Nov
22
2005

rhetorical strategies

The Post’s Howard Kurtz explains the rhetorical flourishes politicos use to smear each other and renounce the blame for said smearing:

It is an age-old device in politics, making a personal slam sound more high-minded by attributing it to someone else.

Typical formulation: “There are those who say that Congressman X is a gutless wonder.” Not that I’m saying it, I’m just faithfully repeating what some other critic said. Or: “I was talking to someone just the other day who questioned whether Congressman X is a gutless wonder.” Or: “Now I don’t agree with those who say Congressman X is a gutless wonder, but he does owe us some answers…”

These are all ways of getting the gutless wonder thing out there, and politicians who use these tactics know exactly what they’re doing.

(“Maligning Murtha” - 11/22/05)

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Posted at 5:10 PM in language, politics & bureaucracy

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