Dr. Sharon Avital: Political Slips of the Tongue – When Is There a Price for a Statement

Dr. Sharon Avital analyzes the phenomenon of political slips of the tongue, comparing the cases of Mitt Romney, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and Yinon Magal. The article examines how context, public perception, and existing image influence the political price of a statement.

Dr. Sharon Avital's article analyzes the phenomenon of political slips of the tongue, comparing American and Israeli cases. It begins with Mitt Romney's '47 percent' remark in 2012, which became a turning point in the election campaign. It then examines the difference between Romney and Donald Trump, whose extreme statements did not harm him because they were perceived as authentic by his supporters. Next, the example of Hillary Clinton is presented, who called Trump supporters a 'basket of deplorables,' and her apology did not prevent the damage. The article moves to the Israeli arena and analyzes Yinon Magal's 'monkey' remark about Gadi Eisenkot, presenting two competing narratives: one by Magal and Channel 14 that tried to downplay the affair, and the other that saw it as an expression of racism. The conclusion is that Magal's slip deepened the drift against Netanyahu, revealing a public that is maturing in the face of a collapsing campaign.