Would Humility Work in Tonight's Debate?
A week or two back, King Prawn asked "How Do You Argue?". What followed was an interesting discussion about how best to change the minds of those we disagree with.
The consensus, I think (though there may not have been one), was summed up by Prawn in a comment: "Sometimes a little humility goes a long way, especially when it is shown willingly and first." Question: Could that same humility, so effective at winning friends, influencing people, and changing minds at the personal level, be effective in a presidential debate?
Yes, I'd say, and an early showing of it could win tonight for Romney. For example, Romney must blunt the "47%" attack that is surely coming this evening and which has been positively ruining him in ads in Ohio (an attack that he deserves, by the way, since he indulged in a lazy, nasty, self-congratulatory canard).
A little humility right out of the gates could flip the matter to his benefit: "You know, I deeply regret that comment because I was wrong. Of course the vast majority of Americans do not consider themselves victims, and of course they are not content being dependent -- and thank God for that. My worry, however, is that President Obama's policies could lead, in time, to exactly that sort of disasterous state of affairs. Take Obamacare, for example ....[etc]".
A bit of preemptive humility and contrition would break down the knee-jerk defensiveness of his audience and make it receptive to a calm, gentlemanly evisceration of the President's policies. It would also frustrate and disarm Obama in the one battle he most wishes to fight, this evening and for the duration of the campaign.
Right?
Edit, post-debate: Nevermind. :)
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Nov '10
Re: Would Humility Work in Tonight's Debate?
I agree. Done well, humility and contrition could break down walls. I hope someone from the Romney campaign is reading this.
May '10
Re: Would Humility Work in Tonight's Debate?
Quick story:
The other night I visited my neighbor, Mr. G., a 90-yr old ex-marine who hit the beach at Okinawa but is now bedridden in a nursing home. He's an FDR Democrat. He votes. He doesn't pay income taxes, but he did for most of his adult life, which he spent spiking up and down utility poles as a linesman.
As usual, we sat in silence and watched a ballgame. But this time we also sat through political ads in which Mitt, in a secret recording, is shown insulting Mr. G. It was painful.
The only way Mitt gets out of that box is humility.
Or he loses. Bad.
May '11
Re: Would Humility Work in Tonight's Debate?
I agree. My approach would be to address the 47% issue like this: Folks, I am not and never will be as eloquent as my opponent. I sometimes have trouble articulating what I believe in clearly. So let me try to do that now...
He can then go on to his talking points which, hopefully, will be a clear and concise summary of what he intends to do over the next four years.
Jun '12
Re: Would Humility Work in Tonight's Debate?
I learned during my time in retail that admitting either that you don't know something, or that you made a mistake, gains you far more respect in the long run than insisting the opposite.
Obama always has to know everything and never admits a mistake, so it would make for a wonderful contrast with Teh Won as well.
Aug '12
Re: Would Humility Work in Tonight's Debate?
Under ordinary circumstances you are right. Let me give you a lesson in dealing with a narcissist however: A narcissist interprets your humility as an admission you are wrong and that the Narcissist is now vindicated, leading to even more egregious behavior on the part of the Narcissist.
Jun '12
Re: Would Humility Work in Tonight's Debate?
I don't see a downside here.
The more outrageous Obama acts, the more he'll turn off independents.
Re: Would Humility Work in Tonight's Debate?
I think that what you suggest, Scott, would be a terrible blunder -- perhaps fatal to his campaign. He needs to show strength tonight, not weakness. If the issue comes up, he can say that what he said was an exaggeration but that it points to a terrible truth -- the culture of dependency that is threatening our nation's future.
Consider just how effective Obama's apologetic tone in the Cairo speech was.
The main issue tonight is whether it is worth rolling the dice and voting for Romney. If he shows weakness, he loses -- and apologies come off as weakness.
Dec '10
Re: Would Humility Work in Tonight's Debate?
I'm sorry I didn't get to participate in KP's discussion. Having been to only 1/2 a day of a Justice for All seminar, I have some thoughts on what it might take to be persuasive to undecideds.
The trick for Romney, I believe, will be hearing what persuadable voters hear when Obama speaks, and responding convincingly to that. He may be debating Obama, but he needs to conduct a (one-sided) dialogue with persuadable voters (which, I realize, seems nonsensical). An attitude of humility will certainly help with that, but only if he manages to concede nothing to Obama in terms of policy.
He also has to manage the conversation by redirecting it back on-topic at every turn. And the only topic of interest here is, President Obama is a complete failure and his policies over the next four years, should he win the election, would cause further irreparable damage.
Redirect, redirect, redirect...
Dec '10
Re: Would Humility Work in Tonight's Debate?
I second the Professor. Tonight Romney needs to radiate self confidence and bow to no one. Great answer, Paul.
Mar '12
Re: Would Humility Work in Tonight's Debate?
In a personal argument with an aquaintance, humility is a fine tool to open their minds.
Against an ideologue presidential candidate with a fawning press corpse (pun intended), showing humility is a deadly mistake. An explanation might be in order, but never apologize.
Apr '12
Re: Would Humility Work in Tonight's Debate?
Obama is playing rope-a-dope tonight, as if he's tired and unprepared. Obama lives for debate, if only because, as a very special token, he usually got to win. I have little doubt that he's coming in overconfident and hoping to capitalize on the juxtaposition of self-made black man of the people, vs. wealth white out of touch plutocrat. Romney needs to neutralize this class warfare tactic.
Having been successful in sales, I can tell you what Romney needs. Believable sincerity and any other quality or qualities. He simply has to ring true, there's no greater asset in public persuasion.
Edited on October 3, 2012 at 9:53pmMay '10
Re: Would Humility Work in Tonight's Debate?
It still galls me that Obama can brand every middle class citizen of Ohio and Pennsylvania as bitter clingers, while when Romney tells the truth (his 47% statement was right on) he is evil.
My wife went to Australia to escape the rest of this nonsense, I wish I could escape myself.
My own sense is that those bitter clingers who vote for Obama because they resent the 47% statement deserve what they will get. I wish it were possible for me to avoid being punished as well. I also think that an apology just rehashes the whole non-issue all over again.
Re: Would Humility Work in Tonight's Debate?
See Rob Long's post above. It is perfect.
If Romney apologizes, Obama will be on him and demonstrate dominance -- and the election will be over. No one wants a weakling in the Oval Office. In the midst of a political campaign when one is done in the polls, apologies are for losers.
If, however, one is on top of the world, one can afford, as an expression of strength, a display of humility.
Romney needs to be on the attack. His posture must be that he has nothing to be ashamed of and that his opponent is not only a failure. He has no interest in doing the job. He cannot even find time to meet with his Jobs Council or with the leader of an allied country that is threatened with nuclear annihilation.
Nov '11
Re: Would Humility Work in Tonight's Debate?
Paul A. Rahe: See Rob Long's post above. It is perfect.
If Romney apologizes, Obama will be on him and demonstrate dominance -- and the election will be over. No one wants a weakling in the Oval Office. In the midst of a political campaign when one is done in the polls, apologies are for losers.
If, however, one is on top of the world, one can afford, as an expression of strength, a display of humility.
Romney needs to be on the attack. His posture must be that he has nothing to be ashamed of and that his opponent is not only a failure. He has no interest in doing the job. He cannot even find time to meet with his Jobs Council or with the leader of an allied country that is threatened with nuclear annihilation.
I couldn't agree more.
I admire Romney as a human being.
I admire his humility, which to me seems warm and clear as sunshine on a cloudless autumn day.
To me he seems by nature almost too humble and contrite. I shall never understand the idea that Romney is arrogant or uncaring. If anything, he's too much the opposite.
May '10
Re: Would Humility Work in Tonight's Debate?
Paul A. Rahe: .....
Consider just how effective Obama's apologetic tone in the Cairo speech was.
The main issue tonight is whether it is worth rolling the dice and voting for Romney. If he shows weakness, he loses -- and apologies come off as weakness. · 4 hours ago
I'm not asking for an apologetic tone, just a quick contrite line preceding an attack on policy, and the contrition is directed not at Obama, but at the millions of Mr. G.'s out there (see comment #2), among others, who were insulted by Romney -- insults that are repeated every day in ads here and will right up until election day.
The Cairo analogy is a false one since in that case A) no contrition was warranted and B) it pervaded the entire speech. Big difference.
Apr '12
Re: Would Humility Work in Tonight's Debate?
I dunno Scott, but I'm going to say that if your friend felt offended at what Romney said, maybe he's a natural Obama supporter. Romney doesn't owe him an apology.
Apr '11
Re: Would Humility Work in Tonight's Debate?
I think that humility might have been a good idea. I don't know how well it would have worked.
I can't say that I'd really have wanted tonight to be any different, though.
If you think that Mitt's dominance tonight was a mistake, it may be the second real disagreement we have, the first being when you moved decisively away from Portman for VP support. On that disagreement, I now think that you were probably right.
May '10
Re: Would Humility Work in Tonight's Debate?
James Of England: I think that humility might have been a good idea. I don't know how well it would have worked.
I can't say that I'd really have wanted tonight to be any different, though.
If you think that Mitt's dominance tonight was a mistake, it may be the second real disagreement we have, the first being when you moved decisively away from Portman for VP support. On that disagreement, I now think that you were probably right. · 38 minutes ago
We're back in agreement, James. The night was great. And Obama was such a battered mess, Romney would have brushed off the 47% stuff with ease, too, had it come up.
Wonderful.