Since the boom of the 'TV era' in the late 50s and early 60s, candidates for public office have been judged largely by 'how they come across on the screen.'
An example of this unfortunate mindset is the intense scrutiny Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has received in light of her stumble in the opening statement of the gubernatorial debate Thursday evening.
The highly publicized stumble has called attention to a few other missteps Brewer has made in previous campaigns. However, there is a point here that critics are prone to miss.
Since when is the judgment of a person's character, ability, and talent indicated by 'how they come across on TV?'
The medium is built for superficiality, not substance. Every slight twitch of the facial muscles is carefully analyzed for any supposed indication that the candidate is not fit to serve in office. Pauses, a loss of a train of thought, or even small drops of perspiration on the brow, forehead, or above the lip, are all highlighted as signs that the candidate is flawed, and therefore, not fit to serve.
A prime example is the famous 1960 Presidential debate between Vice-President Richard Nixon and Senator John F. Kennedy, who was running on the Democratic ticket. Those who listened to the debate on the radio stated overwhelmingly that Nixon won hands-down.
Why? Because they felt that Nixon won on the merit of the substance of his answers.
But those who watched on TV gave the nod to Kennedy.
Why? Because Kennedy 'looked better.'
Rather than the debate being a matter of substance, knowledge, or wisdom, it boiled down to who looked better on TV. Nixon, it was said, 'appeared nervous.' He became sweaty and 'shifted his eyes.' Kennedy, on the other hand, appeared poised, steady, and looked straight ahead when the camera was on him.
With these high qualifications for President it is no wonder we have been treated to such debacles as Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama.
We have a problem, Houston. And as long as superficial voters vote for superficial candidates based upon superficial TV performances, that problem will continue.
Governor Brewer has clearly demonstrated her leadership ability, and most people in Arizona recognize and appreciate it. To their credit, Arizona voters have refused to buy into the 'dumbed down' imbecilic notion which maintains that candidates can be judged adequately by a quiver of the lip on TV.
Perhaps more citizens in the heartland are waking up to our past mistakes in thinking that the content of a person's character and leadership ability can be assessed by a sound-byte on the CBS Evening News.
It is to be hoped that this is the case. In this era of the growing influence of the Tea Parties, with 'amateur citizen candidates' being encouraged to run for office--persons who have never served in a public capacity before and have certainly never been on TV--a very different standard must arise to the surface.
That standard is 'authenticity.' Genuine, authentic, and trustworthy human beings know they are flawed, as are all of us. Authentic human beings make mistakes, sometimes in public. Authentic persons can lose their train of thought, especially when the glaring lights of television and the eyes of a scrutinizing public are upon them.
It is therefore vital that these unpolished, average Americans who have considerable gifts to offer be given a fair hearing as a direct afront to the concept of the 'professional politician' who can woo audiences by a silver tongue, a winsome smile, and a carefully crafted TV persona forged by political operatives behind the scenes.
Governor Brewer's transparent authenticity, therefore, is actually a breath of fresh air.
Be sure to catch my blog at The Liberty Sphere.
Comments
Maybe she should only use a telepromptor. We have a president who is supposedly a genius but he sounds like a "babbling idiot" without one. Who would have accepted that fron a president a few years ago.
YOU would have accepted it form Reagan and every president since...you were just too ignorant to see the telepromters right in front of them.
I seem to recall President Obama wiping the floor with McCain in a few debates. Brewer is the same a Palin. No substance. They just recite talking points.
Palin refused to answer the questions in her debate with Biden. She told the moderator she was just going to say what she wanted to. i.e. recite talking points she learned.
Palin's speaking contracts were released a few days ago. She does not permit anything by pre-screened questions. What a joke.
Brewer is the same.
Brewer forgetting her words is not the issue. The real issue is what she did say. She did not show competence or leadership during that debate. Instead of answers and solutions, she had attacks and soundbites. Jan Brewer without her handlers is like a puppet without its strings. Arizona deserves better than Brewer.
On one level I agree with you Anthony that we make too much out of stumbles. Of course, I wish conservative would take the same philosophy with Obama's infamous "58 states" gaffe. Regardless, where I disagree with you is on the significance of Brewer's "moment of silence." I think Brewer's gaffe demonstrated more than just an inability to come across well. She clearly did not prepare for the debate, seemingly taking it for granted that she was entitled to reelecton. Furthermore, she confessed to the Arizona Daily Star that she only did the debate to get $1.7 million in public financing. So here is a small government conservative going through what she clearly thought was a sham debate just so that she can get $1.7 million in taxpayer dollars for her campaign (that she will probably win be over 20 points still). Finally, she also refused to take back what was clearly a false claim about beheadings in Arizona. Just yesterday she FINALLY called her own comments an error, but in the debate she simply avoided the question. If you make a mistake I am fine with that as long as you admit your error, but in the debate she purposefully avoided what she knew was a false claim she made.
Anyway, that is my two cents.
I say we go back to using radio. That way, you can hear what is said and not focus on expression.
I was too young to vote for president when Kennedy ran, My parents were Nixon supporters. Though Kennedy made mistakes in office, he left America a very special legacy for which we all should be grateful - the US Special Forces. Having been a Navy man during WW2, Kennedy recognized the need for guerilla warfare strategy and set the wheels in motion as Commander in Chief to create the Navy SEALS. He also played a big part in creating the Green Berets as well, though his influence was stronger with the SEALS.
With regard to one of the other comments, I have actually found something nice to say about Owebummer . . . he definitely presents himself well when he gives a speech . . . or at least when he's praising his accomplishments or those of the muslims. However, if he's 'praising' the military, he falters badly. Presentation wise, I think he does a much better job than Jimmy Carter. I still don't know how Carter became president. In Carter's behalf though, I believe his light shines best in his work with Habitat for Humanity. That is something he deserves to be remembered for. In addition, I was pleased to see the way he handled the situation in North Korea when he retrieved the hostage. Still - Habitat is his best contribution to this country!
Careful... nuanced responses don't play well in the "us or them" extremist politics of the day.
Obama makes gaffs everytime he speaks without his telepromptor. We could make a list of at least 100 of them.
Have you ever heard some of the Hollywood stars, that get paid the most money, when they are not reading a script. Though the delivery of a speech is a talent, you do not have to be a genius to do it. I will give Obummer credit when I hear him deliver a heart felt speech that he has prepared.
I was no Bill Clinton supporter but he had a true talent that enabled him to connect with people. He was gifted in that area.
I have NEVER seen that with the president.
Personally I don't care about the quality of a politicians oratories, how expensive their clothes are, or weather they have a great head of hair and a hair cut to match.....I much prefer that any and all words coming out of their mouths were the truth and nothing but the truth......maybe a shock collar placed around their necks that would zap them each and every time they lied would work......any way it would be fun to watch ! We all know that today the M.S.M. can make or break a politician at the flip of a switch and the turn of a knob and place their babble head news persons in front of the cameras to put their spin on things , and that most politicians fear the media more than they fear retribution from their constituents In today's world image is everything....anyone who can remember the Kennedy-Nixon debates knows what image will do to you. Today it's been fine tuned to the point of making or breaking anyone....politicians included.
":.I much prefer that any and all words coming out of their mouths were the truth and nothing but the truth.."
Then you would not be happy with Brewer. I mean the whole 'Headless Bodies' thing was a lie. And, she wouldn't admit to it during the debate. She did admit it later though.
Brewer was not elected and has just one platform: Get rid of the illegals...after that, Arizona is up a creek without a paddle because she has nothing else...she did terrible in the debate because other than the illegals, she has nothing in her blank mind to debate....avoid Arizona, it has nothing to offer but HOT and more HOT...."it's all Obama's fault!" Well, where was Arizona's voice 2 years ago? They didn't have illegals then? Bush would have been obligated to also challenge the Arizona law to protect the federal rights of the federal borders....no matter who is president, when a state overreaches it's state's rights, the federal government is obligated to challenge.
Others may have used a teleprompter but they never had the bobbing head. They did not use it for every speech and certainly not when they sopke with children. Oblaba never speaks from the heart. He needs someone to feed him information all the time.
Funny but I NEVER heard Oblaba wipe the floor with McCain. His oratory skills have never impressed me. He always says a lot but nothing of substance. He seems very lacking in general knowledge. Sure would like proof that he is so intelligent. Sorry but I don't see it. All I know is that he is totally ruining the country.
you kinda have to have intelligence to recognize it in others
Barry O. and his teleprompter are the tools of the puppet masters...... i.e. N.W.O./Bilderbergs et al ! Once we bump this total ruse out of office he can head back to Chi Towns south side and sell used cars with Rahm.....maybe some of that stimulus money can help him out if it ever trickles down that far into the hole he helped create for our nation !
you do know that both of them are millionaires and can buy and sell you many times over, don't you? unlike you, they never have to sell anything if they don't want to...get off the "military welfare" before speaking about others' financial situations.
And turn your future and your children's future over to the Koch Brothers and their Anarcho-Totalitarianism?
Real good plan.
Even if Brewer were on the radio, the same problem would have come up. She had her notes right in front of her and she still missed. This is about her utter lack of unpreparedness and leadership ability. Why don't you go look at what her poll numbers were prior to the migration bill, they were dismal and she was a failure. She has ONE thing to stand on and it's not even the best way to deal with the situation. It was a costly political stunt and nothing more.
should be immigration, would be nice to have an edit button on here.
Wally- Wally- Wally....what are we to do with you .....I was speaking metaphorically.....free prose....remember ? We all know that Barry O. and his bosom buddy Rahm are worth millions. And....no Wally boy I'm not a retired military man riding the "military welfare"! I did my tour of duty and got out and have used the services of the V.A. hospital only twice in 41 years ! So your back to attacking people personally cause that's all you got left Wally boy....stating lies , accusations and innuendos....poor-poor man (?) !
"....stating lies , accusations and innuendos..."
isn't that what you keep doing? Either you personally know Obama or you too are "....stating lies , accusations and innuendos..."
Wally ...I said no lies.....I gave an opinion....he and Rahm can go back to Chi Town and sell used cars ! The truth is he does use a teleprompter and he is tied into the Bilderbergs who are the N.W.O. ! Major Bilderberger Henry Kissinger stated in the International Herald Tribune "Obama is the one who will lead us into a New World Order"! So there you have it....I gave my opinion and told the truth....the two things that you and your leftist buddies just can't stand about us on the right !
Didn't actually READ what Kissinger wrote, did you, Phil?
Just swallowed the version spoon-fed to you by folks like World Nut Daily Prisoner of Delusions Planet?
And I think 21 months later, Kissinger would say the administration has failed at what he argued needed to be done.
Wally......it's a direct quote from his interview in the International Herald Tribune.....Kissinger didn't write it like you seem to suggest (again) that I stated....and contrary to what you think Henry might have said or would have said.....your man in Washington is doing exactly what the elitist at the top of the N.W.O. wants.....bring this nation down on it's knees! 21 months means nothing to them !
Proving my point that you did NOT read it.
It was an op-ed written by Kissinger, not an interview. And if you read it, you'd see that Obama definitely has not made the kinds of economic moves Kissinger recommended.
The chance for a new world order
By Henry A. Kissinger
Published: Monday, January 12, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/12/opinion/12iht-edkissinger.1.19281915.h...
Now remember Phil - If you intend to pull something out of your ass, it's a good idea to stand up first.
And I ain't walrus - he signs his stuff.
I just love the leftist or progressives or whatever you want to call them. They have all the answers, they know whats best for everyone, and woo be the person, conservative or not who doubts that fact. They say it and everyone is just supposed to go along regardless of any evidence to the contrary. If by some chance the Leftists or progressives don't have the answer they resort to name calling or worse to drive home their point that they know best and if you don't agree you sould just go lay down in the corner and be quiet because no one really want to hear the facts of the matter. The leftists/progressives are much like the blind followers of Islam, it is what we say it is and don't you dare disagree or else, unfortuntely the Islamists will kill you if you disagree or even if you do agree they will kill you just to drive home the point that they can. What I think the leftist/progressives want is to have that option for anyone who is brave enough to ever disagree with them.
I think you're confused; you keep writing "leftist/progressives" when what you obviously mean is "pseudo-conservative dupes of the Koch Brothers."
Hi Anthony,
I would suggest that the ability to speak effectively in public has been an important consideration for political candidates for quite a bit longer than, "since the boom of the 'TV era' in the late 50s and early 60s." Our Founding Fathers certainly considered it to be an important skill for a politician. For example...
"Speak seldom, but to important subjects, except such as particularly relate to your constituents, and, in the former case, make yourself perfectly master of the subject." ~ George Washington
But, if it is substance that you want, the reporting that I saw about Ms. Brewer's speech over the weekend seemed less interested in her failing oratory skills, and more interested in the drama of her opponent (Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard) taking her to task over her lying about a series of supposedly immigrant related beheadings in Arizona. Not only did she lie, but when confronted about it, both in the debate and afterwards with reporters, she just froze. Despite being asked directed about these lies, Ms. Brew tried clumsily to change the subject, and eventually just turned-tail and almost literally ran from the press. The result was that she looked guilty-as-heck, and scared to boot.
Considering the fact that Ms. Brewer has made immigration a CORE issue of her campaign, being caught out in a blatant lie that has been told repeatedly as a talking-point in support of that issue is kind of a BIG DEAL.
TTFN,
Blackout
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