Definition

A politician's unintended statement that reveals true beliefs or simply sounds terrible out of context, providing opponents with endless ammunition. Truth accidentally escaping from message discipline.

Example Usage

His gaffe about '47 percent' of Americans being dependent on government dominated coverage for weeks and damaged his campaign.

Origin

From French 'gaffe' (blunder), adopted into political use in the early 20th century

Fun Fact

Michael Kinsley defined a political gaffe as 'when a politician tells the truth—some obvious truth he isn't supposed to say.'

Source: Political communication terminology

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overridden

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