Political duckspeak
There are no comments for this page [ Add Comment ]Sunday, January 13, 2008
"... it was hoped to make articulate speech issue from the larynx without involving the higher brain centers at all. This aim was frankly admitted in the Newspeak word duckspeak, meaning 'to quack like a duck.'"
-- from George Orwell's "The Principles of Newspeak: an Appendix to 1984"
It's true that Orwell placed duckspeak in a more sinister context. However, the term is ripe for farce. Anyone who has witnessed the chattering class -- often called political pundits -- pontificate about the presidential election on TV or the Web has received an earful of "duckspeak."
In the hypercompetitive world of the blogs, MSNBC, Fox News, CNN ... the urge to be first, or at least unique, reigns. It does not matter if what is reported is true, or is grounded in reality. We were told repeatedly last fall that the campaigns of Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama were stagnant failures. It didn't matter that no one had voted. The pundits had spoken.
The pundits were wrong. It would be nice to hear or read some admission that all the hype of Sen. Hillary Clinton's inevitability or "McCain's failure" was duckspeak. Instead, we hear prattle such as "comeback kid" or "Obamamania."
The worst example of political duckspeak occurred in the five days between Obama's win in the Iowa caucus and Clinton's win in New Hampshire. Political consumers were told repeatedly that Clinton's campaign was near extinction. A media blizzard of shoddy polls predicted an Obama blowout win. Pundits, incredibly, discussed wild rumors that Clinton would drop out of the race.
We suspect most realized that it was nonsense, but duckspoke anyway. After all, it was the ticket to getting a slot on Fox, MSNBC or CNN.
On the Republican side, the latest example of duckspeak is that Michigan is a "do or die" state for Mitt Romney. That is ridiculous, but we constantly hear it. There are currently five Republican candidates with varying chances to get the GOP nomination. That has not changed for months.
Romney has competed in three state contests. He has finished first in one and second in the others. He leads in the delegate count. If he was to finish second, or even third, in Michigan's primary later this month, he would still be well-positioned financially to contend through Tsunami Tuesday on Feb. 5 and likely beyond.
Political junkies are blessed this year. There are two very competitive races for the nomination. There is a small chance -- more so in the GOP field -- that the races could extend to the conventions. That is unheard of this past generation. Enjoy the campaigns. Focus on policy and character.
Use the predictions, strategizing and other duckspeak on TV and online as comic relief. There'll be enough for everyone.
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