Bugs Bunny Always Beats Daffy Duck

2011-04-04 - byGary Pearce
Those six words may be the most brilliant I have ever read about political and media strategy.
 
I found them in Jeff Greenfield’s new book, Then Everything Changed. The book is an interesting foray into “alternative history,” based on real events: What if JFK had been assassinated in December 1960, before taking office? What if Robert Kennedy hadn’t been shot in 1968? What if Gerald Ford had beaten Jimmy Carter in 1976?
 
All those what-ifs make for entertaining reading. But Greenfield’s best insights aren’t fictional.
 
He credits the axiom “Bugs Bunny Always Beats Daffy Duck” to David Garth, a legendary New York political consultant. Garth used it to explain why Ronald Reagan was such a successful debater, even when questioners or opponents confronted him with misstatements of fact. Garth said of Reagan:

“He’s always the most comfortable guy in the room. Everyone else looks like the camera’s going to attack them; he couldn’t be happier to be there. Ask him a toughie? He smiles, he nods, he explains it all away.”

How does that relate to Bugs and Daffy? Again, Garth:

“Daffy’s always going berserk, jumping up and down, fuming, yelling. Bugs is, well, a bit like Cary Grant. His eyes are lidded, he’s got that sly, small smile, like he always knows what’s up, like nothing can ruffle him.”

So, the next time you’re in a tough situation, just remember: “Eh, what’s up, Doc?”
 
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Bugs Bunny Always Beats Daffy Duck

2011-04-04/Gary Pearce
Those six words may be the most brilliant I have ever read about political and media strategy.
 
I found them in Jeff Greenfield’s new book, Then Everything Changed. The book is an interesting foray into “alternative history,” based on real events: What if JFK had been assassinated in December 1960, before taking office? What if Robert Kennedy hadn’t been shot in 1968? What if Gerald Ford had beaten Jimmy Carter in 1976?
 
All those what-ifs make for entertaining reading. But Greenfield’s best insights aren’t fictional.
 
He credits the axiom “Bugs Bunny Always Beats Daffy Duck” to David Garth, a legendary New York political consultant. Garth used it to explain why Ronald Reagan was such a successful debater, even when questioners or opponents confronted him with misstatements of fact. Garth said of Reagan:

“He’s always the most comfortable guy in the room. Everyone else looks like the camera’s going to attack them; he couldn’t be happier to be there. Ask him a toughie? He smiles, he nods, he explains it all away.”

How does that relate to Bugs and Daffy? Again, Garth:

“Daffy’s always going berserk, jumping up and down, fuming, yelling. Bugs is, well, a bit like Cary Grant. His eyes are lidded, he’s got that sly, small smile, like he always knows what’s up, like nothing can ruffle him.”

So, the next time you’re in a tough situation, just remember: “Eh, what’s up, Doc?”
 
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Gary Pearce

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