Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Madison-Avenue types will tell you it is better to look good than to feel good. In politics that dictum is expressed as, “the optics are everything.”
This iron rule for publicity flaks is what causes press secretaries to claim that although using cluster ammunition may be a war crime if someone else uses them, we only use the kind of cluster bombs that are safe.
Recently, when a baggie of cocaine was found in the White House, the U.S. Secret Service was the designated agency to investigate the matter.
They looked at three broad groups of individuals who had access to the area where the cocaine was found. These were family members, White House staffers and the visiting public.
Most regular visitors to the White House confirm that security cameras are everywhere. In spite of the cameras, the investigation was inconclusive as to who was responsible for bringing the drugs into the White House. It didn’t help that they were unable to lift any fingerprints off of a plastic bag.
We have a group of highly investigated and confirmed White House staffers, another group of visitors who have been investigated and verified and the family members. A review of these three groups, brings to mind the comment of Conan Doyle’s famous detective Sherlock, who remarked, “When you have eliminated all which is impossible then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”
Many voters, rightly or wrongly, have decided where the cocaine came from. Not a good day for the optics.
Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently requested Secret Service protection for his campaign. While the Service is required to protect presidential candidates within 120 days of the election, it is possible for a candidate to make a request for protection. Kennedy’s request raised the issue that both his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, and his father, presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Sr., had been assassinated, and that he, Robert Jr., had received death threats. His request was denied.
The denial, although legal, has the appearance of political pettiness and gamesmanship because Robert Jr. is running against the sitting president for the nomination of the Democratic Party. Contrast this with the line of dark SUVs that followed Hunter Biden to his recent court appearance. Some wags have noted that Hunter needs the protection from dealers and doxies he owes money to.
The optics have taken a beating lately.
Rube Render is a former Clovis city commissioner and former chair of the Curry County Republican Party. Contact him:
