Lessons from Health Care: The Semantics of Power

“At the end of the day, when we take a vote, [Obama's] not going to be out there supporting me and running my elections,” Cuellar said. “It’s going to be up to me to run my election. And it’s up to me to decide on my own that this is in the best interests of my district.”

So said Rep. Henry Cuellar this week in a press interview about why he wasn’t taking a call from the White House this week in advance of a big vote on health care.

I give him credit for telling the White House that he intends to make up his own mind on a piece of legislation.

Then, I take it away for implying that (1) his constituents = voters and (2) that he’s a decision maker as opposed to a representative.

Read his quote again, and ask yourself, Would a Congressman who is truly, in his heart of hearts, working for the best interest of his district, refer to his constituents and himself this way? Cuellar here doesn’t sound too representative, does he? He sounds a bit more interested in the power that comes with being elected than in actually representing anyone. At the very least, shouldn’t the reference to the election come later in the statement?

I would have liked his statement to sound more like this: “At the end of the day, I represent the people of my district, not the White House, and not even my political party. They elected me, but they’re pretty divided themselves on this issue, so I’m going to have to figure this one out now myself.”

The way people speak tells a lot about the person. Those little choices they make about what to state first, and how to characterize their relationships with others provide big clues about what’s important to them.

Now, I won’t pass judgment on Cuellar—I don’t like this quote but a single statement taken out of context is not a foundation for an opinion of the man.

I will, however, suggest that you pay more attention when people speak. Those throw-away comments, snarky bites, and semantic choices, when you listen carefully and can pick up a trend, actually tell you quite a bit. Don’t believe it for a moment when someone tells you you’re making a mountain out of a molehill.

Instead, listen harder. If the semantic choices continue, rest assured, you’re on to something.

Me? I’ll be listening a bit more closely to Rep. Cuellar.