In Politics, Words Matter

In politics, as in life, words matter. They mean precisely what they say, not necessarily what we mean them to say. Once they are uttered, once they enter the public domain, they cannot be unsaid. All the explanations and clarifications in the world are of no use. Words take on a life of their own.

This morning (February 15, 2012), CNN trumpted a "surge" in support for Rick Santorum over Mitt Romney as the Republican presidential nominee. Yet the gap between them is only 2%. This is a surge?

CNN also raised the specter of "class warfare" because Santorum is the favorite by a wide margin among blue-collar voters, whereas white-collar voters prefer Romney. By the same token, gender warfare could be said to have erupted between the two camps (men for Santorum, women for Romney).

Meanwhile, Santorum himself says he is a "full-spectrum conservative". This could be interpreted as meaning that his base is wider than merely Tea Party patriors and white evangelicals. But it can also be seen as an attempt to please everyone at the risk of pleasing no one. At least he's not "severely" conservative as Romney claimed to be at CPAC.

Santorum has previously said that he "cares about 100% of America". This is patently false. He clearly does not care about pro-choice advocates, or about lesbians and gays who want their relationships to enjoy the legal status of marriage.

CNN and Santorum, how about a little truth in advertising? Let's take the rhetoric down a notch, shall we?

Santorum's Smooth Speech to a CPACked Audience

Wow... I'm a Canadian, can't vote in the Republican primaries and caucuses, much less the US general election in November. But I sure would have liked to be at the CPAC conference this past weekend.

I did catch Rick Santorum's speech live on CNN Friday morning, and was pleasantly surprised. He looked more presidential, lost the cowboy tie, aced his quote of the Declaration of Independence (no stumbling over the word "Creator" this time), and even managed to make a joke.

By the way, loved the joke just before Santorum's speech: A conservative, a moderate, and a liberal walked into a bar. The bartender said, "Hi, Mitt!" (I told that joke over dinner on Saturday night. They didn't get it. Their loss...)

Santorum was no doubt buoyed by a recent trifecta/hat trick of wins in Colorado, Missouri, and Minnesota. He definitely had the wind in his sails. (However, Mitt took Maine, despite Ron Paul skipping CPAC to focus his efforts in that state. CPAC also gave Romney its reluctant blessing over Santorum.)

P.S. - I didn't see Sarah Palin's speech but I read about it in the newspaper. (Yes, even here in Ottawa, Canada -- the other capital.) I think her line about Obama turning a shining city on a hill into a sinking ship was not the most appropriate metaphor. Couild the Tea Party be accused of jettisoning cargo overboard, like its namesake of the revolutionary era? Just a thought ...