Cheney to Reporter: So?
The other day, VP Cheney was asked about unfavorable public opinion towards the US being in Iraq. Cheney infamously replied, "So?" The way he said it meant he could just as easily have been saying, "Who gives a s***?"
Cheney's justification for a lack of concern was his assertion that the administration's actions would not be driven by polls. We've written about principle based leadership before. See our entry about the common problems of doctors and physicians. We've said that sometimes elected leaders may have to ask the people they represent to do things the people may not like.
When an administration faces poor polling numbers, that likely means they have properly justified their actions to the people. In This Kind of War, the author notes that the Truman administration did a very poor job of explaining Korea to the American people. The war, therefore, was unpopular and resulted in the undoing of the Democrats' occupancy of the White House in 1952.
In this case, Bush and Cheney are out there trying to make that sale and justify their actions. Their problem is that too many Americans distrust them and their judgement. The trial of Scooter Libby and other revelations have exposed their manipulations to justify the invasion of Iraq. When you lose trust as a leader, you're done. You may as well resign now.
In Cheney's case, his history shows he uses polls when they justify his actions and pooh poohs polls when they do not. He is consistent in his inconsistency.
When you read the interview, you pick up on something else disturbing about Cheney. That something else is the disdain he seems to have for ordinary people. Dick knows what's best for us. Just shut up and follow orders.
The key to leadership I have seen over and over is that people will do what is needed to be done if you can give them a rational explanation of why they're doing it. Sometimes they will even accept that you can't tell them why, but for that to work means they must trust you and your judgement. Otherwise whatever you're trying to do is doomed before it starts.
Read the interview for yourself. Here's the link.
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080319005962&newsLang=en
Cheney's justification for a lack of concern was his assertion that the administration's actions would not be driven by polls. We've written about principle based leadership before. See our entry about the common problems of doctors and physicians. We've said that sometimes elected leaders may have to ask the people they represent to do things the people may not like.
When an administration faces poor polling numbers, that likely means they have properly justified their actions to the people. In This Kind of War, the author notes that the Truman administration did a very poor job of explaining Korea to the American people. The war, therefore, was unpopular and resulted in the undoing of the Democrats' occupancy of the White House in 1952.
In this case, Bush and Cheney are out there trying to make that sale and justify their actions. Their problem is that too many Americans distrust them and their judgement. The trial of Scooter Libby and other revelations have exposed their manipulations to justify the invasion of Iraq. When you lose trust as a leader, you're done. You may as well resign now.
In Cheney's case, his history shows he uses polls when they justify his actions and pooh poohs polls when they do not. He is consistent in his inconsistency.
When you read the interview, you pick up on something else disturbing about Cheney. That something else is the disdain he seems to have for ordinary people. Dick knows what's best for us. Just shut up and follow orders.
The key to leadership I have seen over and over is that people will do what is needed to be done if you can give them a rational explanation of why they're doing it. Sometimes they will even accept that you can't tell them why, but for that to work means they must trust you and your judgement. Otherwise whatever you're trying to do is doomed before it starts.
Read the interview for yourself. Here's the link.
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080319005962&newsLang=en
It is really important for people to know why you are doing those things.
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Only if you're concerned about practicing good leadership skills and maintaining the support of those you lead.
Cheney is not concerned and that's why his approval ratings are lower than either Bush or Congress.
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thanks !! very helpful post!
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