"All the King's Men", a Pulitzer Prize winner, written by Robert Penn Warren, is a story of Willie Stark set in the 1930s who begins his political career as an idealistic man of the people but soon becomes corrupted by success.
Page 108 has a narrative that fits right into today's political arena. Willie is at the beginning of his bid for Governor and he's having a problem with his speeches. They are boring because he insists on talking about specifics; how he will set up new tax programs, how he will make jobs (well, you all know the pitch).
His advisor says:
"Yeah, I heard the speech. But they don't give a damn about that. Hell, make 'em cry, make 'em laugh, make 'em think you're their weak erring pal, or make 'em think you're God-Almighty. Or make 'em mad. Even mad at you. Just stir 'em up, it doesn't matter how or why, and they'll love you and come back for more. Pinch 'em in the soft place. They aren't alive, most of 'em, and haven't been alive in twenty years. Hell, their wives have lost their teeth and their shape, and likker won't set on their stomachs, and they don't believe in God, so it's up to you to give 'em something to stir 'em up and make 'em feel alive again. Just for half an hour. That's what they come for. Tell 'em anything. But for Sweet Jesus' sake don't try to improve their minds...............................
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