Civility in public discourse: Dueling with words
May 21, 2012 at 11:07 pm in Grand Forks Herald
Former N.D. Sen. Byron Dorgon talks civility in the political arena, encourages diversity of voicesIt may take a “message from the American people through the ballot box” to tame negative, demeaning politics and a “deliberate strategy of delay” that keeps Congress from acting effectively, former Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said in Grand Forks Monday. Continue Reading
Is it uncivil to ask Byron who he thinks he’s fooling with that awful combover?
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Yes, of course it is. It is never polite to comment on the personal appearance of someone not intimately known to oneself. If your spouse has a piece of spinach on their front tooth, you tell them discretely, but if it’s a stranger, you ignore it. I have always felt that pubic figures get far too much attention for what they look like and not enough for what they say.
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Yes. But don’t forget, JFK won the debates because what he looked like. Politicos have recognized that for decades. Lincoln today would never have been elected. Why do you think Heidi Heitkamp’s campaign picture is so out of date?
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JFK won the debate because Nixon lost it with his sweaty upper lip. Nixon actually got a bad rap for doing poorly, but your point is well taken. Now Lyndon Johnson didn’t win anything with his looks, that’s for sure.
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The story is that Nixon won according to those listening to the radio. Kennedy won for those watching TV. Perhaps the begiinning of style winning over substance.
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