Manning Sound Bites 2 - Listening

The first installment of Manning Sound Bites deals with the Minister's propensity to blame others or avoid answering at all - questions regarding background, experience, and suitability for the job.

Today we will deal with - listening.

As Paul Davis touts that his administration will listen to the people - one would expect Ms. Manning to be a good listener.

This sound bite and the others I will write about all come from Ms. Manning's interview with David Cochrane (On Point). Listen HERE 

Cochrane: You mentioned just a few minutes ago that you're contemplating legislative changes as part of the public safety Agenda. I guess I'm curious - how do you plan to advance that public safety agenda where you're not elected because legislative changes are legislation which has to be done in the House of Assembly. So you can't table legislation - you can't champion it and you can't debate it in the House. How do you make this work from outside the legislature.

Manning: Well I'd just like to correct you a little - on one point there. I'm certainly sitting at the Cabinet table and I'm certainly able to champion legislative changes at the Cabinet table.

The first thing Manning does is correct Cochrane on something that he was not incorrect on. Cochrane was surely referring to all the things she could not do in the House and asked her specifically what she could do outside the House. Sitting at a Cabinet table is not in the House of Assembly and Cochrane's reference was certainly championing inside the House. You should also note the continued condescending tone Ms. Manning uses with Cochrane with phrases - such as "I'd just like to correct you a little". The Minister comes across as patting a little child on the head and helping to correct the mistakes they might make.

The Minister continued...

Manning: You're absolutely right I will not be sitting in the House until such time as I'm elected and I'm looking forward to having that happen as soon as possible.

Right after applying a little correction she points out on the matter of her not sitting in the House - that Cochrane is absolutely right. Wow - she gave Cochrane that one - imagine he was right that she would not be sitting in the House. It was a perfect display of patting the child on the head and encouraging them for at least getting half of his statement right.

Secondly of course is the false and misleading statement that she's looking forward to getting elected as soon as possible. Clearly Ms. Manning has chosen to avoid that opportunity - and very publicly so. The Minister is NOT listening to the people and neither is Premier Davis. It is abundantly clear the people want her to seek election now - in one of the by-elections. That will not happen.

On the continued claim that Minister Manning is under unusual scrutiny - well yes if you compare it to an elected MHA moving into a Ministerial portfolio. The people of the province usually provide a honeymoon period - wherein they mostly overlook flubs - however - this individual received an extraordinary appointment. When the Premier reached outside the body elect and plucked this person out of thin air - there is no honeymoon - as the extraordinary talents and experience she must possess for such an extraordinary appointment would mean she's hit the ground running right?

To date Minister Manning is not demonstrating a real talent for listening - instead the message seems to be - look at me - I am polished - listen to me - I am well-spoken - and by all means understand that I empathize with anybody beneath my station. Arrogance and unjustified superiority? Ms. Manning comes across as feeling entitled - and as such why should she have to justify anything?

Ms. Manning does not seem to understand the basic premise of her position. She is there to serve the people not to address her subjects from a respectable distance.

Manning Sound Bites 1

Manning Sound Bites


The unelected Minister Manning's entire interview with David Cochrane - On Point - is now online. This is not one you want to miss. This is a great opportunity to watch our Minister "shine" for the people of the province.

Over the next few days I will be posting parts of the interview - questions and answers. You decide if this person is capable to do the duties of her position.

We will start with what I now fondly refer to as Manningisms. These are where Ms. Manning blames somebody else for her actions or words or simply talks as if a question or point has not been made. In this particular example - the response could be considered incoherent.

Click HERE to watch the complete interview.

Cochrane: In your criticism and your characterization of it as character assassination - you said facts were omitted. Facts can only be omitted if they're known and shared but you didn't share.

Manning: The characterization of character assassination - that arose as a result of overall how I have been trying to advance facts and I note that unfortunately - first of all I'm very comfortable with the legal training and legal experience that I have to advance my position as a Minister and as Attorney General. I certainly could stand with to do with some more media training. Until our initial re our initial interaction our baptism by fire shall we say and you were part of that on the day that I was appointed and ah that was my initial interaction with the media and I respect you have a job to do. Where I could stand to improve perhaps - would be - in I guess - I guess it would be remiss to say - I'm not good at developing soundbites.