Tillis’ Talking Points
July 6, 2011 - by
Speaker Thom Tillis was a successful management consultant, but he’s having less success at message management.
When he met with the Asheville Citizen-Times editorial board recently, the Republican Speaker and his well-paid staff probably anticipated a headline something like “Tillis touts lean budget, efficient session.”
Instead, they got this: “N.C. Speaker defends staff salaries, talks about gay marriage.”
Face it, Mr. Speaker, no matter what explanation you try, Democrats – if they have any sense – are going to pound you relentlessly with this message: “The Republican budget gives everybody else cuts and layoffs. But it gives their staff 27 percent raises.”
Also, Tillis made an interesting comment about gay marriage. According to the paper:
“Asked how he personally feels about gay marriage, Tillis said ‘data’ show that
traditional marriages between men and women are more stable and nurturing.”
traditional marriages between men and women are more stable and nurturing.”
Isn’t it just like a management consultant to consult the data before deciding whether he supports gay marriage?
Suppose, then, the “data” showed that gay couples can be stable and nurturing. Would Tillis change his position?
One suspects that gay marriage isn’t exactly the issue that keeps the Speaker awake nights. Not that he could admit it. But it’s what the data suggests.
Tillis’ Talking Points
July 6, 2011/
Speaker Thom Tillis was a successful management consultant, but he’s having less success at message management.
When he met with the Asheville Citizen-Times editorial board recently, the Republican Speaker and his well-paid staff probably anticipated a headline something like “Tillis touts lean budget, efficient session.”
Instead, they got this: “N.C. Speaker defends staff salaries, talks about gay marriage.”
Face it, Mr. Speaker, no matter what explanation you try, Democrats – if they have any sense – are going to pound you relentlessly with this message: “The Republican budget gives everybody else cuts and layoffs. But it gives their staff 27 percent raises.”
Also, Tillis made an interesting comment about gay marriage. According to the paper:
“Asked how he personally feels about gay marriage, Tillis said ‘data’ show that
traditional marriages between men and women are more stable and nurturing.”
traditional marriages between men and women are more stable and nurturing.”
Isn’t it just like a management consultant to consult the data before deciding whether he supports gay marriage?
Suppose, then, the “data” showed that gay couples can be stable and nurturing. Would Tillis change his position?
One suspects that gay marriage isn’t exactly the issue that keeps the Speaker awake nights. Not that he could admit it. But it’s what the data suggests.