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BIMBO Nominees for February 2008

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• Bimbo
• February 1, 2008
• by Spaeth Communications
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THE WINNING BIMBO

"We’ve got to make sure the rest of the United States doesn’t believe the only thing going on in Alaska is FBI probes and corruption trials,” said Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as she explained why she was posing for Vogue Magazine. (We’re all for posing for Vogue. Elizabeth Taylor said, “There’s no such thing as bad publicity,” but Governor Palin should have said, “Vogue’s pictures are just as beautiful as the scenery in Alaska, and we want everyone in the lower 48 states to come visit.”)

AP, “Alaska governor shows fearlessness,” Dec. 26, 2007

 

AND THE REST

“She was not on an all night bender,” explained Amy Winehouse’s publicist after the singer was found wandering outside her house before dawn wearing jeans, a red bra and mumbling incoherently. (The singer has had many publicized problems and cancelled appearances this past fall. Does anyone believe this? Her publicist would have been better limiting herself to the second half of her comment, “Amy is getting better and she needs space.”)

People Magazine, “Amy Winehouse had been asleep,” Dec. 4, 2007

“I want folks to understand that Florida is not going down the crapper,” said Florida’s top election official, Kurt Browning in response to allegations from a local official that there were massive errors in the voter data base which would invalidate election results.  (Mr. Browning’s remarks illustrate the perils of statistics. He added there was a ‘missing match,’ a potential problem with “only .94 percent of all applications.” This is the wrong thing to say because it confirms there are indeed problems, and because the listener is liable not to hear the ‘point’ and hear “.94 percent.” He should have said, “Our goal is always to be 100 percent correct, and we continually work toward that.”)

Naked Politics, “Browning: ‘Florida is not going down the crapper,” Dec. 8, 2007

“Absolutely nothing to hide,” said Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., about the peculiar $2 million earmark she sponsored for a Texas education company whose executives contributed $30,000 to her campaign. Company president, Randy Best, weighed in, “We never did anything that was even slightly improper.” (The issues, of course, are that earmarks in 2001 were indeed ‘hidden’ and we are cynical enough to wonder if other education companies in other states were favored by similar federal grants. It may not have been ‘improper,’ but it’s certainly an example of why voters overwhelmingly hate earmarks. Oink. Oink.)

The Dallas Morning News, “U.S. Senator facing ethics questions,” Jan. 11, 2008

 

THE WRONG WORD TO USE

‘Lynch’ as Golf Channel’s Kelly Tilghman found out when she said that in order to catch Tiger Woods, young pro-golfers would “have to lynch him in a back alley.” Tilghman was suspended and apologized profusely in the ensuing firestorm. (Woods’ agent graciously said, “It’s a non issue. Kelly and Tiger are friends. It might have been a poor choice of words but there was absolutely no ill intent.”  He’s right. She’s just painfully uneducated. That didn’t stop fear mongers like Rev. Al Sharpton from screaming for her head. And Golfweek Magazine ran a cover featuring the words “Caught In A Noose,” along with a picture. The editor was fired soon after the issue was sent to subscribers.)

USA Today, “Anchor apologizes for ‘lynch’ Tiger remark,” Jan. 9, 2008

ESPN.com, “Golfweek fires editor responsible for ‘noose’ imagery,” Jan. 18, 2008

 

 

WINNING BIMBO, ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE

“I did not bash my wife. I did not bash [my stepdaughter] Paula,” said Phil Koperberg, Australian regional cabinet member, during a nasty and public spat with his ex-wife who made the allegations. (The “I did not bash…” made headlines in Sydney and traveled around the world. That wouldn’t have happened if Koperberg has simply said, “The allegations are not true. It’s true we had a difficult marriage, but that’s all that’s appropriate to say publicly.”)

The Sydney Morning Herald, “I did not bash my wife or stepdaughter: Koperberg,” Dec. 3, 2007

 

 

WRONG THING TO SAY FOLLOWED BY INSINCERE APOLOGIES

“We have created a culture of violence (Israel and the Jews are the biggest player)…,” blogged Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mohandas K. “Mahatma” Gandhi, modern India’s founder and global icon of nonviolence. Grandson Gandhi, president and co-founder of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, raised a tsunami of criticism with his remarks, which also included a long riff on how “Jewish identity in the future looks bleak” and Jews should forgive the Holocaust and get over it.   (Gandhi had to back down and did so with an insincere apology beginning “My Apology for My Poorly Worded Post.” No, it wasn’t poorly worded. It was long and eloquent. It was just anti-Semitic and anti-Israel, and he clearly believed it. Arun Gandhi has since resigned from his post at the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence.)

“On Faith” Blog, The Washington Post, Newsweek.com, “Jewish Identity Can’t Depend on Violence,” Jan. 7, 2008

“On Faith” Blog, The Washington Post, Newsweek.com, “My Apology for My Poorly Worded Post,” Jan. 10, 2008

JTA, “Gandhi’s grandson quits peace institute,” Jan. 27, 2008

“We wrote whatever we could to win,” said Priscilla Ceballos, mother of a six-year-old girl who wrote an essay claiming her father had died in Iraq in order to win a trip to New York to see “tween” sensation Hannah Montana. Ceballos added, “It said to write an essay. It never said it had to be true…it was just an essay. We wrote whatever we could to win.”   Ms. Ceballos initially refused to admit she had written the essay for her daughter and made up the facts. Then, a few days later, on national television, she read from a prepared statement saying, “I sincerely apologize to those people who feel misled because of my bad judgment.” Feel misled? They were misled. And it wasn’t bad judgment. It was abominable behavior, sending a despicable message to her daughter.  

The Dallas Morning News, “False essay wins trip to see pop star,” Dec. 29, 2008

“We don’t think it’s going to become a giant taco stand,” said Mary Lou Rosemeyer, spokeswoman for the Kennywood Entertainment amusement park outside Pittsburgh, Pa., on the sale of the family-owned park to a Spanish company, Parques Reunidos. (Poor Ms. Rosemeyer triggered a heap of angry responses with this comment. It’s an example of how one can say all the right things, but the one stupid comment will get all the attention. Rosemeyer also said, “I know that it wasn’t an easy decision (to sell),” “I don’t think we’ll see any changes. We’ll simply be part of a larger company,” and “The park’s going to continue to be what it is, what we all love.” She had to apologize in an on-camera interview, noting “I meant it in a light, fun way, trying to be silly.” Contrary to the two examples above, Ms. Rosemeyer certainly did look and sound apologetic. The issue of concern here is that she’s their director of PR.)

Thepittsburghchannel.com, “Pittsburgh Owners Selling Kennywood, Sandcastle, Idelwild parks; ‘Taco’ talk stirs controversy,” Dec. 11, 2007

The Post-Gazette, “Park’s faithful fans less than amused,” Dec.  12, 2007

 

WRONG THING TO SAY…And we aren’t talking about apologies anymore

“I think people think this will open up violence and make the streets run red with blood,” said Republican Colorado State Rep. Cory Gardner, defending a House bill to give business owners expanded gun rights to use deadly force against intruders. (Oh Lord, when will they ever learn? He also said, “I believe everyone has a right to defend themselves,” and he should have quit there.)

The Denver Post, “House Bill 1066: The Make My Day Better bill,” Jan. 13, 2008

“You can’t shuck and jive at a press conference,” said New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo about the presidential primaries. The most interesting thing about this blurb in The New York Times was the lengths the paper went to. Normally, the media waits for people or their surrogates to defend themselves. The Times stepped up to the bat for Cuomo, including in the article, “A review of the interview, however, indicates that Mr. Cuomo was not referring to the black presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama, but was generally discussing how candidates should interact with voters.” (We trust The New York Times will display the same research and even-handed reporting to all the candidates. But don’t hold your breath.)

The New York Times, “Cuomo comment takes explaining,” Jan. 11, 2008

“A destructive force with a short-term perspective, levering companies and stripping their assets to enrich a few nasty people (like me), who don’t even pay their taxes on all that they get in such an unsavory manner,” is the popular perception of private equity investors, according to one of the most successful, Stephen A. Schwarzman, chairman of the Blackstone Group. What’s interesting about this is that Mr. Schwarzman made the comment in a speech last fall, and The New York Times reprised it in an article about a street protest and the screening of an independent movie, “The War on Greed, starring the Homes of Henry Kravis.” (While Mr. Schwarzman can say what he wants, this shows how flamboyant negative comments get reprinted. If he wanted to talk about the rotten reputation of Private Equity companies, he could have quoted someone else so it didn’t become his quote.)

The New York Times, “A Movie and a Protest Single Out Henry Kravis,” Dec. 6, 2007

“I deserve to get paid more, and I’m only a freshman and I’m complaining. Show me the money. Show me the money. That’s what it’s all about,” said Democratic New York State Senator Eric Adams, arguing for a pay increase. New York Legislators have the 3rd highest base salary, $79,500, in the country. (Campaign ad anyone?)

The New York Times, “Brooklyn Senator: ‘Show me the Money’”, Dec. 13, 2007    

“Screwballs and nuts,” is how Houston Republican District Attorney candidate, Kelly Siegler, defended a decision to keep a member of Houston’s Lakewood Church off of a jury. He also happens to be African-American. A legal transcript defending her position also noted that the potential juror was a member of the NAACP, which opposes the death penalty, and that this was a capital murder case.

(Ms. Siegler is running for District Attorney because her boss withdrew after an incriminating e-mail to his secretary came to light, after he had publicly denied any involvement with her.  Looks like there’s something in the office water.  Making it even worse, Siegler admitted never attending the mega church pastured by famous pastor Joel Osteen.)

The Houston Chronicle, “Church membership kept man off jury,” Jan. 10, 2008

“I am not retaliating against Joe Williams because I was mad at him,” said
former Alderman Ms. Dodson Randolph.   (This hilarious article deserves to be read in full as an example of why it’s a big mistake to go on and on, particularly to a reporter!)

Williamson Herald www.williamsonherald.com/home?id=52965  , “Randolph alleges ‘brief affair’ with city department head,” Dec. 18, 2007

 

SORRY WRONG NUMBER

President Bush gave out the wrong hotline number in announcing the administration’s plan to help homeowners facing foreclosure. He announced an 800 number while the correct number had an 888 prefix. (Excellent example of why phone numbers and websites should be written in large letters on easels during a speech.)

CNN, Dec. 6, 2008

Think Progress, “Bush gives out wrong mortgage hotline phone number,” Dec. 6, 2008

 

UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE MONTH

“He’s outside,” said James O’Hare, explaining why his friend, Virgilio Cintron, wasn’t there in person to cash his Social Security check. Cintron was indeed outside, dead, on a chair. (A police spokesman noted that the Hell’s Kitchen area of New York “has a rich history, but this is one for the books.”)

The New York Times, “Corpse Wheeled to Check-Cashing Store Leads to 2 Arrests,” Jan. 9, 2008

 

CALLING JEFF FOXWORTHY

"I ain’t that fat. I only weigh 277,” said Michael Borrelli, protesting a Louisiana restaurant’s decision to charge him and friend Ricky Labit more for multiple trips to the buffet line because of his size. (Labit recounted the incident to the press, noting that the waitress told him, “Y’all fat and y’all eat too much,” and that he ‘looked like he had a baby in the belly.’ Another example of why it’s a mistake to share too much with reporters.)

MSNBC.com, “’Hearty eater’ says buffet banned him,” Jan. 2, 2008

 

GOOD EXAMPLE

From the chairman of the bridges subcommittee of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials on the publication of the report on last summer’s Minneapolis bridge collapse. “I think there is a need to reassure the public that the bridges are safe,” said Mal Kerley. (Good example of a single quote being the right one.)

USA Today, “Expand bridge review, safety official urges,” Jan. 16, 2008