When a Gaffe Isn’t a Gaffe, Bruce Braley Meant What He Said.

Jennifer Jacobs of The Des Moines Register wrote that that the “gaffe” Congressman Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) made that was caught on video and released last week was another example of “gaffe” tracking.  She included an interesting statement from Jeff Link who is a strategist with the campaign.  Some of his (former) employees dabble in identity theft on the side, but I digress.

Braley’s campaign strategists say the candidate knew he was being videotaped at the private fundraiser when he made the remark that has the political world buzzing, describing Chuck Grassley as “a farmer from Iowa who never went to law school.” They think the GOP is seriously overhyping the videotape, and that it will backfire.

“I think they’re overplaying it like they overplayed Obamacare,” Jeff Link, a senior adviser for Braley’s campaign, told The Des Moines Register. “When most voters hear ‘Obamacare,’ they essentially tune it out because it’s become the proxy for negativity.”

First, I’m sure Link would love for this to go away, it’s not going to happen. We’ll also see how poorly Obamacare plays out in the midterm elections.  I think Link’s dead wrong about that.  Secondly, they admit Braley knew he was being videotaped.

Why in the world would he make a statement like when he knew he was being videoed?  That tells me he meant it.  He didn’t think it was a controversial comment at the time.  Is it really a gaffe when it is something you actually believe?

I don’t think so.