POLLS, FAIRY TALES AND LYNCHINGS

While analysts got it wrong predicting New Hampshire primary results, one thing’s for sure—there’s power in each vote and citizens still have loud political voices. Never underestimate the power of hard work, perseverance and ongoing contact (face time and phones) during the combat of a political campaign.

Make sure you’re part of the process. And, consider the power of words as you listen or craft messages. Political campaigns provide an excellent pressure cooker forum to study marketing communications up close and personal. See what makes the candidates tick and their opponents squirm. You can learn a lot and effectively use these oratory and negotiation techniques to sway opinion, pitch ideas, sell yourself or your clients’ products.

Think about:

> Pew Research Center predictions of future primary votes being solidly cast along lines of gender, race and class

> Bill Clinton’s comment regarding Barak Obama’s campaign being a “fairy tale”

* It’s a simple, easy-to-understand statement that portrays something as not true, without going into details or being vicious

* Can cause some (like me) to cringe, if you support Obama (I do)

* Questions raised: Is Clinton saying Harvard educated Sen. Obama, a Black man, is ephemeral, a fairy tale? Is a Black man or any man (John Edwards), not “allowed” to put their hat in the ring against the Clinton political machine? Is “Papa” (Father Bill) saying Obama voters, of any ethnicity, are naive souls who believe in fairy tales?

Words are powerful tools. Words can convey wisdom, or sway elections. You decide for yourself with your voice, your vote, your vibrant debate of issues.

Tiger Woods and the “L” Word
http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=3186158

In case you missed it, on January 4, Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman said today's young players should "lynch Tiger Woods in a back alley," as she described his dominance in the golf world. She later apologized and Woods' agent called the story a "non-issue." For the full story, check out ESPN.com; link above.

We all make mistakes, but Kelly, Kelly, Kelly … lynching is not to be referenced when referring to Black men. Men of color were lynched for looking at Anglo women like you. Keep in mind that in another time, Tiger nor his father would not have been able to wed women of other races, without the very real prospect of bodily harm.

Indeed, we all should be free to chose our spouse. And clearly, we are free to choose our words wisely. Remember to think before you speak or send something out into the blogosphere.

You can retract words, but messages remain intact.