the hands-on approach

One of the ways Hillary Clinton attacks Barack Obama is by claiming, 'I'm a doer, not a talker.'

In his piece on Obama, the travel writer Jonathan Raban says this line has its provenance in a speech by the First Murderer in Richard 111.

Richard tells the First Murderer 'to be sudden in the execution' of his brother Clarence. He wants to ensure that no 'well-spoken' words from Clarence move the two murderers' hearts to pity.

The First Murderer replies:

'Tut, tut, my lord! We will not stand to prate;
Talkers are no good doers. Be assured:
We go to use our hands, and not our tongues.'

1.iii.349-51