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Sunday, September 24, 2006
Does anger help or hinder communications?
Former President Bill Clinton's outburst of anger during a Fox TV interview about his efforts to kill Osama Bin Laden will reinforce whatever opinion people had about his efforts.A certain degree of anger or intensity can spice an interview and make it memorable. Unfortunately, Pres. Clinton took it too far and made it personal against the interviewer and against Fox claiming a right-wing hit job. What did he exepect when he accepted the Fox interview?
Now, whether one agrees or disagrees with his point of view, he undercut his opportunity to change anyone's belief. What he said about his efforts to take out Bin Laden took a back seat to his repeated aggressive angry statements. Too bad he didn't take the advice of my earlier blog on how Venezualan Presdident Hugo Chavez negated his intent by going over the top with his comments. If President Clinton confined his comments to the question at hand and not expanded to personal attacks, he might have been more successful in establishng his viewpoint with the Fox audience.
Part of the media training I do focuses on knowing when to shut up!
For those who question this analysis, here's the link to the full transcript of the interview. I don't know how long it will be live, but check it out! http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,215397,00.html
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