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Message: I send clear messages Say It Again. Say It Again.By Rick Horowitz Click. " -- so pleased he's able to join us this morning on 'News & Views.' I'll bet a lot of people didn't even know that the Department of Homeland Security has an Office of Signals and Messages." "Good to be here, Jim. That's probably right -- we do most of our work out of the public spotlight, and it keeps us awfully busy." "Well, then we're even happier that you could make it, Mr. Secretary -- may I call you 'Mr. Secretary'?" "Actually, I prefer 'Mr. Assistant Secretary,' since that's my official title." "Glad to do it. Am I mistaken, though, or aren't assistant Cabinet secretaries generally addressed as 'Mr. Secretary' even though -- " "They are indeed. But you can see how that might lead to confusion, can't you?" "I -- I guess so. Sure." "Well, at the Office of Signals and Messages, we try to eliminate confusion." "I see." "Mixed signals don't do anyone any good." "Got it." "Mixed messages either." "Got it." "No mixed signals, and no mixed messages." "Moving right along here....I'll bet you were heavily involved in prepping President Bush for his first debate with John Kerry the other night. How do you think he did?" "I think he clearly demonstrated his superb leadership abilities and his deep commitment to keeping all Americans safe and secure." "You do." "Absolutely. I also think he made clear that you can't lead America and the world in the global fight against terrorism if you send mixed signals." "Well, what about -- " "Or mixed messages." "And you think John Kerry has been doing that?" "Absolutely! When he counts how many other countries have contributed troops to our global coalition, for instance, and how many soldiers they've each sent? That sends a mixed message to our allies. Our allies need to know -- and the enemy needs to know -- that our coalition is getting stronger every day." "But don't the numbers -- ?" "And when he keeps talking about Iraq being some kind of big diversion from the war on terror, that sends a mixed message to our brave soldiers risking their lives over there." "But Osama bin Laden is still -- " "And when he talks about all the attacks and suicide bombings and such, and especially all the American casualties? Well, how can you expect to be commander in chief of these brave soldiers if you keep -- " "Telling them the truth?" "If you keep sending mixed messages. That's not leadership. Leadership is saying the same thing over and over again." "Even if the facts on the ground keep changing?" "Leadership is saying the same thing over and over again." "I take your point." "See?" "But -- but doesn't it ever bother you, or bother the president, that what he's saying about Iraq seems so different from what we've been seeing day after day on TV and in the newspapers?" "We prefer not to watch any -- " "I mean, don't you have to face reality?" "Jim, reality is a mixed signal. Mixed signals don't do anyone any good." "So you -- " "Mixed messages either." "Got it." "No mixed signals, and no mixed -- " Click. Posted 10/1/04. Get
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Rick Horowitz
