The Art of Insulting Without Offending in Politics
Using insulting language to insult your political opponent is an art, writes Margaret Talbot at the New Yorker. With President Obama’s recent use of “knuckleheads” to describe the Secret Service members who partied with Colombian prostitutes, and with political rhetoric growing heated in an election year, mastering the art of the political put-down is a useful skill.
The key tips: Keep the language sharp and vivid, and remember that nuance and tone are important. It also might go without saying, but try to keep it clean. We’re looking at you, Dick Cheney.
Read more at the New Yorker.
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