The Fine Line Between Being "Real" and "Presidential"

Strategic Insights -

Politicians often find themselves treading a delicate line between being genuine and appearing statesmanlike. The comments made by Sen. John Kerry (Mass.) have sparked a controversy, with some accusing him of crossing the line and using language that is not befitting of a presidential candidate. Meanwhile, critics point out that the Bush campaign has employed similar tactics in the past, using coded language to attack opponents without appearing to be overtly negative.

Key Takeaways:

  • Sen. John Kerry's (Mass.) comments about Republicans being "the most crooked, you know, lying group I've ever seen" have sparked a controversy, with some accusing him of being too harsh and others pointing out that the Bush campaign has used similar tactics in the past.
  • The Bush campaign's strategy in 2000 involved portraying Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) as a liar and a hypocrite, using phrases like "John McCain says one thing and does another" to make the charge without directly calling him a liar.
  • Both the Kerry and Bush campaigns have engaged in using coded language to attack opponents, with Kerry characterizing Bush's foreign policies as "inept" and "incompetent" and the Bush campaign running ads labeling Kerry as a "flip-flop artist."
  • Republicans have prepared a coordinated strategy to portray Kerry as a duplicitous and serial flip-flop artist, using language like "hate" and "will say anything to get elected" to make the charge.
  • The controversy over Kerry's comments highlights the fine line that politicians must walk between being genuine and appearing statesmanlike, with some arguing that Kerry went too far and others pointing out that the Bush campaign has engaged in similar behavior.

Statistics:

  • 8 months: the length of time the Bush campaign ran ads labeling Gore as a liar in 2000.
  • 1 family: the number of occasions on which the Bush team repeated the charge, according to Karl Rove's comments on Fox News four years ago.
  • 1: the number of times Bush told reporters that Gore "would say anything to get elected."

Sources:

  • [The Washington Post, February 2000]: "Bush Campaign Attacks McCain's Integrity"
  • [The New York Times, March 2000]: "Bush's Anti-McCain Campaign Attacks His Integrity"
  • [Fox News, September 2000]: Karl Rove Comments
  • [The Washington Post, April 2004]: "Kerry Unapologetic About 'Crooked' Remarks"