I wish it was a piss take. Unfortunately this is all too common in politics these days. They’ve been given the ‘lines’ they are to run, and come hell or high water, that’s what they stick to.
Sorry, it was too painful to watch. I had to stop as the first repetition began.
Even our Green’s “Hey Clint” moment showed some functioning brain cells rather than just a pre-recorded message. Yet UK Labour is polling to become the next Government and Milliband the PM. Surely time to flee the country.
I think he wants both sides to put aside the rhetoric and get around the negotiating table. Also, the government has acted in a reckless and provocative manner. But the negotiations are still going on, so the strikes are wrong. And both sides should …. (oh god my brain just exploded)
Lest we judge too harshly, was this a longer-form interview with an expectation of more extensive coverage? If not, this may well be an example of a politician thinking that all that’s going to come out of the interview is a 5-10 second soundbite- so every answer has to contain the core message.
It sounds daft when you see it played like this- but I wonder how many times one part got quoted in other media stories? Sometimes the media and the politicians bring out the worst in each other…
My assumption is that this was a news interview. Milibrand knew they were looking for a soundbite and determinedly stayed ‘on message’ so that the same lines came out regardless of which answer they chose. No more, no less, and no answers to specific questions, you will note.
If it was part of a longer interview, god help the British Labour Party.
The British Labour Party? What’s that? The British Labour Party long ago ceased to exist, taken over by those barely distinguishable from Margaret Thatcher but without the balls.
As for Milliband it is just what I expect from someone who grew up in the shadow of and was probably tutored by Tony Blair the master of the anodyne, evasive and meaningless response to any question.
It’s not God help the BLP; it’s God help Britain and if the Scots have an ounce of sense they will pick up heir haggis and go it alone when they are given the chance.
If you only have one message to say, say it once otherwise you have opened your mouth one too many times. I repeat, If you only have one message to say, say it once otherwise you have opened your mouth one too many times.
What I am really saying is If you only have one message to say, say it once otherwise you have opened your mouth one too many times.
If that is not clear then I need to reiterate to you If you only have one message to say, say it once otherwise you have opened your mouth one too many times.
There’s a whole lot of clips on youtube of him doing similar stuff, and other politicians too. The “What I can say is…” technique of avoiding the question is alive and well.
They can’t have learnt this by themselves. Someone must have taught them…
“They can’t have learnt this by themselves. Someone must have taught them.”
Certainly not us, Douglas. We spend our lives stopping clients reeling off ‘key messages’ and ‘running lines’ in interviews. The PR gurus teach it.
A really good interview involves genuine dialogue between interviewer and interviewee and looks and sounds like a chat. If you go into the interview with prepared ‘messages’ to spout, you’re less an interviewee than an actor. Trouble is, the other actor – the interviewer – is unlikely to give you the cues you need to deliver those messages or lines.
[My spell-check doesn’t like ‘learnt’. Strange, that’s how I normally spell it. ‘Learned’ suggests ‘well educated’ to me.]
Hang on a minute mate. I’m not quite sure what message Mr Miliband was trying to put across. Perhaps he could speak slower and maybe repeat his point. Otherwise I might believe that he is backing strike action – I think? Ah dunno.
Might have to repeat a re-watch again just in case.
Richard Aston May 1st, 2013 at 12:25
Brilliant! His key statements have taken over his brain.
Don’t tell me this was a real interview – its a piss take surely .
Is he even human ? Its amazing what they can do with CGI these days.
JC May 1st, 2013 at 12:40
I wish it was a piss take. Unfortunately this is all too common in politics these days. They’ve been given the ‘lines’ they are to run, and come hell or high water, that’s what they stick to.
pjr May 1st, 2013 at 12:54
OK I got the Message
I got the Message
I got the Message
I got the Message …….
John McCready May 1st, 2013 at 13:01
Is he for real? I have heard of tunnel vision, but…..
Alan Wilkinson May 1st, 2013 at 14:01
Sorry, it was too painful to watch. I had to stop as the first repetition began.
Even our Green’s “Hey Clint” moment showed some functioning brain cells rather than just a pre-recorded message. Yet UK Labour is polling to become the next Government and Milliband the PM. Surely time to flee the country.
Bill Forster May 1st, 2013 at 14:08
I think he wants both sides to put aside the rhetoric and get around the negotiating table. Also, the government has acted in a reckless and provocative manner. But the negotiations are still going on, so the strikes are wrong. And both sides should …. (oh god my brain just exploded)
Peter Thompson May 1st, 2013 at 14:23
Lest we judge too harshly, was this a longer-form interview with an expectation of more extensive coverage? If not, this may well be an example of a politician thinking that all that’s going to come out of the interview is a 5-10 second soundbite- so every answer has to contain the core message.
It sounds daft when you see it played like this- but I wonder how many times one part got quoted in other media stories? Sometimes the media and the politicians bring out the worst in each other…
JC May 1st, 2013 at 14:30
My assumption is that this was a news interview. Milibrand knew they were looking for a soundbite and determinedly stayed ‘on message’ so that the same lines came out regardless of which answer they chose. No more, no less, and no answers to specific questions, you will note.
If it was part of a longer interview, god help the British Labour Party.
Ben Thomas May 1st, 2013 at 16:38
The British Labour Party? What’s that? The British Labour Party long ago ceased to exist, taken over by those barely distinguishable from Margaret Thatcher but without the balls.
As for Milliband it is just what I expect from someone who grew up in the shadow of and was probably tutored by Tony Blair the master of the anodyne, evasive and meaningless response to any question.
It’s not God help the BLP; it’s God help Britain and if the Scots have an ounce of sense they will pick up heir haggis and go it alone when they are given the chance.
SG May 1st, 2013 at 14:38
Why isn’t the journalist pressing him? He doesn’t seem to be actually answering any of the questions.
Brendon O'Connor May 1st, 2013 at 14:40
If you only have one message to say, say it once otherwise you have opened your mouth one too many times. I repeat, If you only have one message to say, say it once otherwise you have opened your mouth one too many times.
What I am really saying is If you only have one message to say, say it once otherwise you have opened your mouth one too many times.
If that is not clear then I need to reiterate to you If you only have one message to say, say it once otherwise you have opened your mouth one too many times.
Doug Coutts May 1st, 2013 at 14:41
There’s a whole lot of clips on youtube of him doing similar stuff, and other politicians too. The “What I can say is…” technique of avoiding the question is alive and well.
They can’t have learnt this by themselves. Someone must have taught them…
Alan Wilkinson May 1st, 2013 at 14:50
Why on earth don’t the media just run with the question and non-answer? That would surely stop this nonsense in its tracks?
JC May 1st, 2013 at 15:20
The BBC ran the whole thing on its website, but I doubt it went to air uncut.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13971770
Alan Wilkinson May 2nd, 2013 at 10:01
Yes, it seems all the UK networks were content to deceive the public at the time and the truth only came out long afterwards.
Disgraceful behaviour by the media effectively colluding with political parties.
Ghost of BE May 1st, 2013 at 14:57
“They can’t have learnt this by themselves. Someone must have taught them.”
Certainly not us, Douglas. We spend our lives stopping clients reeling off ‘key messages’ and ‘running lines’ in interviews. The PR gurus teach it.
A really good interview involves genuine dialogue between interviewer and interviewee and looks and sounds like a chat. If you go into the interview with prepared ‘messages’ to spout, you’re less an interviewee than an actor. Trouble is, the other actor – the interviewer – is unlikely to give you the cues you need to deliver those messages or lines.
[My spell-check doesn’t like ‘learnt’. Strange, that’s how I normally spell it. ‘Learned’ suggests ‘well educated’ to me.]
Michael Bott May 1st, 2013 at 17:31
This man has no feeling, he comes across as more parrot than human. Perhaps he should change his name to “Milibland.”
Lachlan Forsyth May 1st, 2013 at 18:16
The reporter here was ITV’s Damon Green. He wrote last year about his frustrations: http://www.twitlonger.com/show/bfensm
Pip May 1st, 2013 at 19:41
This was 2 years ago. He has changed since then, now he just doesn’t speak to journalists at all.
Kat May 1st, 2013 at 19:59
Two years ago!?
Darcy Pestmaster May 1st, 2013 at 22:36
Check.
Tina Mac May 2nd, 2013 at 00:18
better context here: http://www.listener.co.nz/current-affairs/politics/hey-clint-on-spin-doctors-and-soundbites/
Ianmac May 2nd, 2013 at 11:03
Hang on a minute mate. I’m not quite sure what message Mr Miliband was trying to put across. Perhaps he could speak slower and maybe repeat his point. Otherwise I might believe that he is backing strike action – I think? Ah dunno.
Might have to repeat a re-watch again just in case.
Zinc May 4th, 2013 at 01:38
This bloke makes Shearer look good.