The Stokes Report: The Art of Making Quotes

In the past couple of weeks, we have seen our country hit a financial roadblock with an inadequate agreement on the debt ceiling, spending cuts, and the non-existent tax reform. The President and Congress bantered back and forth in press conferences and addresses to the nation trying to get their side understood and supported by the American people, all of which just made the public less trusting and more fed up with the lack of results.  

Then once a plan was agreed upon and the votes were cast, everyone began to say that it was not a good plan, but at least we got something done. Oh great, pass a plan that right out of the gate our leaders begin to run from like a politician running from accountability for an improper tweet.  

To make matters worse, on Friday, August 5, our nation’s credit rating was dropped by the Standard and Poor's to AA+ from AAA for the first time in the history of our country. The speeches started again. Finger pointing was the exercise of the day. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner’s resignation was called for because of his firm statements in April of this year that the S&P would never lower our credit rating. Ah, wrong.  

Our own U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal got into the discussion by actually attacking the credibility of the Standard and Poor’s, whom he filed suit against during his term as Connecticut Attorney General. Recently he had claimed that it was the S&P and Moody’s fault for our financial collapse and the worst economic times since the Great Depression.  

So once again we have our own Senator passing the buck on who’s to blame. He also made this statement: “We face a difficult fiscal problem in this country, and we need to address it and do it by reducing spending and increasing revenue. It has to be a balanced approach. And I am hopeful that the country will come together, and most importantly Congress will put aside some of the partisan differences.”  

This quote is where I want to focus. It appears to be a well thought out statement, and on the surface it sounds good. But, let’s analyze it and see what Mr. Blumenthal is really saying, or better yet, not saying.

First, Mr. Blumenthal acknowledges the truth that we are facing difficult fiscal problems and we need to address it. So far, so good.   Next he says that we need to reduce spending. I believe most Americans agree with that statement. In fact, in a recent poll on Fox News (yes, that news organization), it was highly confirmed that a majority of our citizens feel that we, as a nation, are living above our means.  

Now, the next statement contradicts the prior statement. Mr. Blumenthal goes on to say that we need to “increase revenue.” Wait a minute. If we are cutting spending, why do we need to raise revenue?

Here’s the code phrase he and many in Washington, D.C., use when they want to increase taxes and spending while at the same time giving themselves political cover: “balanced approach.” You see, no one wants to come right out and say, “We just want to raise taxes.” That would be political suicide and both political parties would balk at such a strong, direct statement.  

What seasoned politicians like Blumenthal have learned to do is shroud their true intentions in words that are vague and open for later clarification.  We all have seen our national leaders make statements in such a way that allow them to later redefine what they meant based upon the political winds that follow.  

Let me go further in explaining what I mean. Look at Mr. Blumenthal’s statement closely and see for yourself the number of escape clauses in what he said. Now imagine how he can spin his statement based on whom he would be explaining it to.  

If a conservative asked him if he believes we should cut spending, he could refer to his quote and say, “As I stated, I believe we should cut spending.” If a liberal asks him if we should increase taxes to sustain programs, he could once again refer to his quote and say, “As I stated, I believe we need to increase revenue.” Of course, the word “tax” is left out, but what do you think raising revenue means?   Then if he really gets in a bind he can always fall back on the popular phrase, “We need a balanced approach.” Which simply is his escape clause.  

The final part of his quote is a technique all politicians understand and use. The principle is to end with a warm and fuzzy statement about unifying our country and coming together as a people. The hope is that we will remember that when we think about his statement and forget about the other parts of the quote.  

President Obama is a master at this technique. Throughout his 2008 campaign, he became popular for the way his words moved people emotionally. It worked to get him elected President, but it is not so effective today. Even Chris Matthews stated on his program (which is not a Fox Channel program) that the President needs to stop making speeches and start presenting a substantial plan.  

You see, the problem is that our leaders in Washington, D.C., are more concerned about preparing a proper, noncommittal quote then they are in preparing a proper, comprehensive plan to solve our nation’s financial problems. Until they stop worrying about keeping their job and start doing their job, we will most likely be a long way from financial stability.  

I want to close this article with two quotes from a former President who, when faced with an economy in dire shape, decided on a course of action and stated his viewpoint clearly and without any escape clauses.  

“It is a paradoxical truth that tax rates are too high and tax revenues are too low and the soundest way to raise the revenues in the long run is to cut the rates now. . . . Cutting taxes now is not to incur a budget deficit, but to achieve the more prosperous, expanding economy which can bring a budget surplus.”   – John F. Kennedy, Nov. 20, 1962, President’s news conference  

“Lower rates of taxation will stimulate economic activity and so raise the levels of personal and corporate income as to yield within a few years an increased--not a reduced--flow of revenues to the federal government.”   – John F. Kennedy, Jan. 17, 1963, annual budget message to Congress, fiscal year 1964