Use Meaningless Words Part I: Special Interests

Use Meaningless Words Part I: Special Interests
Your Audience will fill in their own meanings

Adept politicians will use a stable of meaningless words that sound good, mean nothing, and allow the audience to fill in the meaning they prefer.  Few words meet this definition better than the pejorative term "special interests." 

The Actual Definition of a Special Interest:  Any interest group to which you do not belong that seeks furtherance of its particular interest through the political process by means of legislation or regulations supporting its goals, tax exemptions, or government funding. 

The Political Definition of a Special Interest: A narrow minded interest group that seeks favorable unjustified preferential regulations, taxes, legislation or funding at the expense of society as a whole.

Both Obama and Romney rail against "special interests" while at the same time supporting tax breaks and other government benefits for specific groups.  

The Obama Campaign

Barack Obama Campaign vows to fight "special interests" and seeks to paint challenger Mitt Romney as in league with these groups.  

June 2011:  "President Obama is asking four supporters to sit down to dinner with him—and one of them could be you. Consider this your invitation from the President:  I've set aside time for four supporters like you to join me for dinner.  Most campaigns fill their dinner guest lists primarily with Washington lobbyists and special interests.  We didn't get here doing that, and we're not going to start now. We're running a different kind of campaign. We don't take money from Washington lobbyists or special-interest PACs—we never have, and we never will."

Jim Messina, June 2012: "“ In 2010, the Supreme Court's decision in the Citizens United case opened the door to a new wave of so-called Super PACs—non-candidate political committees that can receive and spend unlimited money from special interests. For the first time, these committees could accept money from corporations, not just wealthy individuals.”

Jordan Carmon, August 2012: “I wanted to give to President Obama’s campaign because his is a grassroots campaign. President Obama has people coming around him. Mitt Romney has special interests coming around him. There’s a clear choice we have. And if we all do our part, our voices can’t be drowned out. I’m just trying to do my part.” (Quating "Jennifer" a Health Care Worker in New Hampshire.)

And most recently,  Barack Obama donated $5000.00 to his own campaign (for the first time) explaining in an email, "On its own, what I gave won't be enough to surmount the unprecedented fundraising we've seen on the other side, both from our opponent's campaign and from the outside groups and special interests supporting him."

The Romney Campaign

Mitt Romney derides special interests, "Democrats want to use the slowdown as an excuse to do what their special interests are always begging for: higher taxes, bigger government and less trade with other nations."

July 2012 - “Coming off the worst quarter of job creation in two years, and with the worst jobs record of any president in modern history, it’s clear President Obama has failed to live up to his promises. Yet President Obama is listening more to his campaign donors and special interest groups than to his own jobs council. That makes perfect sense for a president more concerned with re-election than getting the economy back on track.” –Andrea Saul, Romney Campaign Spokesperson.

April 2012 - “Less than four years after promising to drive special interests out of Washington, President Obama has done the exact opposite—granting top donors special favors and access to his White House. This is just another example of President Obama’s failed record, which he’ll be desperate to hide from voters this November.” –Andrea Saul, Romney Campaign Spokesperson.