A mentor of mine in the banking industry used to advise me to listen both to what is said and what is not said. Applying that philosophy to the Robert Gibbs interview on Meet the Press today reveals some interesting possibilities.
Gibbs was asked if the Obama campaign was afraid of a Bachmann campaign, as Bachmann opined in a recent speech. Gibbs replied with a description of all the tall tales being told by Rick Perry. What wasn’t said? By not even using Bachmann’s name in the reply, Gibbs told you that Obama has no fear of Bachmann, but he is concerned about Rick Perry. If you listen carefully to the rest of the interview you will see that Gibbs, who is on the show to deliver Obama’s message, told you who Obama is building a case against—Perry and Romney.
On the same show, Governor Mitch Daniels was asked if he would work to get any of the current candidates elected. His reply was that he would work for the eventual nominee. What wasn’t said? Daniels is hoping that someone else will enter the race, and he will gladly work for that unknown candidate. Later in the interview, Mitch Daniels didn’t say that Paul Ryan should run, but it is clear that Daniels was sending a message to Ryan—we’re behind you, get in the race.
In political training camps this is called the Pivot. When asked a question, candidates are told to stay on message and say what they came to say. I’m a horrible candidate. When asked a question I try to answer the question to the best of my ability. You’ve heard me say that Bachmann is a better candidate than I am because she stays on message. That doesn’t mean that I believe she’d be a better President, just that she follows the rules of a good campaign.
Quite a few people have asked me recently if I am considering another run for office. I keep saying no. But I’ll tell you that it won’t sit well with me if not one Democrat is willing to stand up to run for the two open county commissioner seats or the two Colorado House seats in 2012. Is it possible to be a bad candidate in four races at once?
Homework
The Hill Story About Bachmann's Claim
Staying on Message Advice for the Job Seeker
Gibbs was asked if the Obama campaign was afraid of a Bachmann campaign, as Bachmann opined in a recent speech. Gibbs replied with a description of all the tall tales being told by Rick Perry. What wasn’t said? By not even using Bachmann’s name in the reply, Gibbs told you that Obama has no fear of Bachmann, but he is concerned about Rick Perry. If you listen carefully to the rest of the interview you will see that Gibbs, who is on the show to deliver Obama’s message, told you who Obama is building a case against—Perry and Romney.
On the same show, Governor Mitch Daniels was asked if he would work to get any of the current candidates elected. His reply was that he would work for the eventual nominee. What wasn’t said? Daniels is hoping that someone else will enter the race, and he will gladly work for that unknown candidate. Later in the interview, Mitch Daniels didn’t say that Paul Ryan should run, but it is clear that Daniels was sending a message to Ryan—we’re behind you, get in the race.
In political training camps this is called the Pivot. When asked a question, candidates are told to stay on message and say what they came to say. I’m a horrible candidate. When asked a question I try to answer the question to the best of my ability. You’ve heard me say that Bachmann is a better candidate than I am because she stays on message. That doesn’t mean that I believe she’d be a better President, just that she follows the rules of a good campaign.
Quite a few people have asked me recently if I am considering another run for office. I keep saying no. But I’ll tell you that it won’t sit well with me if not one Democrat is willing to stand up to run for the two open county commissioner seats or the two Colorado House seats in 2012. Is it possible to be a bad candidate in four races at once?
Homework
The Hill Story About Bachmann's Claim
Staying on Message Advice for the Job Seeker
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