“The people have spoken…and they must be punished”
New York City Mayor Ed Koch (1924-2013) lost the 1989 Democratic primary to David Dinkins. Many people didn’t like Dinkins as mayor; wherever Koch appeared, people would ask if he’d run again. In February 1992,
magazine recorded a stock Ed Koch jest:
“The people threw me out. And now the people must be punished.”
The line is frequently given as “The people have spoken…and they must be punished.”
“The people have spoken—the bastards!” is a similar political saying.
Wikipedia: Ed Koch
Edward Irving “Ed” Koch (/ˈkɒtʃ/; December 12, 1924 – February 1, 2013) was an American lawyer, politician, political commentator, movie critic and reality television arbitrator. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1969 to 1977 and three terms as mayor of New York City, which he led from fiscal insolvency to economic boom from 1978 to 1989
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(On the occasion of his primary loss to David Dinkins) “The people have spoken…and they must be punished.”
Google Books
24 February 1992, New York magazine, pg. 23:
The ex-mayor didn’t miss a beat, says the insider. “The people threw me out,” Koch shot back. “And now the people must be punished.”
“It’s completely in jest,” says Koch about his stock answer for the frequent request. “Invariably, their response is, ‘We’ve been punished, but for how long?’”
17 May 1992, Newsday, “Inside New York” by By Anthony Scaduto, Doug Vaughan and Linda Stasi, Pg. 11:
Koch said he wouldn’t run for mayor again because, “The people threw me out and now they must be punished.” We’ve heard that before.
New York (NY) Times
The Phenomenon Walks
By A. M. ROSENTHAL
Published: February 04, 1997
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But Mr. Koch follows the same advice about running for office after defeat: Don’t. Everywhere people urge him to run again. ‘‘No,’’ says he sternly. ‘‘The people threw me out. Now they must be punished.’‘
New York (NY) Times—City Room
December 13, 2010, 9:11 am
Koch Is Better, but Subway Delays Are Worse
By MICHAEL GRYNBAUM
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17. December 13, 2010
8:05 pm
I love Mayor Koch! I have fond memories of callers to his talk show, after he’d been turned out of office, and we were ruined by David Dinkins. Callers would decry the fact that he’d been defeated, and he’d reply ” The people have spoken, and now they must be punished!” He is one of a kind. Stay healthy, Mr. Mayor!
— Rich
AEIdeas (American Enterprise Institute)
The people have spoken … and they must be punished
Marc Thiessen | November 7, 2012, 3:19 pm
After he was defeated for re-election in 1989, New York Mayor Ed Koch was asked if he would ever run for office again. “No,” Koch replied. “The people have spoken … and they must be punished.”
Well, it’s November 2012, and the people have spoken. Here’s how they will be punished.
New York (NY) Times
2/1/2013 at 09:10 AM
The Quotable Ed Koch: Wit, Wisdom, and One-Liners
By Joe Coscarelli
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“The People have spoken … and they must be punished.” [via Daily Beast]