The Hillary Movies. Perception is Reality.

Sorry not to have been more regular with this blog, but I essentially goofed off June and July. Time to re-engage and there is so much to talk about. And wouldn't you know it's political?

Not the least of which are the planned movies about former Secretary of State, former Senator and former First Lady Hillary Clinton by CNN and NBC.

Back when serving on the Board of Directors of the Radio-Television-Digital News Association I learned when it comes to watching the news, "Perception is Reality" on the viewer's part. What they believe is what they perceive to be true. Regardless of whether it is or not. It's their perception, at least to them, that counts.

Mrs. Clinton's story is certainly worthy of a movie. Like her or not, she is and remains a major political figure. But the timing of the movies is in question. There is no doubt among political experts that she's the presumptive nominee for the Democratic nomination for President in 2016.

NBC is quick to point out, and fairly so, that their news division is separate from their entertainment division. Over at CNN the lines are a little more blurred. Not the least of which is CNN stands for Cable NEWS Network. Neither network has plans for movies profiling Republican political figures.

There is a perception among at least some folks that both NBC and CNN lean a tad to the left. It may or not be true but it's their perception. Which re enforces GOP Chair Reince Priebus in his perception both NBC and CNN are playing partisan politics. His initial reaction is to ban both networks from covering the GOP debates.

This at a time when there is a declining perception/approval of journalists in general. So why push your own news divisions under the perception bus?

Frankly, regardless of one's political point of view, a movie about Clinton prior to the election seems suspicious, or at least coming off as obtuse on the parts of NBC and CNN.

My take on all this is "What's the hurry?" Her story is a legitimate one, and could even be more interesting after the election, win or lose. Why risk the perception you are taking sides in the 2016 election?

All this just muddies the waters when we should be focused on issues instead.

At least that's my perception. But at this point, what difference does it make?

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"

Going negative on negative

I don't know about where you live but several months out from the November election, the negative political ads here in Colorado are hard to avoid and harder to stomach.

Based on an internal poll comprised of myself, if everything said in these ads are true, every candidate is a no-good lowlife crook. With the primary a few days a way, both the Democrats and the Republicans have perfected the concept of the circular firing squad. Ready, shoot, aim.

The general campaign promises to be worse. Before proceeding, here's one definition of "Negative" that I found today.

"Damaging; or intended to discredit, especially without positive or helpful suggestions."

Along with the negative advertising come the perfunctatory news stories about whether negative advertising works, which includes the perfunctatory sound bytes from Political Science Professors saying that indeed, going negative is a positive.

Class dismissed.

That may have been true in the past, buy not anymore. I won't pretend to speak for anyone but myself but I'm sick of it and believe you are too.

I've attended several candidate forums sponsored by the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce, at the most recent of which a candidate came out in support of private sector job creation. Talk about taking a bold position. Later that day I saw one of that candidate's ads blasting an opponent. In neither forum did the candidate actually say what they'd do to solve some of our current problems.

Bad mouthing and platitudes are so much easier. I'm not buying it, and in fact demand a refund.

I'll support any candidate who will actually say what their goals are, and what they'll at least try and do to achieve them. One problem. I can't find any candidate willing to do this.

But I'll keep my eyes open.

But this is the year that going negative is going to backfire on a lot of politicians. It's about time.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you"