Coordinating messages on a topic is necessary in politics. It insures that everyone that might have the opportunity to speak or be queried on the subject is staying on topic and not giving personal interpretations that might stray from the intended message. That's why, after every significant political speech, many things happen simultaneously:
- The precis of the message (with excerpted quotes and one-liners) gets faxed and e-mailed to reporters, news editors, campaign coordinators, and movers and shakers nationwide.
- Digital versions of the audio and video of the excerpted quotes and one-liners gets uploaded to online repositories where press and campaign people can download and replay them for their various purposes.
Did you know that the Queen of England made a rare intervention in world issues by telling Blair of her grave concerns over the White House's stance on global warming*.
She wanted to raise awareness about the crisis and wanted Blair to intervene with Bush and other White House officials because she saw our publically spun position on the issue as thwarting worldwide action to alleviate the crisis.
The present climate crisis must not be spun. It must be open to rigorous and extended debate and overseen by a body that wants to get answers so that it can act intelligently and effectively. But in order for that to happen, White House spin has to stop so that real dialogue can begin.
More to follow shortly . . .
* As reported 10/31/04 in the London Observer
