The Case of the Caldero Cover

By Vincent R. Pozon

While we all wish campaigns were about programs and vision, the truth is: rivals have been dragging each other down since the day a caveman set his sights on his neighbor’s more fertile wife.

I won’t dwell on the messaging or tactics of this candidate’s campaign, except to say this: “defend and deny” never works. All it does is keep the moment alive—allowing the image and the video to fester, to imprint themselves in the public mind.

Denials do not move one's stock an inch, for they merely attempt repair. Defend, deny and clarify, and you wallow in the narrative they have imprisoned you in.

The candidate has put out a statement, produced a video about it, shaking his head, bemoaning what his detractors are doing.

And, thanks to friends pooling in to "fact check", post after post after post on all social media channels, he risks becoming this election’s meme. He might just be remembered as the new Mar Roxas, the caldero replacing the sack of rice, and the pedicab and reclining on a block of ice.

Thanks to the internet having a sturdy memory, this could be memorialized, recalled in future attempts at office.

Why are they focused on this candidate? The goal of the camp with the weaker candidates is simple: to drag down who is ranked just above theirs. That’s a known tactic.

You cannot say “it's unfair.”

What is “orchestrated, non-organic bashing”, is really simply promotions that is better prepared, better funded and focused.

I sincerely suggest he goes back to his story, whatever it was. Let not the last month be wasted discussing the details of that meal.

Humbly.