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The Repugnance of Politico-Speak
Against talking points and the meme of inappropriateness
There are two kinds of speakers in the English-speaking world: those who say “inappropriate” and those who don’t.
Moreover, those whose most ferocious insult is to call something “inappropriate” are also much more likely to speak in predetermined talking points, whereas those who would never think in terms of mere appropriateness will listen carefully to what others are saying and feel obligated to answer directly the questions asked of them.
Now for a discouraging secret: The guardians of appropriateness are the winners in the world, whereas the more conscientious and candid types are the losers.
You may think I’m being facetious, but this is no joke.
The Sin of Inappropriateness
Take, for example, Nancy Pelosi’s thirty minute press conference given in response to President Trump’s 2020 State of the Union speech. By my count, she spoke of inappropriateness or appropriateness four times on that occasion. For example, she said, “I thought what he [Trump] said about Senator Romney was particularly without class, when he said there are some people who use faith to do the wrong thing…It’s so inappropriate at a prayer breakfast.”
