Type “perception manager” into an Internet search engine and prepare to enter a digital rabbit hole.
The phrase brings thousands of hits for sites filled with geek speak or the dark mutterings of conspiracy buffs. On the other end of the spectrum, though, are references to Jon Krakauer’s haun
ting book, “Where Men Win Glory.” It documents the life and death of Pat Tillman, an introspective warrior, who walked away from a multimillion-dollar career with the National Football League to serve as an Army Ranger. Tillman, who was based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, was killed in 2004 while serving in Afghanistan. Krakauer details the unseemly tale of a White House suit, whose job title was “perception manager,” deliberately suppressing details of Tillman’s death during a friendly fire tragedy, all in hopes of short-term political gain.
The book offers sad evidence of truth’s easy death. It also makes the case that Tillman deserved better. His honor and honesty still inspire.
“Perception management” so perfectly describes what happens when people in power jump past fact; when they dissemble and think it different than lying; when they begin sentences with “As you know,” and assume their truth is unchallenged, simply because they say so.
There’s been perception management aplenty since Aug. 23, when three feuding Everett school board members went hands on during a closed-door meeting. Video documents some of what happened. Still, pity the cops and prosecutors who must sort this out. A bunch of people are going to be unhappy.
Perception management also has been big in Lynnwood’s claims that red-light enforcement cameras are about safety. Turns out that’s true, though not as billed. While data show no clear impact on accidents since Lynnwood installed the cameras in 2007, officials now at least are publicly acknowledging that millions of dollars in ticket fines help pay to keep police on the job.
And then there’s this gem from Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon’s Facebook page.
When emergency responders on July 28 celebrated the return to service of a refitted search-and-rescue helicopter, Reardon offered up this post:
“In 2006, we created the County Dept. of Emergency Management. Since then our Dept. has been a leader throughout the region in emergency management response. Today, we celebrate our continued success with the acquisition of SnoHawk 10, our new helicopter. We continue to provide our first responders with the tools they need to do their job.”
Fact: The county didn’t “create” the emergency management department in 2006. Instead, it absorbed a free standing agency that for decades had served with distinction in coordinating response to flooding and other local disasters.
Fact: SnoHawk 10 was acquired in the 1990s as government surplus, its cost paid for in part using money raised by search-and-rescue volunteers. It was rebuilt this year, using a $1.5 million grant.
Fact: County emergency management officials worked with the sheriff’s office in preparing the successful grant application.
Fact: The helicopter refit was a good story. How did it get better with perception management?
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