TRUTHS - THE MOST EFFECTIVE ZINGERS
by Andy Weddington
Sunday, 07 October 2012
"A true leader always keeps an element of surprise up his sleeve, which others cannot grasp but which keeps his public excited and breathless." Charles de Gaulle
Ronald Reagan, Republican candidate for president, during the presidential debate with President Jimmy Carter on October 28th, 1980...
"Ask yourself, 'Are you better off now than you were four years ago? Is it easier for you to go and buy things in the stores than it was four years ago? Is there more or less unemployment in the country than there was four years ago? Is America as respected throughout the world as it was?'"
and,
"There you go again."
Mr. Reagan's perfectly timed yet seemingly impromptu retort to President Carter's false charges surrounding Medicare and Social Security benefits.
Mr. Reagan's truths were effective zingers.
Mr. Carter was a one-term president.
Four years later...
President Ronald Reagan, Republican candidate for president, during the presidential debate with Walter Mondale, Democratic party nominee, on October 7th, 1984...
"I want you to know also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience."
Mr. Reagan's truth was an effective zinger.
Mr. Mondale later admitted that upon hearing those words he knew he'd lost. He did.
Twenty-eight years later...
Mitt Romney - Republican candidate for president, while looking directly at President Barack Obama, following the president's nonsensical remarks about tax breaks for shipping jobs to China during the presidential debate on October 3rd, 2012...
"Look, I've been in business for 25 years and have no idea what you are talking about."
And Mr. Obama could not respond. He did not respond. For Mr. Romney had spoken an absolute truth and delivered a zinger simultaneously.
Mr. Romney's truth, like those of Candidate and President Reagan's, was an effective zinger.
As this election is largely about our pathetic economy - thanks to Mr. Obama's peculiar philosophies and failed policies and absolute lack of business experience and lack of basic economic common sense - Mr. Romney's remark will most likely resonate more and more. And it will the more he repeats it - at every opportunity.
And our country, our world, today is not so much different than it was on October 28th, 1980 when Mr. Reagan asked Americans four simple questions. The answers to his questions came with the crushing defeat of President Carter.
Fact is, Mr. Romney is asking the same four questions. Will the answers to his questions likewise be a crushing defeat of the incumbent? There's every reason to believe so.
President Obama offered nothing, in word nor deed, memorable to his cause during the debate. What he did leave can be captured in an Executive Summary: Mr. Obama is not cool. Mr. Obama is not quick on his feet. Mr. Obama is not especially brilliant. Mr. Obama does not know what he's talking about. Mr. Obama does not take his duties seriously. Mr. Obama is not presidential material, and never was.
President Obama, like President Carter, is destined to be a one-term president.
Zingers alone, like 'Hope and Change,' are ear-candy. And the man who uttered "Hope and Change" and who recently referred to himself as "eye-candy" knows it.
Because people can relate to them, usually tangibly, truths are the most effective zingers. With the high cost of living and high unemployment, a toxic mix, that's the case this year - with this economy, with this election.
That's why "Look, I've been in business for 25 years and have no idea what you are talking about." is going to be difficult to top.
But most likely Mr. Romney, a proven leader with business and executive experience, has more truths, more effective zingers, up his sleeve - to keep the public excited and breathless. Wait and see. I'd bet on it!
Post Script
Related Commentary
1. Dereliction of Duty http://acoloneloftruth.blogspot.com/2012/10/dereliction-of-duty.html
2. The Real Mr. Obama Showed Up http://acoloneloftruth.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-real-mr-obama-showed-up.html
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1 comment:
Colonel, I agree with you! Obama will be a one term president. I think he will also replace the peanut farmer from Plains as the worst president of our lifetime. Although I watched the debate and concluded it was a resounding thrashing, had I not watched it, Romney would still get my vote. Virtually any candidate that was running without a deliberate agenda to ruin this country would get it. You have stated many times, the character, failings and shortcomings of Obama. I will not repeat them here. Apparently this is not a concern to a significant portion of the population: the non-contributors. I don’t think it is exaggerating to say that if Obama gets re-elected, we will have passed the point of no return and the damage he will do (intentionally) will be irreparable. I predict the upcoming election will make it look like Reagan squeaked by Carter. The media and pollsters are going to be revealed as the fools and liars they are once their love affair is exposed as a four year fraud.
Semper Fi!
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