PHIL WIELAND: Write what they meant or what they said

A local politician of my acquaintance, or POMA, did something recently that, surprisingly, is not unusual. He thanked me for making his comments sound reasonably intelligent.

It would be easy to say local politicians are amateurs who are not used to dealing with the media or having to answer questions without first preparing a carefully worded statement. It's only the national figures who are experienced enough to speak easily, confidently and intelligently under the pressure of public and media scrutiny.

Hahahahahahahahahaha.

I'm sorry. I'm sure there must be a national figure out there capable of uttering an occasional intelligible and intelligent comment. Unfortunately, he isn't running in the Republican primaries or serving in Congress. A bigger bunch of tongue-tied, tap dancing, lying, loony tunes would be hard to find.

While the big-time pols take the country to hell in a rickety handbasket, most local politicians manage to conduct themselves with at least a modicum of decorum and, occasionally, intelligence. All some lack is that confidence and, perhaps, total lack of modesty of their national counterparts.

Thus, when they are called upon to speak publicly, they worry whether what they say will be misquoted or taken out of context to make them look stupid or silly. Whenever someone asks me to make their words sound reasonably intelligent, I tell them I'm a journalist, not a miracle worker.

As they are panting into a paper bag, I tell them not to worry: I speak politician.

I've always enjoyed foreign languages, probably because I never did that well in English. While I can't speak politician (the only time I tried, my tongue was in traction for months), I usually understand it. It's a skill acquired from 40 years as a journalist along with the ability to take notes at meetings while sleeping.

Like many others, the POMA sometimes speaks at length without saying much that's new or relevant after about the first 10 words. I try to quote the relevant parts and paraphrase anything else that might apply, usually without quotes, so it accurately reflects what was said.

The goal of the vast majority of journalists is to be accurate and not turn a well-intended comment against someone over grammar or syntax. I once paraphrased a politician making a disparaging comment. When asked at a meeting if he made the remark, the man said, "You notice they didn't put quotes around it."

You notice he didn't deny saying it? I've always found the best way to make politicians look like boneheads is to quote them accurately. For most of them, it's worse than being misquoted.

The opinions are those of the writer. He can be reached at phil.wieland@nwi.com or (219) 548-4352.