who are going to vote in the November general election. In recent times, each election year has seen each party's nominee selected - or at least subject to veto - by its most extreme wing and then forced to try to move back to the center before the general election. This can only undermine the public's confidence in the integrity of the candidates of both parties.

If there is one good thing I can say about the Republicans, it is that they are generally better than Democrats at putting the interests of their party above the interests of any one of its members.

I've never been a fan of party politics.

Were parties here divided merely by a greediness for office,...to take a part with either would be unworthy of a reasonable or moral man.

As much as I cherish your [McCarthy's] right to a platform as an independent candidate I am not going to sit here quietly and listen to you denigrate the two party system. It has served our country well over the last two hundred years.

I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the state, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party, generally.

I agree with George Washington's concern about parties: They become an end in themselves, rather than being committed to helping people improve their lives.

Republicans, Weed Out Your Progressives

It is important not to confuse the national spirit with that of the faction which presently dominates…

I've been a Democrat, I've been a Republican, and I eventually became an independent because I don't believe either party has a monopoly on good ideas or strong leadership.

Like many of my fellow millennials, I do not consider myself categorically Republican or Democrat. More than party affiliation, I vote on based on what I believe is right, for my family and for my country. Sometimes it's a tough choice.

I don't really think it's appropriate for me to be picking and choosing in the primaries. It's pretty dumb politics for a Republican to choose between Republicans in a contested primary because obviously you're going to be offending some people.