Mouthacity Redux

At the end of May, I wrote an article explaining a new term I invented, “mouthacity.” If you haven’t had a chance to read it, I suggest you go check it out. Today’s article is “Part 2” with some of the latest events involving people in the media saying things that should not be said. Each instance of mouthacity today comes from the political arena involving our two leading candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain. The interesting part is that neither one actually said anything wrong but they are in fact in the headlines over the statements that were made. Basically each candidate is getting free press and attention for statements which were made outside their control.

Let’s start with the Obama campaign side of things. Recently Jesse Jackson, a former Presidential Candidate, was caught inadvertently making a statement he believed was private. However, it turns out that his microphone was live and more than his conversation partner overheard what he spoke out loud. As far as I know, Jessie has not been intricately involved with the Obama campaign. However, he still plays a very large role in certain voting communities and he has a very large following. Jesse still has considerable political weight and the Democratic Party relies on his influence at times to get their message across to his following. What exactly did he say? Quoting Jesse Jackson: “Obama had been talking down to black people and added: I want to cut his nuts out.”

How does that statement strike you? Jesse Jackson, a Baptist Minister and Democratic Party leader, speaking with such blatant audacity to other people microphone on, or microphone off is beyond words. The statement he made wasn’t during a drunken stupor while rambling on or even some off the cuff remark made in passing. This statement was made in the setting of an interview to a fellow guest. Jesse, feeling that Obama was treating black people without their due respect, allowed his inner feelings to overtake his public persona and create a very disturbing “sound bite.” Did you catch that? I said persona. Jesse Jackson has a persona for his public image. He also has the “real” Jesse Jackson held within. He’s not the only one of us like that. Every single one of us packs around our various personas.

I dug a little deeper into Jesse’s past remarks featuring Obama. I also ran across this little tidbit: “Obama… acting like he’s white.” As I said before, Jackson allowed his personal feelings to become known. Wrong or right, he has feelings a certain way. However, a person in his position speaking in a public forum should NEVER allow his inner most, and potentially disparaging remarks be known outside of his own mind. Jesse is a public figure and people look to him for guidance. His followers expect him to uphold his position with dignity. His remarks are in no way dignified. He has lost the respect from many of his community for such indignant barbs spoken about Obama. Jesse of course immediately responded to the situation and apologized to Obama and his campaign and stated that he is unequivocally behind his campaign for the United States Presidency.

Was Jesse sorry because of the damage he has done to those who follow him? Was he sorry for the potential damage he could have brought Obama? Or, was he sorry because he couldn’t temper his tongue? Was he sorry because he has damaged his reputation as a leader amongst the Democratic Party and black community? Sure, Obama has received a major boost in positive publicity from this episode from the fact that Jesse has assumed the “heel” position. During most major campaigns, the “heel” position is reserved for the opposition, not for someone within your own party and race. It was in very bad judgment for Jesse to allow his mouthacity infiltrate his conversations to say the least.

On the other side of the race, John McCain’s campaign has also come under scrutiny because of something said from within his own party. Well, it wasn’t just someone within his party. It was one of his top advisors, Phil Gramm. Phil recently made statements that the nation is in “mental recession” and we are a “nation of whiners.” While these statements are not as degrading as what Jesse has spoken, they are still derogatory and spoken by someone in a position where they should not have been made. McCain has publicly retracted and admonished the statements made by his own supporter and confidant. While I do agree that our country seems to be in a state of “mental recession,” it is not the place of a Presidential campaign to publicly state this opinion. Gramm stated the “whiner” comment was directed at the nation’s current leaders. He has chosen to stay behind his “mental recession” comment.

Was the following statement taken out of context as Gramm has implied? Gramm, “We have sort of become a nation of whiners. You just hear this constant whining, complaining about a loss of competitiveness, America in decline,” said the former Texas senator. “You’ve heard of mental depression; this is a mental recession.” Personally, I think the context is that he is speaking about the citizens of our country and not just the leaders. When you are speaking about the nation, you are speaking of everyone, not just the leaders. Gramm has tried to backpedal his way into a position that is acceptable by media standards of placing blame on government officials. It’s ok to call the government whiners and in a state of mental recession. It is not ok to call the entire public those things from a political point of view. Yes, as I said above, I agree with the mental recession comment. Go check out my article on IQ and you’ll have a clear understanding why. I do not agree that our nation is a bunch of “whiners” however.

Citizens will complain. There is a difference between whining and voicing a legitimate complaint or opinion. People are worried about our country. People are worried about our economic state. Sure, we don’t have all the data those in offices of power have, but people are honestly concerned. To classify our citizens as whiners for having honest to goodness concerns about where our country is headed is flat out arrogant and egotistical. Gramm needs to remember his position and help the campaign he is working for, not damage it. This does not speak well of McCain in the sense that he has Gramm as a top advisor for his campaign. The publicity for the McCain campaign definitely was of the wrong kind.

I believe mouthacity will always be an issue in our country. People fear no retribution because there are always two simple ways to backpedal. The first being of course to tell everyone how you were misquoted and your comments were taken out of context. The second being the end all, be all, failsafe saying, “I’m sorry.” We have seen both of these used here. Jesse says he’s sorry and Gramm says he was taken out of context. Great, I believe you. Not quite. I believe both people said what they truly felt and it wasn’t agreed with and they have had to deal with the ramifications. People are people no matter what position they are in. However, if you are in a position where leadership, dignity, and respect are of the utmost importance, you cannot allow your mouth to blurt every single thought you may have. Money, power, and ego eventually take over those in such positions and in the end, they believe they can say and do whatever they want. They are wrong.

Citation: http://www.cnn.com/

Citation: http://news.yahoo.com/