Sound bite

Posted by ESC July 08, 2003In reply to Sound-bite posted by ESC on July 08, 2003

Hi,

Could anyone tell me what the following sentence means?

A senior politician is only ever a sound-bite away from destruction.

Thanks a lot.

Back in 1948 a Mr. Strom Thurmond ran a very hate-filled, racist and segregationist campaign for the US Presidency.
A few months ago a Mr. Trent Lott, a powerful Senate Majority Leader, publicly praised Mr. Thurmond's 1948 campaign as being a milestone in societal improvements and advancements.
This "sound-bite" of Mr. Lott created such atonishment that he was forced to resign and his long career was surely destroyed.

TV news only uses seconds of a speech, interview, etc. So they select "sound bites," a quotable quote. The "wrong" sound bite can ruin a career.

From Merriam-Webster online:

Main Entry: sound bite
Function: noun
Date: 1972

a brief recorded statement (as by a public figure) broadcast especially on a television news program; also : a brief catchy comment suitable for use as a sound bite