A short thread on what is considered dignified behavior in politics, just because its become interesting to me. Will start in 1946. In June of that year, President Truman hears that Senator Tobey of New Hampshire has publicly released a copy of a letter that Truman had sent him
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Truman, irate, sends Tovey a letter of his own, which the president then releases publicly. In coruscating rhetoric for the time, Truman tells Covey he needs to "cool off"
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This action by the president appals his own chief of staff, William Leahy, who believed it was "undignified" of Truman as president to get involved in such a spat. You can see the entry from Leahy's diary below
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Jump ahead to 1992 (when MTV showed music videos). In that year candidate Bill Clinton appeared on an MTV political show and answered questions about whether he inhaled or not (he he) or (most shocking) if he wore boxers or briefs!
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And those responses were used by Republicans to attack Clinton (particularly the underwear issue) because they were undignified. Ha.
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Now we have this from last night. The president of the United States calling his opponent "dumb" in a public debate. No comment needed (though interesting how the Republicans dont seem to be appalled by Trump's lack of dignity
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Now that we have reached the lowest threshold possible on what is dignified behaviour, I can only hope there is some kind or regression. Why, because actually dignified rhetoric works, especially when compared with the childish insults passing for politics now.
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Take a look at this speech by Rep Ocasio-Cortez. Though people might disagree, I would argue it was the single most effective speech of the last few years--precisely because she used dignity to put those who had insulted her into their places
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btw--if anyone can show a more effective speech in the US or UK over the last few years, come forward. I bet its not as good as this
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So, I have no idea where we are heading and whether Trump has so fully demeaned political rhetoric that we can not come back for decades. Maybe, though I hope not
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