Ramon Tulfo on Aquino loses his cool

On Target
Aquino loses his cool in debate

By Ramon Tulfo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:49:00 02/17/2010

Filed Under: Benigno Aquino III, Politics, Elections

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IF SEN. NOYNOY AQUINO continues to show his annoyance toward some members of the media on the campaign trail like he did on Tuesday, he’s likely to lose many votes.
Aquino should remember that many voters who are still undecided are scrutinizing every candidate’s action in public.
His annoyance directed at Tony Lopez, Biznews publisher, for being allegedly biased toward his close rival, Sen. Manny Villar, could have turned off many business leaders who attended a debate sponsored by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).
Many business leaders can exert influence on how their employees vote.
Aquino complained that Lopez reversed the order in which candidates were to give their answers.
But Lopez, a feisty writer, replied: “A leader should be ready for surprises.”
To which Aquino shot back sarcastically: “Especially if the moderator is unbiased like you.”
Be that as it may, Aquino should have kept his cool knowing he was under public scrutiny.
Even people rooting for him were turned off by his show of annoyance in public.
I have no love lost for Tony Lopez, who sometimes rubbed people the wrong way, but he was right when he told Aquino that a good leader should be able to handle the unexpected.
A leader should always be cool under fire, which Aquino was not at the PCCI debate.
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Actor Fernando Poe Jr., defeated by President Gloria in that very controversial 2004 presidential election, lost so many votes when he shamed on stage a reporter following him on the campaign trail in front of so many people.
People who would have voted for FPJ must have changed their minds at the sight of the popular actor berating a reporter in public.
The goody-goody image that FPJ projected on screen was gone in an instant.
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