What a month! BIMBOs come from both sides of the aisle, featuring the editor of a new Tea Party website, the new CEO of The New York Times and its public editor (in separate incidents), plus Angus T. Jones from “Two and a Half Men,” Apple’s marketing chief, MSNBC President Phil Griffin, a teamster at the now-defunct Hostess company, the wife of a public company’s CEO who has developed a taste for private airplane travel, ex-Penn State President Spanier’s lawyers, Toronto’s colorful Mayor Rob Ford who also adds a more effective apology. There are Wrong Thing to Say examples from Sen. Marco Rubio and Paula Broadwell’s biography. An ambitious 16-year-old CEO gives us a sign of the times and Tim Tebow responds graciously to public criticism.
BIMBO CO-WINNERS
“This party is not broken,” said Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) speaking to a Republican Men’s Club in Huntsville. (We know the establishment position is that the Republicans got “beat on the ground game,” but we think much more is involved. The heavy emphasis on PAC funded television advertising is out-of-date. The fundamental analysis and strategy that the Democrats and the President couldn’t turn out their base was wrong. Something certainly is “broken.” Note the quote got into the headline.)
Alabama.com, “U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby to Huntsville Republicans: ‘This party is not broken,’” Nov. 17, 2012
“Neither I nor anyone else in the administration intended to mislead the American people,” said UN Ambassador Susan Rice three weeks after the September 11 attack on the Benghazi embassy that led to the death of four Americans including the U.S. ambassador to Libya. (Even though I only spent one year at the FBI as a White House Fellow, one of the first lessons I learned was “don’t speculate, particularly if you don’t know the facts.” Additionally, my boss, Judge Bill Webster, taught us to “smell” when information wasn’t accurate. The public expects the UN ambassador to use her common sense – even if the intelligence agency provided talking points to her. Again, note the comment made it into the headline.)
Politico, “Rice: We didn’t intend to mislead on Benghazi,” Nov. 27, 2012
RUNNERS-UP
“We don’t need our supposed better in the mainstream media telling us which stories or what we should think. We don’t mindlessly mimic the talking points of Washington leaders,” said Todd Cefaratti, editor of the Tea Party News Network. (The tone is absolutely wrong. It’s snappy and sophomoric, plus it’s a wasted opportunity. They should have stressed that the launch of the network is an opportunity for a grassroots, conservative voice in reporting the news.)
Politico, “The Tea Party gets a news site,” Oct. 31, 2012
“I believe that it will not in any way affect my job which I’m starting right now as chief executive of The New York Times Company,” said Mark Thompson, former director-general of the BBC and, as he noted, the new CEO of The New York Times. (Thompson leaves the BBC as it is engulfed in several scandals, most recently a report that accused a former British politician of child sex abuse – which it had to recant. Thompson’s arrival generated comments from writers and bloggers questioning whether he arrives “under a cloud.” Again, it’s the wrong quote; he should have said, “The New York Times is a unique organization and my goal is to advance all its initiatives.”)
Poynter.org, “BBC in ‘ghastly mess’ after resignations, as its former leader takes reins at NYT,” Nov. 12, 2012
“Filth,” was how “Two and a Half Men” star Angus T. Jones described his own show in a video for his church, adding “If you watch ‘Two and Half Men,’ please stop watching and filling your head with filth.” (After the predictable fire storm, Jones hastily backtracked with an equally mealy-mouthed apology, “I apologize if my remarks reflect me showing indifference to and disrespect of my colleagues and a lack of appreciation of the extraordinary opportunity of which I have been blessed.” Never apologize with an “if.” If? Of course the remarks reflected indifference and disrespect. Fortunately, the network appears to be treating him like a spoiled child who is not to be taken seriously.)
Fox News, “Angus T. Jones apologizes after ‘Two and a Half Men’ remarks,” Nov. 27, 2012
“I don’t think it’s punitive,” wrote The New York Times Public Editor Margaret Sullivan about a new policy to review the Jerusalem Bureau Chief Jodi Rudoren’s social media posts, a word echoed by The New York Times spokesperson Danielle Rhoades Ha to New York Magazine. (The flap came about because Rudoren’s posts were considered hostile to Israel’s position. Also notice that the word “punishment” is in the headline.)
Poynter.org, “NYT: Jodi Rudoren’s social media arrangement not a punishment,” Nov. 29, 2012
“It’s not just a shrunken down iPad,” said Apple Marketing Chief Phil Schiller as the company released the iPad mini. (This is a classic example of a negative/positive quote. Schiller also said, “It’s an entirely new design.” He should have stopped there.)
US News, “Will the iPad Mini Be Successful?” Oct. 23, 2012
“This channel has never been the voice of Obama,” said MSNBC President Phil Griffin, adding “We weren’t just shilling for Obama.” (These comments came in an interview with The Huffington Post’s Michael Calderone who added that "Griffin acknowledges that his hosts are more likely to agree with Obama on policy matters than with Republicans, but rejects comparisons to Fox News." And again, note that the comment made the headline.)
The Weekly Standard, “MSNBC President: ‘This Channel Has never Been the Voice of Obama. Ever.’” Nov. 21, 2012
“I don’t really feel betrayed,” said Teamster Luigi Peruzzi, a Hostess driver commenting on the bakers’ union unwillingness to accept a deal offered by the company to resume operations and create a way to exit bankruptcy. (But they were betrayed by the bakers’ union which declined to agree to changes in work rules. The question is: why didn’t Hostess workers believe management which said it would be forced to liquidate? If you’re going to make a threat, you better follow through. The last time the company said it would liquidate the assets, it didn’t.)
The Wall Street Journal, “Hostess Union Clings to Hope,” Nov. 19, 2012
“In today’s world there’s not going to be any abuse,” said Mary Brock, whose husband is CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. of Atlanta about reports that the company jet was ferrying her to games for the WNBA team, the Atlanta Dream, which she co-owns. (Press reports found numerous examples where CCE jets flew to cities on the same day as Dream games. Brock claimed she was accompanying her husband but CCE’s business is in Europe. She should have said, “We’re going to double check that everything was done correctly.”)
The Wall Street Journal, “Lines Blur Over Wife’s Use of CEO’s Jets,” Nov. 13, 2012
“Spanier has committed no crime,” wrote defense lawyers for former Penn State President Graham Spanier as part of the ongoing investigation of former football coach Jerry Sandusky. (Spanier’s attorneys got it right when they said, “He looks forward to the opportunity to clear his good name and well-earned national reputation for integrity.” We’re puzzled by the attack of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett who stated that the charges were “politically motivated.”)
Associated Press, “Penn State ex-President Spanier Heads to Court,” Nov. 7, 2012
“I never believed there was a conflict of interest,” said Rob Ford, Toronto’s quotable and colorful mayor, adopting an unusually humble demeanor after a court ruled that he broke conflict of interest laws and will be removed from the city council and ineligible to run in a replacement election. (Ford initially attacked Justice Charles Hackland saying it was “left wing politics,” and that he was guilty only of trying to raise funds for children to play soccer. In an understatement, Ford noted, “Maybe I could have expressed myself in a different way,” a quote that also made the headline.)
Toronto Star, “Ford’s apology: ‘Looking back, maybe I could have expressed myself in a different way,’” Nov. 27, 2012
WRONG THING TO SAY
“Whether the Earth was created in seven days or seven actual eras, I’m not sure we’ll ever be able to answer that. It’s one of the great mysteries,” said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in an interview with GQ where he seemed to endorse teaching creationism. (Sen. Rubio is a smart man. He should have quoted Dr. Daniel Foster, chairman emeritus of UT Southwestern’s Department of Internal Medicine, who often quotes Notre Dame’s Father Hesburgh who said, “Give me the beginning and you can have the rest.” Dr. Foster, a noted researcher who has won many international prizes, notes that science and faith occupy different realms.)
The Huffington Post, “Marco Rubio, Actual Age of the Earth is ‘One of the Great Mysteries,’” Nov. 19, 2012
Paula Broadwell’s biography on the website of the Institute for Defense & Business notes that she was “embedded with the general,” referring to General David Petraeus, the subject of a biography Broadwell wrote. (We’re still shocked by the entire affair and stunned by the General’s behavior. The Institute should have immediately reviewed its own website and adjusted the language.)
The Washington Post, “The general and the biographer,” Nov. 12, 2012
SIGN OF THE TIMES
“I don’t care how personalized it is, I don’t have the time to read through thousands of articles,” said 16-year-old Nick D’ Aloisio, CEO of app developer Summly. He’s developed an app that summarizes information. (We don’t know whether to cheer or cry. Nick dropped out of high school to start his company and he has attracted high-profile investors. That’s great. He is competing successfully against other app developers who are developing ways to help users see only what they’re interested in. Also great. But his goal is that we should have only “enough [information] to sound clever at a dinner party.” Surely we want more than that.)
CNET, “Teenage CEO of Summly wants to ‘Cliff Note’ the news,” Oct. 31, 2012
GOOD EXAMPLE
The New York Daily News recently published anonymous quotes from New York Jets criticizing their teammate, Tim Tebow. The charismatic football player had a gracious response, saying “It’s a little disappointing…but I’ve got a bunch of great relationships in this locker room.” (Exactly right. Don’t take the bait to snap back.)
USA Today, “Tebow trashing gets NFL talking,” Nov. 15, 2012
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