TRASH TALK AMONG PRESIDENTIABLES

Unhealthy Ratings are to blame?

The trash talk between the Liberal and Nacionalista Parties that started when the Social Weather Station (SWS) gave differing presidential standings is an example of “unhealthy” politicking. Apparently, Senators Manuel Villar and Noynoy Aquino both ditched their social decorum that had them doing away with all known civility and face live cameras while they belittle each other. Sad to say, this is how “elected” senators want to lose face in front of two million youth voters watching their every move. It would not be altogether strange to say that the executive post is nonetheless losing public admiration. Sad to say, those queuing to inherit Malacañang are far shoddier than the Gloria they accuse of graft.

What’s more startling between the two presidentiables’ squabble with regard to the surveys released by the SWS is that both of them have in fact “milked” the ratings for their campaign, not discounting their claims of the surveys either easily bought or manipulated. For one, Aquino has enjoyed his supremacy on SWS’ released numbers. LP has bragged it not just on presidential forums but on their campaign trips all across the country as well. Interestingly, those same numbers were immune to their now claimed “manipulations of the rich few”. Was it because nipping through those numbers mean digging-up their own money trail backing up surveys that say Aquino bags top spot?

If Sen. Noy is among those who doubt the credibility of surveys to state facts, why has he kept his mouth shut for the past months? Why squeal disfavor now right after his “supposed” lead against all other presidentiables was trimmed-down to 11%? So what if Sen. Villar paid for the survey to get a good feel out for his name when he has already doled out his millions to everything else to include buying Bayan Muna’s 2-million command vote that paved the way for Representatives Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza joining his camp? Should we put Villar to the stake for riding on the same “trick” his adversaries do? LP simply scrutinizing Nacionalista for “copy-catting” their political gimmicks?

It is alarming how numbers could dictate Juan dela Cruz’s line of thought; like how a few hundred who answer those survey sheets make a superficial majority. How the tri-media picks-up the survey results and publish it is a political scheme itself. A good rating is practically what LP greedily wanted to own without others’ meddling with it. Villar employing the same trick to get a sounding boost on his political career was more or less a “distraction” on LP’s controlled white wash with the assistance of various survey groups.

The suggestion to not trust surveys as they are easily bought on the outskirts of Quiapo should also include not buying the gimmicks of NP and LP who are obviously on a campaign to recycle their names. True enough the numbers are big lies and the people who cower behind those “ratings” are masking quacks.