“It depends upon what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.” —Bill Clinton
“In war, you can only be killed once, but in politics, many times.” —Winston Churchill
It is almost certain that a politician will encounter a political imbroglio at some point in his/her career. If not managed properly, an imbroglio may evolve into a full-blown scandal, especially if there is more to it than a harmless faux pas.
As many politicians from Cleopatra to Clinton have learned, a full-blown scandal may not only tarnish one’s image but also mark the decline of one’s political career. Hence, dealing with imbroglio and scandal is an art that any politician must master to traverse the treacherous waters of politics.
If you are a politician or aspiring to be one, here are some strategies for dealing with a political imbroglio and/or scandal.
Respond promptly and calmly
- If the accusation is false—or if it is true but cannot be proven—then calmly deny it.
- If the accusation is true and can be proven, especially if the incriminating evidence is stacked against you or easily obtained by others, then admit your mistake and apologize.
Remember, when you expose your own mistake, you can always frame it in a better light than your opponents, who will probably expose you in the darkest possible way.
An honest admission gives you credibility, while leaving your opponents with virtually nothing to say except what you have already admitted.
Do not prevaricate or lie
Providing an inaccurate or ambiguous story, especially during a scandal, creates a whole new problem. You might inadvertently empower your opponents to call you a liar by prevaricating or lying.
Your argument should be presented as an honest and credible story; otherwise, you risk insulting your audience’s intelligence.
Move on with your work
Don’t disappear, for it makes you look guilty and weak.
Instead, you must appear busy working directly with your constituents and helping them. And yes, you need to be photographed and filmed doing this.
Constantly being photographed or filmed doing your job-related activities during a political imbroglio gives the much-needed impression that you are a committed public servant.
Remember to remain visible and composed, yet not necessarily quotable.
Lastly, demonstrate your readiness to move beyond your mistake by focusing on more important matters, such as prioritizing your duties and serving your constituents. If you have a new public project to announce, now would be the ideal time.
Don’ts:
- Don’t appear more aggressive than your opponent, for it might be misconstrued as being panicked or an admission of guilt. People prefer polite underdogs to belligerent bulldogs.
- Don’t use sarcasm, scorn, insult, or ad hominem. No one likes the mocker, the scoffer, the small, and the petty. Respecting your opponent elevates you.
- Don’t threaten unless you mean it. Failure to follow up on your threat will make you look weak and less credible in the future.
“Scandal dies sooner of itself than we could kill it.” —Benjamin Rush
