Who are the best killers of votes in a winning political group? I had a few chances of attending a street meeting and an in-door meeting and watching a tv program where some people were endorsing candidates.
1. At one meeting, a candidate said that after the elections, he would be buying motorcycles for all the barangays in his district since his colleague had done the same. (what is this? He falls for the band wagon, no mind of his own? I can't blame him. His number one credential is having the same family name as a very prominent official in Congress.)
2. At another meeting, an endorser of an RH candidate spoke after she did and had gone. The endorser, instead of focussing on her alone, mentioned other names that are to be voted upon. Now if that happens, the person she is endorsing could fall below the list because the others she mentioned are already in the high list of favorites in national surveys. Also, when given a suggestion, she brushed this aside, as if to say, "we have thought of that already." And with another suggestion to have a huge turnout of supporters on May 7th in front of the Supreme Court, whose decision with regard to RH has already given a blackeye to the supporters, this endorser said, "walang pera," as if people will support a massive political participation only if there is money. What is this again? A case of "Kami na lang ang bahala. Huwag ka ng mag-suggest. Alam namin ang ginagawa namin." This is a mentality of "know-it-all" and elitism, that they are the political elite who know what is best for the country.
3. In a news program, I saw the relative talk of her endorsing some members of Team Pinoy, not all. This is a blatant slap on the leader of Team Pino, who is no other than the president. What she was really saying was, "although I am a relative, I have my own mind and I don't care who he endorses. I will endorse my friends, no matter what." This is where I believe that a code of ethics should be developed for relatives of officials. The least they could do is be silent with regard to going contrary to the decisions of their relatives. That is what I would call "delicadeza." A person who rides roughshod on their official-relatives position is trying to grab the limelight, to be more popular, ksp in our Pilipino lingo, or kulang sa pansin. HELP! Please help her discern the truth, that in politics, the best position is to be known as one having the heart for the poor and disadvantaged, and not acting like a moviestar all the time. The occasion calls for restraint and political etiquette.
And so friends, let us be wary not only of how officials appear to us, but also the people surrounding them. Are they assets or liabilities?
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