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I think this is right, a few more points I'd make as to what politicians could learn from Blair:
1. Master the skill of redirecting any question back to your key talking points without appearing evasive or waffly. https://twitter.com/JoWolffBSG/status/1391285570924695553
1. Master the skill of redirecting any question back to your key talking points without appearing evasive or waffly. https://twitter.com/JoWolffBSG/status/1391285570924695553
This seems hard, but I don't think it has to be - looking at Blair interviews he kinda had a structure:
Directly take on the question in 1-2 sentences.
Locate it in a broader context
Get to your talking points.
Use humor to ease tension/ bridge gaps in your argument.
Directly take on the question in 1-2 sentences.
Locate it in a broader context
Get to your talking points.
Use humor to ease tension/ bridge gaps in your argument.
2. Don't be afraid to tell people they're wrong.
Blair often, in a nice way, would just say "look, we disagree about this". Politicians are terrified of this, but I think it makes you look more honest, and people respect it more than just saying whatever people want to hear.
Blair often, in a nice way, would just say "look, we disagree about this". Politicians are terrified of this, but I think it makes you look more honest, and people respect it more than just saying whatever people want to hear.
3. Don't be afraid of depth.
Blair was a bit of a policy wonk. He was passionate about the details.
Think about being in a job interview - you want to show that you both can do the job and *want* to do it.
Just don't use jargon, don't condescend, and you're fine.
Blair was a bit of a policy wonk. He was passionate about the details.
Think about being in a job interview - you want to show that you both can do the job and *want* to do it.
Just don't use jargon, don't condescend, and you're fine.
4. Don't be afraid of values.
Blair often said he wasn't an ideological politician, but what he meant by that was he wasn't dogmatic. He brought in values a lot, indeed almost every answer involved them and/or the vision of the country he wanted.
Blair often said he wasn't an ideological politician, but what he meant by that was he wasn't dogmatic. He brought in values a lot, indeed almost every answer involved them and/or the vision of the country he wanted.
I was listening to Labour people do interviews for the recent elections and not only did they not have the redirect structure down, not only were they trying to please everyone, but when they got to their talking points it was just a list of things like "create investment".
Voters are more influenced by values than policies: the later are complex and will change depending on circumstances - we want to know what type of society your trying to create (and that you're competent to do it), sorting the details is your job if we elect you.
So that's my list of what to learn from Blair.
Note that none of it requires us to accept his centerism, it goes for politicians across the spectrum.
That's just me tho, thoughts?
Note that none of it requires us to accept his centerism, it goes for politicians across the spectrum.
That's just me tho, thoughts?
