iCitizenForum by Colonial Williamsburg

Honesty amidst the stupidity

By Mac McKerral
06/09/08
2 comments

Saying something really stupid does not disqualify someone from becoming president. In fact, I think we can safely say that saying myriad stupid things neither disqualifies a candidate for president nor a standing president.

But it clearly begs the question, “How can someone we are being led to believe is so intelligent and so equipped to lead, say something so incredibly stupid?”

For the short-term example, we turn to Hillary Clinton and her now “old news” comments about staying in the race because Barack Obama might get assassinated.

Trust me, when I say, “short term,” I am gracious.

I guarantee that as quickly as the TV talking heads can beat a bad sound byte to death, some other candidate or the candidate’s mouthpiece will say something equally if not more stupid.

I see three key reasons why this happens, all understandable, two not excusable and one extremely valuable for you and me.

First, candidates and their handlers create talking points.

After months of scripted responses to oft-repeated questions, the candidates become robot-like, programmed to not say anything off the script.

Those candidate corner men and woman live in fear of their charges “going off the script.”

Yet, people just get tired of others leading them around by the nose. And so, during an interview, they get to thinking, “Hey, I didn’t just fall off the turnip truck. I have achieved the highest level of success in politics. I can handle myself during an interview.”

The political landscape comes littered with those who cannot. .

Second, battle fatigue and the odds dictate that candidates become destined to exercise “stupidspeak.”

Despite their statements to the contrary, Sen. John McCain, Clinton, Obama, John Edwards and others started running for president three years ago.

The long, grueling and expensive process comes with all kinds of pitfalls with the most telling possibly mental fatigue. You can bet safely that in an environment such as that, someone at some point should make a pretty dumb remark. Think about long-term relationships you have and consider the levels of stress that come with them.

Did you ever say something you regretted?

Finally, and most important, we have the truth.

Yes, given the chance to shrug off the talking points, abandon the public relations posse and ditch the “do nothing controversial” game plan, I think you and I know that “stupidspeak” might just equate to “truthspeak” in many instances.

What if politicians could get a guarantee that they could speak freely and truthfully “24-7” with no ramifications? What if voters could hear them talk about key issues facing America without having to toe the party line, appease campaign contributors or incur the wrath of agenda-pushing TV talking heads?

That kind of “nothing to lose” honesty comes at a gasoline-like high price these days, and “mainstream” candidates can ill-afford to exercise it.

To me, that’s stupid.