Kennedy argues that the need to win re-election can limit the willingness of politicians to act independently. Elected officials may believe that a particular course is right while also recognising that supporting it could anger voters, weaken party backing or damage their prospects of remaining in office. The electoral system therefore creates an incentive to avoid positions that carry substantial political risk.

In Profiles in Courage, this tension is central to Kennedy’s account of political courage. He does not suggest that concern for re-election is inherently improper, since representatives are expected to remain responsive to the public. His point is that the desire to retain office can sometimes conflict with personal judgement and conscience. The quotation highlights the difficulty of distinguishing responsible responsiveness from political caution, and explains why acts of genuine independence may be relatively uncommon in representative government.