releasing statements to the press

[sophiaserpentia]

So the "big news" yesterday was that Jesse Jackson got caught on tape making an offhand and crudely-phrased comment about having a desire to figuratively castrate Barack Obama. Not because he hates him or intends to withdraw his support, but because he's frustrated about his handling of African-American issues.

And then, as is the custom in our day, Jackson had to show contrition in front of the cameras and release a carefully and artfully-worded apology, and Obama's campaign had to release a similar artfully-worded gracious acceptance of the apology.

I would love to know how Barack Obama really responded when he first heard of the comment. Did he laugh his ass off? Did he blow his top? Did he roll his eyes and groan? Did he wave his hand and say, "Fshaw"? I think that spontaneous reaction would have told us quite a lot about Obama's personality and character. His artfully-worded press release delivered by a spokesperson tells us nothing. But we'll probably never know.

Our media is full of words carefully crafted and chosen by professional spinmeisters and wordsmiths -- with the effect that they mean nothing.

I'm left thinking that a lot of the meaning in what we say and do comes from the spontaneity of it. A world without celebrity handlers would have more of a jagged edge, but it would be more genuine and human. The handlers who smooth everything over afterwards are not, i think, doing us a service.

That's not to say i think civility is meaningless or a waste of time -- just that sometimes people blurt out a thought that reflects part of where they're at rather than the considered opinion of their entire mind. When it happens, we should let things fall into place as they will.

Comments

[seraphimsigrist.livejournal.com]

my thought too. although it would only
show one side of the reaction, another
side (a range from deep humility to selfabsorption)
could go with perhaps any of those reactions.

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

Naturally... no utterance can reflect the entirety of what is on a person's mind at any time. But the meaningful ones give us some clue, some insight, into what else we might expect a person to say or do.

Spontaneous expressions of humility, or even of self-absorption, would be quite valuable for us to hear. Which is why it's in the interest of those with power and influence to keep us from hearing them! They have nothing to lose and everything to gain by having a press image which is polished to almost non-human perfection.

Us mere mortals have to risk a bloody nose or a black eye when we blurt out what we're thinking.

[mudbender.livejournal.com]

This was pretty much my reaction as well - that it was probably the most honest bit of speaking I've heard in the election so far. I think the crap part of it is that Jackson has some legitimate reason to be frustrated with Obama. The handlers fingerprints are *all over* his campaign now that the primaries are over and it's making him sound like more of the same. Which to me, always begs the question - what is he actually going to do once he's in office? Hold to his principles, or continue to try to cover every base?

My take on it is that I personally would much rather see Obama lose being more authentic and genuine than to see him win under what feel like false pretenses. I'm already getting tired of seeing the pandering level ratcheting up. I'm still hopeful, but scenes like this are disheartening.

[dorothy-android.livejournal.com]

I'm left thinking that a lot of the meaning in what we say and do comes from the spontaneity of it. A world without celebrity handlers would have more of a jagged edge, but it would be more genuine and human. The handlers who smooth everything over afterwards are not, i think, doing us a service.

Exactly right. It also makes them seems less human. The world would be better off without handlers and PR crews.

[alobar.livejournal.com]

I have long felt that politicians should write their own speeches and had NO public relations people. I want to know who a politician really is.

[lassiter.livejournal.com]

I presume that the almost total dependence on speechwriters and political spin doctors since the 1960s, and the resultant dumbing down of political debate and discourse, has contributed to the steep decline in the percentage of people who actually bother voting. Whether this result is intentional or not is worthy of investigation.

[kumbunny.livejournal.com]

I will happily assume that he went instantly into a huge, dramatic rage. Resulting in his minders and family calming him down as he tried to climb over everyone to get to his minders hand gun while screaming "mother fucker juss' dissed me y0, I'm gonna diss back his ass".

And I think, that is 200% likely.

[perlmonger.livejournal.com]

We're rewatching S7 of The West Wing; Santos may have been based on Obama, but Obama sure as fuck isn't Santos. But then this is reality, however grim, and I can't imagine any candidate in this world telling their handlers where to get off.