What a full month! BIMBO comments from alleged musician Sophia Urista, Congressman Paul Gosar and Gov. Gavin Newsom, but VP Harris gets unfairly tagged with a BIMBO. Too much truth from Milwaukee County DA John Chisholm. An example of why not to say “no comment” from South Carolina. Examples of the Power of Bad Words from the Department of Justice, and from Reps. Lauren Boebert and IIhan Omar. A good example of how to make statistics verbally visual (and defend your budget) from NASA. Does body language matter? And a wonderful example of employee engagement from David’s Bridal.
THE WINNING BIMBO
“I’m not some sort of anti-vax, flat-earther,” said Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers when it was revealed that he was not actually vaccinated and had tested positive for COVID-19. During training camp, he told reporters that he had been “immunized.” He went on to say, “I believe strongly in bodily autonomy and the ability to make choices for your body, not to have to acquiesce to some sort of woke culture or crazed individuals who say you have to do something.” While we agree with some of his sentiment, he’s being criticized for what normal people would call lying. As the story developed, Rodgers made it worse by doubling down on his claim that he had done a lot of research – not shared with the public – and then ultimately gave a nationally publicized apology that illustrates how not to apologize. Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show again, he said, “I made some comments that people might’ve felt were misleading.” The weasel word being “misleading.” Then he claimed, “I take full responsibility for those comments.” Full responsibility? Meaning what?
The New York Times, “Rodgers confirms diagnosis and describes N.F.L. rules as unjust,” Nov. 5, 2021
THE RUNNERS-UP
“I’m not missing, nor am I unsafe,” ostensibly emailed missing Olympian and Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai who went, yes, missing, after posting November 2 an accusation that she had been sexually assaulted by a former vice premier of China, Zhang Gaoli. Her accounts disappeared (along with her) and the stilted email was sent to the World Tennis Association. Her freedom certainly is missing, and she clearly is in danger. Moreover, the message sent to women in China is that this will happen to them if they speak out.
The New York Times, “The Question the I.O.C. Is Too Weak to Ask,” Nov. 19, 2021
“It’s not a reward. I wasn’t a spy, I wasn’t working for the government,” protested Maria Butina who was convicted in the U.S. three years ago of operating as an unregistered foreign agent for the Russian government to build relationships with leading Republicans—apparently to influence elections and policy. Now, she’s an anointed member of President Putin’s party and will be an MP. What’s the tip off that she was correctly convicted? She’s marketing herself as an expert on America. Classic BIMBO comment.
The New York Times, “After 15 Months in U.S. Prisons, She Now Sits in Russia’s Parliament,” Nov. 19, 2021
“This variant is a cause for concern, not a cause for panic,” said President Biden in reference to the new Omicron coronavirus variant. We remember the scene in one of the Harry Potter movies where Harry says, “Don’t panic,” and as the monster becomes clear, his friend Ron Weasley says, “Can we panic now?” A classic case where the rest of the message about watching it carefully, taking precautions etc., gets overshadowed by the negative denial. What’s the conclusion? Panic!
The Hill, “Biden: Omicron coronavirus variant ‘cause for concern, not a cause for panic,’” Nov. 29, 2021
“I am not a shock artist,” wrote Sophia Urista, the frontwoman for the rock group Brass Against after urinating on a fan, on stage during her performance. While performing at the Welcome to Rockville festival in Daytona, Florida, she stated, “I gotta pee, and I can’t make it to the bathroom. So we might as well make a show out of it.” She sort of apologized with the BIMBO quote. Note it becomes the headline. From our point of view, she’s not an artist either.
The Daily Wire, “Female Rocker Who Urinated On Fan Apologizes: ‘I Am Not A Shock Artist,’” Nov. 17, 2021
Congressman Paul Gosar (R-AZ) released an animated video of himself killing representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). Gosar defended the video as “symbolic” of the debate over immigration and maintained that “I do not espouse violence or harm towards any Member of Congress or Mr. Biden.” He removed the video from Twitter but of course, it was downloaded, went viral and will live forever. The House censored him for it, and we support that. Perhaps we should have had a clue about how he would communicate because right after the January 6th Capitol protest/riot, he claimed, “I have never instigated violence. I have no criminal record of any type. I have never aided or abetted violence. I have not urged or supported violence.” His mastery of denials is practically legendary. He could give Lady Macbeth lessons.
The Hill, “Gosar faces increasing odds of censure on House floor,” Nov. 14, 2021
An example of an unfair BIMBO. Whatever you think of VP Kamala Harris, she was unfairly BIMBO-ed by the media. George Stephanopoulos asked whether she felt “misused or underused” by the White House. She replied, “No I don’t” adding, “I’m very, very excited about the work we’ve accomplished.” So, she did it exactly right and the media kicked her in the teeth. The quote made hundreds of headlines.
Politico, “Harris: I don’t feel misused by White House,” Nov. 18, 2021
“We are not trying to be oppressive,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom about the state’s new water restrictions which include suggestions of shortening the time of your shower. Newsom insisted these were not an indication that California was a “nanny state.” In this case, we agree with the Governor, and he did point out that the list of restrictions were “common sense.” Another example of why it’s important not to have what we call an “inverted message.” Stick with common sense.
Washington Examiner, “Drought-stricken California suffers the driest year in nearly a century,” Oct. 21, 2021
TOO MUCH TRUTH?
“Is there going to be an individual I divert, or I put into treatment program who’s going to go out and kill somebody? You bet. Guaranteed. It’s guaranteed to happen. It does not invalidate the overall approach,” said John Chisholm, the DA of Milwaukee County in 2007 arguing for radical bail reform policies. His prediction came true as Darrell Brooks, called a career criminal by news reports, drove his SUV into a Christmas parade in Waukesha, killing six people and wounding scores. Brooks had been arrested only two weeks earlier for punching the mother of his child and trying to run over her. He was freed on only $1000 bail. Chisholm just set back the real and timely issue of bail reform by decades. After the parade tragedy, his office called the $1000 bail “inappropriately low.” He should have apologized and committed immediately to re-thinking and restructuring bail policies.
The Wall Street Journal, “The Waukesha Parade Suspect Was Out on Bail. How the DA Is Probing How Bail Is Set,” Nov. 24, 2021
NEVER SAY NO COMMENT
A Columbia, SC race for mayor has turned nasty. Candidate Tameika Issac Devine is combating anonymous flyers charging her with fraud and other serious charges. “In my 19 years working for the citizens of Columbia, I have NEVER been charged with an ethics violation,” Devine said in her statement. Devine’s campaign said that the accusations in the recent flyers came from her opponents, but she could not say which one and they vigorously deny any connection. However, rumors link the flyers to a Republican operative, Mark Knoop. When asked about them, he said he had no comment. What do you hear? Sounds like they hit the "Mark." Notice her quote qualifies as a BIMBO.
The State, “Flyers about Devine’s past deals ignite Columbia mayor race,” Oct. 28, 2021
POWER OF BAD WORDS
A memo leaked showing that the Department of Justice was directing the FBI to put “threat tags” on parents complaining about school boards. The FBI made the brouhaha worse by saying they used tags like this all the time for drug dealers and human traffickers.
The Wall Street Journal, “FBI Tracks Threats Against Teachers, School-Board Members,” Nov. 16, 2021
ENOUGH ALREADY
“Saying I am a suicide bomber is no laughing matter” was the tweet from Rep. Ilhan Omar. What was this all about? Well, Rep. Lauren Boebert saw Rep. Omar in an elevator and said, “Well, she doesn’t have a backpack, we should be fine.” She then referred to Omar as the “jihad squad.” Then she repeated the story and the quips at another event to her supporters who apparently loved it. Of course, it went viral – wasn’t that the point? Boebert apologized – with another one of those smarmy “if I’ve offended anyone...” lines. We know the far corners of both parties love these smacks, but we recommend Boebert stop doing them. They’re juvenile and stupid and they offend people who might see things on real issues her way.
9 News, “Video shows Boebert using anti-Muslim rhetoric against fellow congresswoman,” Nov. 26, 2021
STATISTICS
We’re always talking about making statistics verbally visual. NASA is launching a program to try to intercept asteroids which might hit the earth. A space rock 65 feet long may not sound that big but in 2013, one “blew apart” 20 miles above a town in rural Russia. How big was the explosion? 30 times the energy of the bomb that leveled Hiroshima. NASA tells Congress there are about 1000 asteroids about 3300 feet across or larger coming “near” the earth. This sounds like a budget item we should be happy to fund.
The Wall Street Journal, “NASA Planetary Defense Mission Plans Aims to Push Distant Asteroid Off Its Path,” Nov. 24, 2021
BODY LANGUAGE
An instance where body language can be pointed at as the culprit (pun intended) comes from a court hearing for Sean Parnell, Republican candidate for US Senate in Pennsylvania. Parnell has been involved in a bitter divorce and custody battle with his estranged wife who accused him of choking her and hitting one of his children. He denied the charges but the judge hearing the case declared in favor of his wife, Laurie Snell, saying Parnell was “somewhat evasive” and “less believable,” adding “He was dressed very casually for his appearance in court, in blue jeans and untucked plaid shirts which did not show respect for the seriousness of the occasion. While testifying he looked mainly in the direction of his attorney and towards the members of the news media in the back of the courtroom rather than at me.”
The New York Times, “Sean Parnell Suspends G.O.P. Senate Bid in Pennsylvania,” Nov. 22, 2021
Similarly, the high-profile trial of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes is going on, and her defense is that she hyped the company and its prospects, but she didn’t lie (go figure that out). We’ll see if her delivery of testimony on the witnesses stand works. A reporter covering the trial wrote, “She detailed a patent that bore her name for an early concept of the company, as well as the help she got from Channing Robertson, a respected scientist and Stanford University professor who joined Theranos’s board. She was relaxed and confident, smiling widely and nodding before answering questions.”
The New York Times, “Elizabeth Holmes Hones Her Defense in Day 2 of Testimony,” Nov. 22, 2021
EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
David’s Bridal enlisted 300 employees as models when it found the COVID-19 pandemic had limited its access to professionals. They have 11,000 employees. Participation was voluntary and they wore dresses, tuxes, etc., and shot footage in their own homes. First, they posted them to social media. Then popularity made it bigger, and the company expanded it when stores opened. Employee engagement measures are up 20 percent. The head of the company’s supply chain used the photo shoot to actually propose to his girlfriend. She was confused at first. Now they’re married. Maybe that’s just what our supply chain needs, getting creative and enlisting employees.
The Wall Street Journal, “When Bonuses and Raises Aren’t Enough, Try Manicures and Free Clothes,” Nov. 3, 2021
The BIMBO Memo is a reminder not to repeat and deny a negative word because of how the listener hears words. When you repeat and deny a negative word, the listener is likely to overlook the denial and hear the opposite of what the speaker is trying to say. It’s named for the young woman who was caught with a high profile, but alas married man. She held a press conference and announced, “I am not a BIMBO,” thus causing everyone to think she was.
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