The "Reverse ferret": when media or politicians brazenly contradict an earlier stance

[muriel_volestrangler]

without acknowledging it in any way.

Reverse ferret is a phrase used predominantly within the British media to describe a sudden reversal in an organisation's editorial or political line on a certain issue. Generally, this will involve no acknowledgement of the previous position.[1]

The term originates from Kelvin MacKenzie's time at The Sun. His preferred description of the role of journalists when it came to public figures was to "stick a ferret up their trousers". This meant making their lives uncomfortable, and was based on the supposed northern stunt of ferret-legging (where contestants compete to show who can endure a live ferret within their sealed trousers the longest). However, when it became clear that the tide of public opinion had turned against the paper's line, MacKenzie would burst from his office shouting "Reverse ferret!"[1][2][3]

In 2014, the Mayor of New York performed a literal reverse ferret when he repealed a ban on owning domesticated ferrets within the city.[4]

Republican leaders' reaffirmation of support for 2016 presidential nominee Donald Trump in October was described as a reverse ferret by The New York Times.[5]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_ferret

Examples today:

"I felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic."

Link to tweet

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213115962

Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., appeared on Fox News on Monday night and walked back previous comments where he had contradicted public health experts and encouraged Americans to “go to a local restaurant” during the coronavirus crisis.

Sunday, Nunes said, “There’s a lot of concerns with the economy here because people are scared to go out. But I will just say, one of the things you can do if you’re healthy – you and your family – it’s a great time to just go out, go to a local restaurant. Likely you can get in easily.”

"Go to your local pub," he continued.
...
However, on Monday, Nunes, who is one of President Donald Trump’s top allies in Congress, said that "media freaks don't have a clue what's going on out in the real world" regarding the outbreak, and claimed that during his Sunday Fox News appearance, he was encouraging people to do drive-thru or takeout.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/03/16/coronavirus-devin-nunes-walks-back-go-your-local-pub-comments/5065469002/

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142449547

'We have a responsibility': Fox News declares coronavirus a crisis in abrupt U-turn

Fox News, the rightwing channel that is a favorite of Donald Trump and conservatives across the US, spent the first weeks of the Covid-19 outbreak downplaying the threat of the virus.

Hosts often claimed that those warning of the danger were “panic pushers”, or engaged in “mass hysteria”. Some on Fox News even claimed it was all an effort to try to bring down the president.
...
“We have a responsibility to slow down this virus and to think of other people during this time,” Ainsley Earhardt told viewers. “So if you can keep your distance, and prevent someone from getting close to you that might be sick, you can save your family, you can save the elderly, and help our country as a nation.”

Three days earlier, Earnhardt struck a different tone, when she suggested people should take advantage of the crisis to take a trip.

“It’s actually the safest time to fly,” Earhardt had said. “Everyone I know that’s flying right now, terminals are pretty much dead – ghost towns.”

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/mar/17/fox-news-coronavirus-outbreak-trump

The non-brain dead (ie non-Fox viewers and Republican voters) will notice this is an exclusively Republican practice.

[Wounded Bear]

1. Basically the same thing he did with the Birther bullshit...

"Oh that, it's not true."