Authenticity and message discipline – are they mutually exclusive?
After her wooden, some might say robotic, performances during the general…
By Robert Taylor on the October 16th, 2017
If you want to see a compelling political interview, take a look at this. It’s Trump supporter Newt Gingrich sticking up for his man in an angry confrontation (that’s the only word for it) with hot-shot TV journalist Megyn Kelly.
Two weeks from the election, Gingrich was, we presume, trying to help Trump win votes. So did he succeed? Well, if you just read a transcript of this interview, you might think so. He made some good points, made valiant attempts to bridge away from Trump to the perceived flaws of Hillary and Bill, and tried to turn the story into one about anti-Trump media bias.
But most people will not read a transcript of this interview, but will see the video, complete with raised voices and, in Gingrich’s case, finger jabbing. As I’ve often written before in this blog, anger attracts only people who already agree with you. But it’s a turn-off to undecided voters.
Of course, Megyn Kelly must have been delighted. As a TV journalist, she wants a great story – and boy did she get it!
As for Trump, I’d be mad as hell. With friends like Gingrich, who needs Hillary Clinton?
