Below is a quote from Barbara Walters lifted from THE VIEW this morning. Check her use of the word “general.”
I always think it odd when I hear people pronounce the “general” thinking is something or other as though the person knows what everyone else is thinking. Does she? Or does she use the word “general” to give cover for her own personal thoughts but not wanting to own?
Yes, it is true that polls give you a general idea of what people are thinking but I have not seen a poll asking if Governor Romney “wasn’t too smart.” I suppose you could go to some area (swing state?) and spend a few days talking to people and get a general impression but you have to actually do it — you have to get away from your own crowd that thinks like you do.
But, why I think this is Barbara Walters’ thinking and not the general impression (as she says) is that even Governor Romney’s political opponents say he is smart (they just strongly disagree with him.) I have heard a lot of unflattering things said about the Governor — but just not what Barbara Walter says. Hence….I think the remarks below are really what Barbara Walters thinks.
Read below and tell me if Barbara Walters was really giving HER impression of Governor Romney or is she correct about the GENERAL impression:
(PS – it just occurred to me, didn’t the Governor turn down an invitation to appear on THE VIEW? Now THAT would be ‘not too smart.’ Just kidding..)
The View: [Walters] Before these debates, the general impression of Romney was that he wasn’t too smart, and that he was very stiff and if he happened to be elected President it would be a disaster // What you have after these debates, people feel he is a qualified man, intelligent and not described as stiff and totally out of touch.
(and yes, I can do stuff like this, too.)
