“Say it Again Tony” (And Again, And Again)

For me it started in the year 1938 or thereabouts.

Father was a minor official in the Democratic Farmer-Labor Party in Minnesota. I came home to find the kitchen jammed with coffee drinking and noisy party faithfuls.

One man on the floor nodded to me to come over to him. He had a sort of commanding way about him. He talked to me like I was one of the men. His voice was warm and low-pitched. I remember his dirty fingernails, like Father’s, his expensive shoes (it was Depression time and few people had good shoes) and especially his friendly face and blue blue eyes.

I did not know it then but I was with the Governor of Minnesota, Floyd B. Olson. He was supposed to be the next vice-president of the U.S.A. but unfortunately died of pneumonia a short time later. I don’t remember anything he said to me but I knew he was trustworthy and he made me feel good. Gov. Olson had the ability to emit strength and say little.

From that moment on the kitchen floor I was hooked by politics and political tales. I still am and continue to listen to the ‘silences’ and pauses of politicians for deeper meanings.

Some twenty years later in graduate school, Dr Emmanuel, a wise professor of Communications, taught me about silent and noisy political communicators. He said that when listening to the prattle of politicians (or any counselee for that matter) it was important to listen to their silences and repetitions. Thus, it has been a hobby for many decades to study politicians who are in the media daily.

The truth of communications, Dr E said, is that no one can hide who they are and what they think and especially politicians because most of them do not know when to shut their mouths. “Their mouths”, he said, “are a moveable feast of hidden information.”

Since the present Liberal government has taken charge in Canberra I have lifted some of their comments and nostrums for examination; especially that of the PM, Mr Abbott. Suffice it to say that someone is feeding him his lines and those same someone seek to keep him on message by repetition, evasion and avoidance.

Mr Abbott’s new-found slow speech rate reveals a high level of caution and conservatism. His continual repetitions within the same paragraph does not show a disciplined mind as much as it shows fundamental conservatism and fear of failure. He has probably been told to go easy, not speak off the cuff (when he does he frequently gives double meanings) and be cautious. Combine this caution with his natural proclivity to glottis pops, umms, ahhhs, spaces of silence, looking to his left and responding to difficult questions with an unnatural laugh and you have a communicator to whom I would have said to one of my Communications students, “Do it over Charlie or else I will have to fail you!”

Unfortunately, conservative traditionalists do not take correction easily and who would want to lose their interesting and high paid job?

I am not purposely picking on the Liberals as the Labor pollies are guilty of most of these communication bumbles and stumbles. I am afraid miscommunications come with the territory.

However, there are few voters who do not slap their foreheads with outstretched palm when hearing yet another mainstream politician, obfuscate (with peripatetic perverseness) and make statements of unreserved belief in programmes they are currently pushing or disdaining. It would appear they follow a speakers’ adage, “Point weak, shout louder!” It seems such a political skill (i.e. to say one thing and mean and act in another manner) has become a necessary skill for government and especially elected officials who daily face the fearful fray of the media. Life in front of cameras and greedy journalists is not easy. Their silences are frequently an open window to what they truly feel.

For instance, what was Joe Hockey REALLY trying to say when he restlessly shuffled (long silence) when giving his opinion of the PM?

Special partisan guidance is given to newly-elected ‘chums’ to develop the skills of ‘how to answer a question by not answering the question.’ In our increasingly complex world of technological wonders, it is a tribute to our political ‘leaders’ that they continue to dazzle and cast new shadows on simple words and phrases. What was “Yes” has become…”Not sure”. What was “No” has become “that is a challenge and we will look into it”. What was “I do not understand” has become, “That is being investigated by our team and I will get back to you”.

As a student of social history and philosophy I have followed a dictum given to me sixty-plus years ago by my political mentor, Hubert Humphrey. He said, “When talking, (he talked LOTS!) do not worry about what you said as long as you believe what you say and you have done your homework.”

This, it appears, runs full face into many of today’s political statements such as, “Be very careful about what you say and give three meanings to all statements; that way you can escape careful examination.”

This reminds me of my locomotive driver father’s humorous testimonial, “Run for the round house Mabel, the brakemen can’t corner you there!” Father’s statement was a joke. Political correctness is mostly about how to escape from a word trap and is not a joke and more about wriggling out of self-inflicted difficulties. Politicians are always looking for the round house from which they can escape undetected.

These past few months I have been collecting words and statements from Liberal politicians in what I refer to as ‘Political Triple-speak’. This unique way of speaking is not new but has been developing especially well in the past few election cycles.

‘Political Triple-speak’: 1. The pollie says, ‘something’, 2. The pollie ‘means something else’, 3. The pollie ‘does’ another thing.

Here is a partial list of Double Speak:

• “No plans…” (I have plans)
• “It may be…” (I have plans)
• “No one has informed me…” (My minders have)
• “It is not being discussed…” (It was discussed but not this exact moment)
• “These are tough times…” (negative announcement about to be made)
• “We are working hard…” (They really mean it)
• “I believe…” (Oh, oh…dragging in church and Jesus and Whoever to hide inadequate preparations. Watch out for ‘ I Believe!’)
• “I am always open and say what I think…” (I hide as much as I can get away with)
• “I have never…” (Not in the last twelve minutes)
• “I only do what God tells me…” (I pray to myself)
• “God told me…” (He/she answered their own prayer)
• “It was not my fault…I did not know…” (It was my fault)
• “I’ll get back to you…” (Probably not)
• “It is in committee…” (I have no idea where it is)
• “It is a commercial secret…” (No idea where the money is coming from)
• “It is in adjudication…” (Thank God! I can be silent)
• “It is illegal to comment on the subject…” (Thank God again!)
• “I am not a queue jumper…” (It will take more time)
• “We are confident…” (We are not confident)
• “We are very confident…” (Not a hope in Hades)
• “It is very complex…” (I do not understand the problem and don’t tell me)
• “I am determined…” (I am not interested)
• “I am very determined…” (Sometime next year)
• “I cannot recall…” (Right now)
• “That is under advisement…” (Someone else is looking into it)
• “I have not heard that…” “I have heard that and it is too difficult)
• “We had a full on and frank exchange…” I almost decked the b…)
• “I have told no one…” (I have told my friends and other trusted ones)
• “You have not heard what I just said…” (You are a stupid jerk)

There are scores of other oral political nostrums and revelations our politicians use to hide what they feel, think or wish. Perhaps you can add to the above fractious list.