Is there a term for political backpedaling?
November 22, 2005 7:36 AM Subscribe
Is there a term for the political backpedaling "strategy" (other than political backpedaling...) of being extremely critical of a political opponent through a press secretary or other third party, and then backing down, possibly to the point of being complimentary?
The most recent example is White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan accusing U.S. Rep. John Murtha of "endorsing the policies of Michael Moore and the extreme liberal wing of the Democratic Party", followed shortly by Cheney (CHENEY! [/khan]) calling Murtha "a good man...a patriot", with Bush making similar comments.
If there isn't a term for this, there should be. Suggestions? Mine is "date rape cuddling".
The most recent example is White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan accusing U.S. Rep. John Murtha of "endorsing the policies of Michael Moore and the extreme liberal wing of the Democratic Party", followed shortly by Cheney (CHENEY! [/khan]) calling Murtha "a good man...a patriot", with Bush making similar comments.
If there isn't a term for this, there should be. Suggestions? Mine is "date rape cuddling".
Best answer: Mine is "delegation of assholery"
Though I like "mud and flower slinging," too.
posted by googly at 8:18 AM on November 22, 2005
Though I like "mud and flower slinging," too.
posted by googly at 8:18 AM on November 22, 2005
Cutting and running?
Let us pause to admire the three-peat of the increasingly odious Jean Schmidt. Fresh from election victory over Paul Hackett, sheposted by kirkaracha at 8:43 AM on November 22, 2005
(1) attacked the courage of decorated Marine veteran John Murtha on the floor (coming from this particular artillery, a devastating hit; imagine the shuddering impact of a ping-pong ball striking the USS Missouri direct amidships), being careful to
(2) attribute the attack to someone else (Cong. Danny Bubp, another Ohio profile in courage), and within a few minutes,
(3) clarified that the words "...send Congressman Murtha a message" didn't apply to any actual US Congressman, brilliantly illustrating her premise that "cowards cut and run."
I don't think there is such a specific term. But you're already most of the way there with "backpedaling". It's a metaphor that is richly descriptive. Only if the context isn't political would you need to include "political" and so "backpedal" does a lot of work in a single word.
Although, it occurs to me that you may not quite want what "backpedaling" conveys given that you mention "strategy". "Retreat" in this context would imply a strategy, while "backpedal" implies a more disorganized and hasty retreat from a probably foolish attack. However, your example and what is typical of the Bush administration lately are such that "backpedaling" is more accurately descriptive than "strategy".
I think reporters and commentators of political news might use something like "change strategy" or "change tack" to describe an orderly, intelligent retreat from a strategy.
"Cutting and running" implies a near-complete explicit concession of the disputed position—an implication that may not be appropriate.
The best metaphor for this is militaristic—as Clausewitz said, politics is war continued by other means—so you might try looking through some war/battle strategy texts to find a more appropriate term. Based upon my own inability to think of one, I'd guess that any term you find this way won't be in wide use. But that's okay—good writing finds fresh metaphors and avoids stale ones.
Finally, re-reading your question, I see that you might intend something specific to personal attacks. I can't think of anything that is that specific but I can understand what you're looking for—the attacked party is a means to an end and retreating from that attack is not at all necessarily a retreat from the disputed position, much less a concession of it. Given that, if you use one of the terms mentioned and make sure the context is "attack of a person incidental to fighting for a disputed political position" and not merely the position itself, you'll have a fair amount of both accuracy and precision.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 10:44 AM on November 22, 2005
Although, it occurs to me that you may not quite want what "backpedaling" conveys given that you mention "strategy". "Retreat" in this context would imply a strategy, while "backpedal" implies a more disorganized and hasty retreat from a probably foolish attack. However, your example and what is typical of the Bush administration lately are such that "backpedaling" is more accurately descriptive than "strategy".
I think reporters and commentators of political news might use something like "change strategy" or "change tack" to describe an orderly, intelligent retreat from a strategy.
"Cutting and running" implies a near-complete explicit concession of the disputed position—an implication that may not be appropriate.
The best metaphor for this is militaristic—as Clausewitz said, politics is war continued by other means—so you might try looking through some war/battle strategy texts to find a more appropriate term. Based upon my own inability to think of one, I'd guess that any term you find this way won't be in wide use. But that's okay—good writing finds fresh metaphors and avoids stale ones.
Finally, re-reading your question, I see that you might intend something specific to personal attacks. I can't think of anything that is that specific but I can understand what you're looking for—the attacked party is a means to an end and retreating from that attack is not at all necessarily a retreat from the disputed position, much less a concession of it. Given that, if you use one of the terms mentioned and make sure the context is "attack of a person incidental to fighting for a disputed political position" and not merely the position itself, you'll have a fair amount of both accuracy and precision.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 10:44 AM on November 22, 2005
Mine is "mud and flower slinging"
Or, if you will, turd vs. blossom.
posted by Pollomacho at 11:31 AM on November 22, 2005
Or, if you will, turd vs. blossom.
posted by Pollomacho at 11:31 AM on November 22, 2005
Seems like a pretty good example of sock puppetry to me.
posted by jenovus at 1:55 PM on November 22, 2005
posted by jenovus at 1:55 PM on November 22, 2005
When we all know who's behind an attack, yet the instigator (or chief beneficiary) refuses to front up, my dictionary automatically opens to chickenshittiness (from High German Huhnenscheißenheit).
posted by rob511 at 8:11 PM on November 22, 2005
posted by rob511 at 8:11 PM on November 22, 2005
Best answer: Having a flack or junior make the charges is called a proxy attack (yes, even before the internet).
Backing away from the charges is disassociating or distancing oneself. Powell distanced himself from the charges. Or just backing away, as if from a fight.
Obviously there's something Machiavellian in "keeping your enemies closer" and damning with faint praise, but there isn't a word specifically for getting all cuddly with your opponent, that I know of. There are words for false or unfelt praise, such as blandishment, flattery, or perhaps blarney or soft soap. Hypocrisy?
Note how unsurprising it is that the Murtha nastiness came from the absolute most junior member of Congress.
posted by dhartung at 9:33 AM on November 23, 2005
Backing away from the charges is disassociating or distancing oneself. Powell distanced himself from the charges. Or just backing away, as if from a fight.
Obviously there's something Machiavellian in "keeping your enemies closer" and damning with faint praise, but there isn't a word specifically for getting all cuddly with your opponent, that I know of. There are words for false or unfelt praise, such as blandishment, flattery, or perhaps blarney or soft soap. Hypocrisy?
Note how unsurprising it is that the Murtha nastiness came from the absolute most junior member of Congress.
posted by dhartung at 9:33 AM on November 23, 2005
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posted by Opposite George at 7:52 AM on November 22, 2005