News often arranges things such that common themes come to mind. An example is the image of leaders and the superficial aspect of their image & words vs. the hidden policy beliefs.
This happened to me today as the election of a new pope, Mitt Romney’s updates on his “47 percent” remarks and a new PR course was launched by the new leadership in China.
“It's not what I meant. I didn't express myself as I wished I would have. You know, when you speak in private, uh, you don't spend as much time thinking about how something could be twisted and distorted and -- and it could come out wrong and be used,” he went on to say.
I don’t buy this just as I didn't buy many of the empty messaging of past conservative like George Bush (see Pict above for a 47% like truth slipping out). There is perception versus reality issue here. Supporters & the funding class pay $50K or so for a meal and expect an idea of policy. Romney is papering over real differences about what is likely intended policy and you can see some of this in the Ryan budget where the funding class’s taxes are not raised but programs for the 47% are and account for about 60% of Ryan’s budget savings.
I had a similar feeling of perception and policy reality
differences when listening to the coverage of the new Pope Francis, aka Jorge Mario Bergoglio. He’s describes as a Jesuit known for
simplicity and his
very humble lifestyle, emphasis there, but also and conservatism. He’s described as flashback to an older view
of Catholic clerics as humble leaders.
And yes he did rode the bus because he gave up a cardinal’s chauffeured limo.
This simplicity has an undeniable appeal and I like a “Prince
of the Church” who cooked his own meals & chose to live in a simple apartment
rather than the archbishop’s palace. I
like his
activism for the poor. But a deeper
look shows his conservative stance on some really key issues including contraception,
marriage, the role of women and Liberation
Theology (too much a mix of Jesus’s message and a socialist one).
When the Argentinian
government considered making same-sex marriage legal he was reported as saying:
"Let's not be
naive, we're not talking about a simple political battle; it is a destructive
pretension against the plan of God. We are not talking about a mere bill, but
rather a machination of the Father of Lies that seeks to confuse and deceive
the children of God."
It’s enough to generate
other views of the new pope - A
pope so retro as to seem oddly new (Anthony Faiola ). That’s a view of the
conservative substance living under a kinder, gentler veneer.
As noted there new
leader Xi and his top advisers have introduced:
“something previously unseen among the higher
echelons of Chinese government: a retail politician…
The tactics familiar seem
familiar (ala Romney or Francis) — getting control of the message and image
with a simple narrative - attacking problems
in general terms (government waste) and casting the new leader as a
plainspoken, unadorned man of the people.
The approach reflects a
new reality confronting not just China’s leaders in the modern age. As
noted by many innovations like social media and cellphones weaken central
control over the narrative. This week CPAC isn’t he only PR campaign boosting leader’s
image as the pope and China’s Xi ease
into the ceremonial roles and struggle
with the various with public discontent, disillusionment & even tea party
level rage over failed policies and hierarchical/oligarchic blocks of power.
Images
George Bush’s Litmus test for Judges-
policy & message: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=221x11212
Romney 47%: http://blogs.denverpost.com/opinion/2012/09/19/cartoons-day-mitt-romneys-47-percent-comments/25544/
Xi: WaPo artice cited
