Midterm Election Concession Speech Dos and Don’ts
As election results rolled in, the losers hit the stage to concede. From Carl Paladino’s baseball bat to Christine O’Donnell’s will to keep fighting, watch the best clips and learn from the best and worst.
Don’t Menace the Audience With a Baseball Bat
After losing to Andrew Cuomo in the gubernatorial race, Carl Paladino waited a full two minutes after the polls closed in New York to take the stage with an orange baseball bat. He then proceeded to wield said bat and threaten the new governor. “Make no mistake, you have not heard the last of Carl Paladino,” he said. We wonder if at this point, the text on the teleprompters read “cue ominous music.”
Don’t Say You’ve Won When You Have Not
She may not be a witch and, after Election Night, Delaware Tea Party nominee Christine O'Donnell isn’t a senator either. But, sporting a Palin-esque hairdo and a bright smile, she said in her concession speech that she did, in fact, win, and that she called victor Chris Coons to ask him to watch her 30-minute long ad to see how to help Delaware families. That’s the spirit!
Don’t Boast About Voter Turn Out When Voters Didn’t Turn Out
The Tea Party's Sharron Angle wanted to thank her voters after losing the race for Nevada's Senate. Good move. Unfortunately, like a high school boy who ignores his prom date, Angle continued on to thank everyone else in the nation for helping out. Some fun facts she pointed out to her faithful Nevadans: In the last quarter, $14 million poured into the campaign, 80 percent of which came from out of state; America was “desperate” and “anxious” to help the state; and that her campaign inspired Americans of all walks to come out and vote. In this case, against her.
Don’t Reassure Supporters About Foreclosed ‘Phones’
Incumbent Democrat Alan Grayson slipped up while reassuring his backers that he would not be out of politics after losing in Florida. “As long as there is anyone in danger of losing his or her phone—home … ” Grayson’s going to be in the arena a long time if he plans to help anyone who may ever lose their phone.
Do Bring Your Kids On Stage If They Are Irresistibly Cute
When Democrat Joe Sestak lost a hard-fought race for Pennsylvania’s Senate, he brought his wife and young daughter up to the stage with him. His daughter stole the show, whispering in his ear at times and reminding dad to “clean out the deck” tomorrow. But, we’d advise not to keep your kids up past their bedtime: Sestak’s speech began well after midnight.
Don’t Introduce Your WWE Family on Stage
Republican Linda McMahon received a lot of criticism during her campaign for the WWE’s violent and sexist image. During her concession speech, McMahon introduced her family, one by one, including husband WWE CEO Vince McMahon, son and former wrestler Shane McMahon, daughter and WWE Executive Vice President Stephanie McMahon-Levesque, and her son-in-law wrestler Paul “Triple H” Levesque. It didn’t help that the auditorium for the event resembled a wrestling arena. Well, aside from U2’s “Beautiful Day” blasting on the speakers.
Do Show More Class Than You Did During the Campaign
As crushing as it must have been for billionaire Republican Meg Whitman to lose her gubernatorial race to Jerry Brown, she took to the stage to thank her supporters, hold firm in her political beliefs, and pledge to move forward and unite with all Californians to turn the state around. But most graciously, Whitman silenced her supporters after a chorus of boos rang out when she congratulated Brown.
