Civiello Communications Group Blog

Pictures and Problems

President Obama just ripped into congressional Republicans for failing to resolve the debt crisis. He provided specific examples to persuade..effectively conjured up images of business honchos getting tax breaks on corporate jets ..  but in doing so, Obama showed the risks in painting a vivid picture. CNBC immediately featured critics demanding to see just how much tax breaks on corporate jets contribute to the problem..probably a rounding error .. So focusing on the example as the whole problem made the president's whole argument less credible.

Sticks n' Stones n' Bachmann

When Chris Wallace asked Michele Bachmann if she is a flake, my first reaction was to feel a little sorry for her. She looked hurt. But I don't want to feel sorry for someone who wants to be President. It wasn't a tough question, it was a nasty label that she could easily have written off as left wingers who "dismiss my views when millions agree or I wouldn't be sitting here." You might say hindsight is 20/20 but Bachmann had to be forewarned about the criticism. Indeed Wallace's question was quite long..plenty of time to lighten up..maybe retrieve the old saying "sticks and stones can hurt my bones but words can never hurt me." But then maybe she feared she'd get that wrong.

 

Weiner's Worst
Anthony Weiner's worst line in my book was not his lame attempts to dodge questions, but in the midst of it all, pointing out all the Twitter traffic he'd sparked! Humor is a way to lighten up a conversation but it works only after you've been responsive.