Blow-up
June 15, 2010 - by
The worst wounds in politics are self-inflicted. And Bob Etheridge has delivered himself a doozie of a boo-boo.
Getting caught on tape looking like a bully is not helpful in an election year that already looks toxic for incumbents.
But Etheridge can survive this.
He made a good start by apologizing on camera. He gave the media a competing video clip. He put contrition up against anger.
And he’s lucky on two counts: It’s June, not October. And he’s running for reelection, not U.S. Senate. (Remember when the DSCC courted him?)
In time, we’ll get the rest of the story about the guys who made the clip. As Etheridge asked, “Who are you?” And “who are you working for?”
But let this be a lesson. In politics, you’re always on – on camera and on the record. In a YouTube world, anybody can be the media, and anybody can be an – unintended – media star.
Suddenly, like Etheridge, you become famous for one minute of anger and frustration, not 14 years in Congress, eight years as state education superintendent, four terms in the state House and a stint as a Harnett County
Now Renee Elmers, Etheridge’s opponent, will get her turn to star – or flop.
Judging from her press conference yesterday, she’s not ready for the spotlight. Holding a press conference to take advantage of the video, she promised not to take advantage of it.
She needs a camera ambush: “Do you fully support the Tea Party agenda?”
Posted in General, North Carolina - Democrats
Blow-up
June 15, 2010/
The worst wounds in politics are self-inflicted. And Bob Etheridge has delivered himself a doozie of a boo-boo.
Getting caught on tape looking like a bully is not helpful in an election year that already looks toxic for incumbents.
But Etheridge can survive this.
He made a good start by apologizing on camera. He gave the media a competing video clip. He put contrition up against anger.
And he’s lucky on two counts: It’s June, not October. And he’s running for reelection, not U.S. Senate. (Remember when the DSCC courted him?)
In time, we’ll get the rest of the story about the guys who made the clip. As Etheridge asked, “Who are you?” And “who are you working for?”
But let this be a lesson. In politics, you’re always on – on camera and on the record. In a YouTube world, anybody can be the media, and anybody can be an – unintended – media star.
Suddenly, like Etheridge, you become famous for one minute of anger and frustration, not 14 years in Congress, eight years as state education superintendent, four terms in the state House and a stint as a Harnett County
Now Renee Elmers, Etheridge’s opponent, will get her turn to star – or flop.
Judging from her press conference yesterday, she’s not ready for the spotlight. Holding a press conference to take advantage of the video, she promised not to take advantage of it.
She needs a camera ambush: “Do you fully support the Tea Party agenda?”
Posted in General, North Carolina - Democrats