Times of Brunswick, Winter 2017

Page 42

FLEX TIME CLASS OF 2005 SPEAKER SERIES

Expert Pollster Offers Challenges, Questions By Mike Kennedy ’99

S

“How many of you are happy with the choices that you have? How many of you are angry with the choices that

Pause at the correct points.

you have?

Don’t say “um.” Don’t say “I feel.”

“Which of these presidential candi-

Be declarative. Be engaged.

dates describes Courage, Honor, Truth?

into him, he told the boys. And he’s since built an illustrious

Who says Clinton? Who says Trump? “How can you justify Trump engaging in a fight with the former Miss Universe

career on the bedrock of maternal edict.

over her weight? Having Twitter

Today, he’s an expert in communica-

wars with people whom he dislikes?

tion — and one of the most renowned

Challenging a Gold Star family?

and trusted professionals in the field.

“How can you trust Clinton when so

He’s also a famed pollster and a “public

many of the things she’s said have been

opinion guru.”

proven untrue? When what she says and

The 54-year-old is the author of three New York Times bestsellers.

what she does are two different things?” In a two-hour, comedy-filled

He’s conducted more than 100 focus

give-and-take between speaker and

groups for Fox News. He’s advised

audience, Luntz encouraged students

over 50 Fortune 500 companies and

and faculty to challenge him and

CEOs. And he’s hosted a number of

themselves with their answers — and to

prime-time specials during presiden-

annunciate clearly.

tial debates — including last fall’s

More than 40 had their voices

between Hillary Clinton and Donald

heard — and Luntz never let anyone

Trump, which he’s deemed the

off the hook.

worst election (in terms of tone) of his lifetime. Luntz, founder and chairman of Luntz Global: Expert Communication

“It’s not the first question that matters. It’s the second and the third — the follow up,” he said. “When you’re engaging people, in

Strategists, visited the Upper School

terms of communication, the first

in October as part of the Class of 2005

question gives you an idea of who people

Speaker Series — an endowed gift

are. The second and third questions

given by the parents of the Class of

demonstrate that you truly care and

2005 to bring honored and informative

you’re trying to understand.”

speakers to the Brunswick campus. “I’m not an expert in political policy,”

And, to those who haven’t paid attention to this election or bothered

Luntz explained. “I don’t feel I’m fully

to side with one candidate or another,

qualified to give you the answers to all

Luntz expressed genuine concern.

of the issues in this election.” Instead, he unleashed a barrage of questions. “What don’t you like about Clinton?

40 |  TIMES

in that conversation?

PEAK IN complete sentences.

Frank Luntz’s mother drilled it all

Frank Luntz engaged more than 40 students throughout his two-hour, interactive presentation — including sophomore Christian Hartch (bottom), senior Nick VanBelle (stage left), and junior Hayden Hoover (stage right).

you talk politics? How do you engage

“Your country matters to you. Your future matters to you. I want you to care, to participate, and to have faith,” he said. “My goal is to make you realize that

What don’t you like about Trump?

this election should matter to you.

“Who here supports Trump and

These decisions will impact you in

your parents support Clinton? What’s

every year of your everyday life from

your conversation like at home when

now into the future.”

OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2017

Flex_Frank Luntz.indd 40

2/9/17 8:10 PM


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