Over the past few days the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund initiative has received a lot of attention on social media for not the right reasons. The above YouTube video has already recorded 518,524 views, additionally similar videos on the same channel are garnering attention. The video captures George Bush wiping his hand on Clinton’s shirt after greeting Haitians! While it is (if true) a matter of embarrassment and shame, it also captures a moment that has all the ingredients to make the video go viral.
In 2008, another political handshake had caught the imagination of both traditional and social media. When Pakistani President, Asif Ali Zardari met Sarah Palin in United States his excitement was palpable and caused a furore in Pakistan. The above YouTube video says it all. Zardari even faced a fatwa in his country for his ‘flirtatious’ behavior.
Communication experts and public relations counsels engaged by political figures surely need to advice their clients for on camera appropriateness. Social media with its power to cross global boundaries within minutes poses additional challenges for public relations experts. Communication experts consulting public figures, especially politicians, who are constantly scrutinized for their behaviors need to train their clients on appropriate on-camera actions. Both the videos posted here may suggest that these cases exhibit lack of common sense on the part of the actors. However, it is perhaps true that common sense is not so common!
What are your thoughts, ideas for preventing such embarrassing situations? These stories, events, videos over social media can spread like wild fire tarnishing the image and reputation of public figures, situations where the public relations consultant would do all to stop the video from going viral. Do share your suggestions.
Thanks 
Thanks for sharing, Paromita. These examples aptly illustrate the power and influence of social media. As PR Practitioners there is not much we can do to prevent such videos from spreading like wild fire. With the advent of social media there is immediate and mass diffusion of news, and PR Practitioners need to discern when to cover up and find an excuse for the public figures’ behavior and when to admit to the act.
Yes, PR practitioners definitely need to be monitoring how their clients are being represented on the social media and traditional media. They also need to be training clients so that they stay clear of performing such faux pas.