There was the gallows, with a noose, out front at the nation’s capital building, set up, allegedly, by January 6, 2021 protesters. And potential threats against former Vice President — and certifier of the 2020 presidential election electoral results — Mike Pence.
And former President Trump exhorting a crowd, that day, to march to the Capitol.
And the ensuing chaos.
Mr. Pence recently threw his hat in the ring to run for president in 2024… along with a growing field of GOP presidential hopefuls, including his former boss, Donald Trump.
As you might imagine, there’s been some awkwardness, as reporters have been asking the former VP for his thoughts, regarding his former boss… in particular, about the many pending legal issues Mr. Trump is facing.
Shrugging it all off, Mr. Pence has said that voters will decide Mr. Trump’s political future.
The voters… they’ll be deciding. Okay then. Does anyone else have a question for the former VP?
Shrugging is something some politicians are mighty good at… slapping a word, or a few more words on what could be a troublesome conversation, to avoid getting pinned down. To squirm out from under problematic issues, and reporters’ challenging questions about them.
That’s the wonder of words, in shaping perception.
With words like “low energy,” and “sleepy eyed,” for example, Mr. Trump’s had some success undermining reputations of his political opponents, and media folks, and many others.
So, it’s going to be fascinating hearing his opponents’ words in coming weeks and months. Will they be shrugging and squirming? Or trying something else entirely?
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, whose hat is also in the ring, has come out swinging, early on, but he’s been heard in the past showering support on the former 45th president.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who’s been somewhat noncommittal in the past, is jabbing at Mr. Trump, while others, like former ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, in the Trump administration, perhaps is bobbing and weaving, which seems to be a skill ambassadors tend to master.
Can anyone deliver a knockout punch, as they say in boxing? That remains to be seen, as the candidates go about shaping perception.
Harvey Radin is former senior vice president in charge of corporate communications and media relations, Bank of America Western Region. He makes his home in Redwood City, CA.