On message

Posted by ESC on September 03, 2004

In Reply to: On message posted by David FG on September 03, 2004

: : During the press conference, the president kept right on message by repeating his point .
: : Does "on message" mean *to express opinion? or on behalf of a political party?

:
: 'On message' means sticking to the official party line - being orthodox in one's statements.

And keeping things simple for the public.

ON THE MESSAGE - "focused on the main selling point. 'In the lingo of today's spin doctors,' the lexicographer wrote in the 'New York Times' in 1993, 'focus means to be 'on the message' - concentrating on the one or two simple issues that ignite a campaign.When you stray 'off the message,' support erodes.you're putting so many necessary things on the public plate that people, uncomfortable with complexity, cannot digest it all.' 'On the message' is associated with James Carville, chief Clinton political strategist in 1992 (See 'It's the economy, stupid.')." From Safire's New Political Dictionary by William Safire (Random House, New York, 1993).