Dead Cat Strategy Outlined by Lynton Crosby – Wikipedia

When you hear about the “dead cat strategy” in politics, you’re likely referring to a crisis management technique where politicians create a diversion to shift focus away from a contentious issue or scandal.

This tactic, outlined by Lynton Crosby, involves making a provocative statement or announcement to dominate the news cycle and regain control of the public discourse. Outlined by Lynton Crosby, the “dead cat strategy” is a notable political tactic.

By doing so, politicians can create a new narrative that distracts from the original issue, allowing them to buy time, regroup, or come up with a response.

As you delve further into this concept, you’ll uncover how it’s been used in various political settings and the controversies surrounding its effectiveness.

Origins of the Dead Cat

The term “dead cat” originated in the 1980s on the floors of the London Stock Exchange.

You might be wondering what this phrase has to do with finance, let alone politics. Initially, it was used to describe a situation where a trader would throw a dead cat onto the trading floor, momentarily diverting attention from the actual market performance.

This analogy was later adopted in politics, specifically in the sphere of crisis management and spin doctoring.

In politics, the “dead cat” refers to a situation where a politician or their strategist intentionally creates a diversion to shift the focus away from a contentious issue or scandal.

This tactic is often employed when a politician is under fire and needs to buy time to regroup or come up with a response. By introducing a new, seemingly important topic, the politician can momentarily deflect attention from the original issue, giving them an opportunity to regain control of the narrative and plunge into a new conversation.

You’ve likely seen this strategy in action, even if you didn’t realise it at the time.

How the Strategy Works

You’ve witnessed politicians employing the dead cat strategy to deflect attention from controversies, but have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes to make it work?

The strategy involves creating a diversion, often in the form of a provocative statement or announcement, to shift the focus away from a sensitive issue.

This diversion is designed to be attention-grabbing, emotive, and controversial, thereby dominating the news cycle and overshadowing the original controversy.

By doing so, the politician or their team can buy time to regroup, re-strategise, and reframe the narrative to their advantage.

The goal is to create a new narrative that distracts from the original issue, allowing the politician to regain control of the public discourse.

Effective execution of the dead cat strategy requires a thorough examination to plunge into the intricacies of the media terrain, public sentiment, and the political opposition’s vulnerabilities.

It also demands a high degree of message discipline, ensuring that all stakeholders are on the same page and can maintain a unified narrative.

Real-World Examples of Use

From Donald Trump’s infamous “covfefe” tweet to Boris Johnson’s Brexit bus debacle, politicians have repeatedly employed the dead cat strategy to deflect attention from controversies and scandals.

You’ve likely seen this tactic in action, where a politician or their team creates a diversion to shift the spotlight away from a sensitive topic.

This strategy is often used to buy time, create confusion, or simply to change the narrative.

When you look at recent political history, you’ll find numerous examples of the dead cat strategy in action.

For instance:

In 2017, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer claimed that Donald Trump’s inauguration crowd was the largest in history, despite photographic evidence to the contrary.

This move was seen as a classic dead cat strategy, diverting attention from concerns about Trump’s legitimacy.

During the 2019 UK general election, the Conservative Party changed the name of their Twitter account to “factcheckUK” to promote their own fact-checking service.

This move was criticised as an attempt to spread disinformation and confuse voters.

In 2018, Australia’s then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a surprise visit to a rural town, coinciding with a controversy surrounding his government’s handling of a major banking scandal.

The visit was seen as a dead cat strategy to distract from the scandal, allowing him to plunge into a new narrative and avoid the issue at hand.

Effectiveness in Shaping Opinion

As politicians successfully employ the dead cat strategy, they often reap significant benefits in shaping public opinion.

You’ll notice that when a politician uses this strategy, they can effectively shift the narrative, redirecting attention away from their own controversies and onto a more favourable topic.

By doing so, they can create a smokescreen that conceals their own vulnerabilities, allowing them to regain control of the conversation.

This strategy is particularly effective in crisis management, as it enables politicians to sidestep difficult questions and refocus the public’s attention on a more palatable issue.

For instance, when faced with a scandal, a politician might use the dead cat strategy to announce a new policy initiative, thereby deflecting the media’s attention and public scrutiny.

Criticisms and Controversies

The dead cat strategy, a tactic often employed by politicians to shift attention, has sparked heated debates and criticisms among scholars, journalists, and the general public.

You may find yourself wondering why this strategy is so controversial.

The primary concern lies in its potential to undermine legitimate discussion and oversight.

Critics argue that by creating a diversion, politicians can avoid accountability for their actions and sidestep pressing issues.

Some of the key criticisms include:

Manipulation of public opinion: The dead cat strategy can be seen as a form of emotional manipulation, exploiting people’s emotions to distract from important issues.
Erosion of trust: Repeated use of this tactic can lead to a decline in trust in political institutions and the media.
Obstruction of transparency: By diverting attention away from critical issues, politicians can conceal their own mistakes or wrongdoings.

Conclusion

In employing the dead cat strategy, you are likely to spark controversy and divert attention from the original issue. Whilst it can be effective in shaping public opinion, its use raises ethical concerns and may damage credibility. As a tool for manipulation, it is vital to recognise its potential consequences and consider the long-term effects on your reputation and relationships. Ultimately, you must weigh the benefits against the risks and decide whether the ends justify the means, and be prepared to take a plunge into the unknown.