Once upon a time we had politicians who were extremely circumspect. They spoke very little and it was virtually impossible to trap them into saying something they would regret later. I remember talking to Narasimha Rao for over an hour. It was pleasant but I didn’t get much out of him. Similarly, a cup of tea with Atal Behari Vajpayee was memorable for its jokes and good humour; alas, there was no chance of getting any breaking news or even a juicy quote from him. I.K. Gujral was no different.
Currently, politicians from across the political spectrum are shooting their mouths off. You can be sure that a "clarification" will be issued within 24-hours. "Misquoted", "out of context" are the favourite alibis. Our leaders complain that they are the victims of a dogged and relentless media pursuing them (particularly electronic) determined to get "news" by means fair or foul.
These days I detect a new alibi -- "what could I do, he asked me a question" or "what could I do, I was only answering a question". The truth is exactly the opposite: our leaders are so mesmerised and beguiled at the prospect of seeing their mugs on TV screens, or their words in cold print that they willingly collaborate with the media in providing soundbytes which are subsequently withdrawn. The late Claud Cockburn, one of the greatest investigative journalists and commentators of our time, advised the reader: "Never believe anything until it is officially denied."
Anyway, politicians, especially seasoned ones, should be routinely accustomed to answering tricky questions. Why can’t they simply say: "I don’t wish to answer that question now"? There is no law which says a politician has to answer every question he is asked. Don’t feel sorry for these guys, they are not victims of the media, they are victims of their own loose tongue.
Tailpiece:
There is a lovely story about an American politician who was ultra-careful while talking to the press. He once told a reporter: "No comment-- and that’s off-the-record."
