If the C.E.O. of a large corporation walks into an office and asks an entry-level associate what his/her challenges are on a day to day basis, should the associate read a scripted answer or should the associate respond honestly?
This is the question that comes to mind when I read this sad report from today's news.
If the Top Dog doesn't want the honest truth then why in hell does he even ask?
I'm sure there have been past Presidents that have employed this tactic, but that doesn't mean it's acceptable.
Friday, October 14, 2005
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4 comments:
You need to understand something about how the military works--the real military, not what you see on television and games. Here I can speak from extensive personal experience.
Soldiers are not paid to express personal political opinions. They can vote any way they choose, but when it comes to public perception, they have one job and one job only: carry out the orders of their duly appointed and elected leaders, no matter which political party they belong to, and no matter what a soldier's personal opinion of the poltician in question. This is most especially true regarding the President of the United States of America. He is called the Commander-and-Chief for a reason, after all.
Political opinions are what the military is protecting your right, as a civilian, to express. It is not a right they exercise themselves, and for good reason.
Before you bad-mouth this sort of staged-for-the-press dog-and-pony show, you should consider that it serves a very real purpose. The extremely powerful military of this country is accountable entirely and deliberately to elected civilian authority. It is the solider's job to do exactly, precisely as his civilian masters say. Too much questioning of that civilian authority leads places that, believe me, you most definintely do not want the military going.
So, yes; it's staged. That's the way it works; it's the way it's always worked, under all Presidents, of whatever political party. The Democrats know that; they're just jumping onto a bandwagon of opportunity to exploit public ignorance.
Soldiers do not express their personal opinions vis-a-vis their job and superiors. They just do their job, and keep their mouths shut except when and where they are given permission to speak. You don't have to like it, but remember that there is not a direct correlation between your civilian life and real military life. They are entirely separate universes, and follow different sets of rules. And every one of those men is a professional and a volunteer.
Do not make the mistake of judging the President and his advisors from such an incident. Remember that all press conferences are staged, not just the military ones. You don't really believe that politicians stand up in front of a couple hundred amateurs and open themselves up for random questions, do you? If any of those press reps in the White House Press Room ask the wrong kind of question one too many times, they'll never be invited back into that room again. There are rules that the political game is played by, and staged press conferences, town hall meetings, etc., are a part of those rules.
Brutal honesty sounds like a great idea in principle, but it leaves a huge mess on the carpet in practical reality.
Where I work, the CEO has a yes man. Well actually a yes woman. I was on a project once with the two of them and sat there and watched the yes woman lie to the soon to be CEO about the status of the project. If I was a CEO I would want to know the truth not some line of bull. But, that's just me.
Talk about being scripted. The Today Show had one that really was just that: http://newsbusters.org/node/2199
And once again the Jar (egg) head has stated exactly how such events are conducted. I remember when the first Bush (VP at the time) came to Okinawa. We were told he may stop to ask some questions and to be prepared. Prepared meant to have a clear and concise answer to what ever the question maybe so as not to make the Marine Corps look bad. If that is considered scripted them yes all media events are scripted
Thanks jaregghead for pointing out some of the fine lines on the administration's broad strokes. I am certain the civilian and military universes are separate and have different rules they are expected to abide by. What interests me is when these political minded suits try to pull one over on the voting public. It seems like a new low, but I'm sad to agree it is likely just commonplace.
Thanks carnelian I agree that the CEO and or president of a nation should want to hear some truth from time to time.
Fundy, thanks for your input.
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