It's Better To Look Good Than To Be Good -- New Home Salesperson in The White House

Prior to a few weeks ago, our President was considered to be articulate, reasoned, smooth and smart. But beginning with the 'Gates-Crowley' remark, the shine has started to recede from the jewel and the smoothness that we were accustomed to hearing is just not there. After reading Obama's ignorance during his healthcare press conference and town halls more than cancels Palin's bad interviews.

There is a name for a person with a talent like this: He is an expert bullshitter. And I will be honest and tell you it’s a talent I share. Deploying this talent can be a lot of fun, and I don’t have a big problem with it if it’s used innocuously. Many a great con artist will stand there and talk with such confidence about this or that, you are absolutely convinced this guy knows exactly what he’s talking about. The truth is that he doesn’t have the slightest idea, but he’s very smooth in his use of the language and his tone of voice, so he convinces you he’s on solid ground when he really isn’t.

President Obama is one of the most talented bullshitters I have ever seen. He knows all the tricks. He reframes every issue so he can keep it focused on the stuff he wants to talk about, and avoids having to address things he knows nothing about. He tells you what you already think, and he does it so convincingly that you don’t remember you never mentioned thinking any such thing. And most impressively of all, he blatantly makes things up, and says them with such conviction, you can’t imagine they’re not true.

This quote of a quote jarred in me a recollection of what I have been thinking for quite some time. The President could be an excellent New Home Sales Counselor. He is smooth and articulate; wears nice clothes well; tries to be all things to all people; and most of all is a total bullshitter. All hat and no cattle.

Before I tick off the people sitting out in model homes as I speak, please realize that these folks have a hard job. And in today's business climate, even harder. The emotion of selling (and I do mean emotion) affects both the buyer and seller and the ability to read your audience or customer is a true talent. But any young superintendent in a housing project learns quickly to get any direction from a sales counselor in writing. The reason is that for the wheelers and dealers of the world, the truth, in many cases, becomes a negotiable item and no detail can be so cloudy as to be misinterpreted. And that's with everyone within their sphere.

Now, the health care debate has shown that details are this guy's Kryptonite and the light of clarity is not kind to those who subsist on sparkling generalities.

Update:
I have hit a nerve with this and wish to apologize for attaching such a questionable figure to Sales Counselors. Further, since sales drives everything, I hope that my association with Sales Counselors do not negatively affect my brand.