Romney Aide: Kiss My [Expletive]!
So the hostile press corps is all upset over the way Romney's traveling press secretary Rick Gorka verbally dressed down reporters. Here's a transcript of the exchange:
CNN: "Governor Romney are you concerned about some of the mishaps of your trip?
NYT: "Governor Romney do you have a statement for the Palestinians?
Washington Post: "What about your gaffes?
NYT: "Governor Romney do you feel that your gaffes have overshadowed your foreign trip?"
CNN: "Governor Romney just a few questions sir, you haven't taken but three questions on this trip from the press!
Gorka: "Show some respect"
NYT: "We haven't had another chance to ask a question..."
Gorka: "Kiss my ass. This is a Holy site for the Polish people. Show some respect."
Now, my current thoughts about my colleagues in the media are so negative that I find myself cheering on Gorka as he loses his cool.
But Byron York, always sensible and balanced, offers some words of wisdom:
Whatever else the Romney trip has been, it's fair to say the campaign has failed spectacularly when it comes to press management…
A campaign has to feed reporters information regularly & not give them opportunity to make the story about themselves, which they will do.
Folks: Hostile press can be managed, too. Romney's London-ready and Israeli-Palestinian GDP remarks were entirely defensible. Why not…
...go back & talk to reporters about them? You answer their questions, you'll get on-average better coverage, & they'll get tired of asking.
It's that second tweet that I think is key. If you don't feed reporters information, they'll make the story about themselves.
But I wonder if this is really a big deal. I don't think the media -- when they're writing these woe are we stories -- realize how hostility toward them is viewed. As Ben's post below reminds us, mismanagement of the media can doom campaigns and causes real damage. But is that what happened here?
I'm also reminded of something a Ricochet member said at our most recent meet-up -- something about how Romney was kind of boring in his niceness and should show some rougher edges. I know it's not Romney -- just an aide -- but it kind of transfers.
Also, it just makes that whole attempt to characterize Romney as a wimp look even sillier than it already did.
What do you think? Cause for concern here?
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Apr '12
Re: Romney Aide: Kiss My [Expletive]!
I laughed. Doesn't it seem like that'll probably be the most common reaction?
May '12
Re: Romney Aide: Kiss My [Expletive]!
I'd have a word with Gorka about his choice of words.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, try and have some dignity. This is a holy site for the Polish people. Show some respect."
Say it with a smile.
Then maintain that kind of tone. Also, OBVIOUSLY, manage the 4th Estate Cretins in a way that even said 4th Estate Cretins cannot disguise the fact that they are being managed.
Jun '10
Re: Romney Aide: Kiss My [Expletive]!
You really have to be trained in New Jersey, to be able to tell off reporters like that with enough skill, and with a smile. Don't try it at home...or in Poland.
May '10
Re: Romney Aide: Kiss My [Expletive]!
Yeah, all those people in the media that were sitting on the fence, not knowing whether to support 'Bam or the Wimp, this is going to push them over the fence, firmly into the Prez's camp... Yep, both of them just went...
May '12
Re: Romney Aide: Kiss My [Expletive]!
It has to be said, Chris Christy has been playing maybe a little too rough of late.
Signs of unchecked temper, maybe?
It is an art to tell people off without getting all Potty Mouthed. Huey Long, of all people, could pull it off.
Jun '10
Re: Romney Aide: Kiss My [Expletive]!
Edward Smith
It has to be said, Chris Christy has been playing maybe a little too rough of late.
Signs of unchecked temper, maybe?
It is an art to tell people off without getting all Potty Mouthed. Huey Long, of all people, could pull it off.
April 11, 2012: Christie's popularity at all-time high in NJ
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/christie_popularity_at_all_time_RIUq26lhHGQ617HvP06NqK
Feb '11
Re: Romney Aide: Kiss My [Expletive]!
I'm of two minds. I like the slap down, but I expect a campaign press professional to be in better control. It is not the job of staffers to make controversy for a candidate. It is their job to alleviate controversy.
May '12
Re: Romney Aide: Kiss My [Expletive]!
Mel:
Can Christy play in other states?
I seem to recall another candidate who was popular in his own state, liked to tell it like it is and wasn't afraid to get rough.
His name was Rudy Giuliani.
He went far. Far away.
Edited on July 31, 2012 at 4:16pmJun '10
Re: Romney Aide: Kiss My [Expletive]!
Edward Smith: Mel:
Can Christy play in other states?
I seem to recall another candidate who was popular in his own state, liked to tell it like it is and wasn't afraid to get rough.
His name was Rudy Giuliani.
I don't know, but I think he's the missing piece in the Romney ticket.
Edited on July 31, 2012 at 4:17pmJun '12
Re: Romney Aide: Kiss My [Expletive]!
If Newt's result in South Carolina is any indication, conservatives, at least, like seeing reporters smacked down.
Jun '10
Re: Romney Aide: Kiss My [Expletive]!
Do we really expect reporters from the NYT and CNN to treat Romney fairly? There are plenty of Americans who also have choice words for the Obama cheerleading section. The presumption seems to be that if it looks like a journalist it is a journalist. These shills need to be treated like the Obama propagandists that they are. They have no interest in reporting the news. Their aim is to bury Romney and his campaign and distract the American people from the most corrupt administration in history. Feed the beast? Why even invite them along for the ride?
Mar '12
Re: Romney Aide: Kiss My [Expletive]!
If he did it with a smile, good.
Feb '11
Re: Romney Aide: Kiss My [Expletive]!
To my mind, it works the other way around. These are not the words of a man who has a handle on the situation. If Romney himself had said this, I would start to have some doubts about him.
Jun '11
Re: Romney Aide: Kiss My [Expletive]!
Edward Smith: I'd have a word with Gorka about his choice of words.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, try and have some dignity. This is a holy site for the Polish people. Show some respect."
Say it with a smile.
Great advice and very Reaganesque. I understand the frustration Team Romney must feel when their positive efforts are overshadowed by pedantic and choreographed critiques, but they must not give in to the impulse to play that game. If they can be cowed by the American press corps, how do we expect them to stand up to Putin or Ahmadinejad, et al.?
Jun '10
Re: Romney Aide: Kiss My [Expletive]!
Why do Popes need to go to confession?
For what they say to critics under their breath.
Oct '10
Re: Romney Aide: Kiss My [Expletive]!
Indeed. I wonder who paid for them to be there? All those Romney donors, I bet. Money well spent... how?
Oct '11
Re: Romney Aide: Kiss My [Expletive]!
"Show some respect" and "Kiss my ---" should not be spoken in the same breath. The spokesman has made the story about himself. My understanding is that that's a no-no for spokesmen. Isn't that why the previous spokesman quit?
Jan '11
Re: Romney Aide: Kiss My [Expletive]!
Much as a campaign might despise the press, it still depends on the press to get the message out. So, unless you want to go completely underground, a candidate is forced to depend on the press.
If you want reporters to travel with you and file stories on your campaign, you have to give them something to justify the expense. That's a fair expectation.
I wonder how that might change in the future. Newspapers aren't the vehicle they used to be. I'm wondering whether a campaign could just create and/or hire a media outlet. (After all, isn't that what most of the media are already?)
Aug '10
Re: Romney Aide: Kiss My [Expletive]!
In the modern age, Romney can distribute information about his policies and activities directly to the people. He doesn't really need the press corp at all, except to minimize the amount of damage they can do to him if he doesn't occupy them -- as Byron pointed out.
As was pointed out earlier here though, one of the attributes that made Newt as successful as he was in his campaign was his constant disdain for the press. Americans are kind of fed up with the press, and not entirely for partisan reasons. It is pretty hard to tell the difference between the press and the paparazzi. They are both so rabid in the modern era -- not that they ever weren't as great films like ACE IN THE HOLE aptly demonstrate.
May '12
Re: Romney Aide: Kiss My [Expletive]!
This was an aide.
If I were to give counsel to Romney about giving censure himself, it would be to respond by teaching the person(s) asking the questions.
I am sure (being LDS), he is familiar with Doctrine and Covenents 121: 34-46. The skill of persuasion, the trait of patience, the character of gentleness and meekness, the mastery of "not faking it", the strength of kindness, the power of pure knowledge, and the art of reproving -- while maintaining control of yourself.
Yes, I am aware that meekness seems out of place --- and out of time -- when this world is actually failing from the want of it. A world that is so taken up with assertiveness, aggressiveness, selfishness, and insensitive individualism. Should we not be "above" the left?
Again, this was an aide -- not Romney.