“SPIN”

AT IT’S BEST, SPIN:– LOOKS LIKE IT IS ADDRESSING AN

ISSUE DIRECTLY, BUT ISN’T– REDIRECTS THE WAY OTHERS THINK

ABOUT AN ISSUE--E.G., FROM NEGATIVE TO POSITIVE OR JUST LESS NEGATIVE

– CANNOT BE FACTUALLY DISPROVED

EXAMPLE OF SPIN WHEN CHARLES ROBB RAN FOR THE

SENATE IN VIRGINIA, HE WAS CHARGED WITH MARITAL INFIDELITY. HE SAID HE HAD NEVER HAD INTERCOURSE AFTER MARRIAGE WITH A WOMAN OTHER THAN HIS WIFE. THIS RESPONSE LEAVES OPEN THE POSSIBILITY OF OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR.

PRESIDENTS AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES: LIES OR SPIN?

GEORGE BUSH– “READ MY LIPS; NO NEW TAXES.”

(LATER HE RAISED TAXES)– “I WAS NOT IN THE LOOP.” (RE: IRAN-

CONTRA DISCUSSIONS)

ROSS PEROT– SAID HE FOUNDED EDS WITH $1000. LATER

HE SAID THAT WAS THE TEXAS REGISTRATION FEE ONLY

– SAID HIS NAVY CAREER WAS CUT SHORT BECAUSE: 1) HE WAS SHOCKED TO DISCOVER PROFANE LANGUAGE USED BY SAILORS; AND 2) AN OFFICER WANTED HIM TO BEND OR BREAK THE RULES

BILL CLINTON– ON PAST MARIJUANA USE: “I NEVER

BROKE THE LAWS OF MY COUNTRY” AND “I NEVER INHALED.”

– ON THE GULF WAR: HE SAID HE WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR THE SENATE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING IT, BUT AGREED WITH THE MINORITY OPINION TO GIVE SANCTIONS MORE TIME AND THE POSITION ADVOCATING A FULL SCALE EMBARGO

“I DID NOT HAVE A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT WOMAN.”

DOLE-CLINTON DEBATES, 1996– DOLE SAID THE U.S. ECONOMY UNDER

CLINTON HAS BEEN “THE WORST ECONOMY IN THE CENTURY.” UNDER CLINTON, THE ANNUAL RATE OF GROWTH WAS 2.7%; IN 1982, THERE WAS A NEGATIVE GROWTH RATE OF 2.1%.

DOLE-CLINTON DEBATES, 1996– CLINTON CLAIMED HE PUT 100,000 NEW

POLICE OFFICERS ON AMERICA’S STREETS. ACTUALLY, ONLY ABOUT 40,000 WERE FUNDED, AND ONLY ABOUT 21,000 OF THEM WERE ACTUALLY ON DUTY

“HONEST” ABE LINCOLN

POSITION STATEMENTS ON SLAVERY & STATES RIGHTS REVEAL WAFFLING & CHANGING

“HONEST” OR “NO SPIN” WALTER MONDALE

AS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN 1984, HE SAID HE WOULD RAISE TAXES. HE WAS DEFEATED…SOUNDLY!