Since Bannon Was Never Credible, How Could He Lose Credibility?

Steve Bannon

Jonah Goldberg's obscene but (as usual) witty takedown of Steve Bannon suggests that Bannon never had any credibility to begin with. How, then, could I have written a blog post about Bannon's loss of credibility? How could he lose what he never had?

Interesting questions.

1. Credibility is usually gained by a long series of truthful, meritorious communications. It is, however, relevant only among particular audiences. Bannon has never been credible among Democrats, (ahem) university professors, or mainstream reporters. He has, however, gained a loyal following among the white-supremacist movement that proudly calls itself the alt-right.

2. Because many people are naturally suspicious, one statement can undo all of one's credibility. (Example: a husband professes that he is faithful a thousand times. He admits to unfaithfulness once. End of credibility.) Bannon's negative comments about Donald Trump and Donald Trump, Jr. have harmed his credibility with alt-right groups. Extremists of all kinds, including the alt-right, value loyalty over truth, and they expected Bannon to be loyal. Apparently, he wasn't.

3. At the same time, since Bannon has been a fervent Trump supporter, his negative comments about Mr. Trump and his family might seem more credible rather than less, since he was speaking against his own usual position. Thus, even though many liberals, professors, and media pundits might mistrust Bannon, they might be more, not less, inclined to believe him when he speaks out of school.

4. Credibility is in the mind of the audience. In Greek myth, Cassandra, cursed by Apollo, always spoke the truth and was never believed. She was reliable, but not credible. Liars can be credible, and people who speak the truth can lack credibility. Credibility and character are not the same thing, although Kenneth Andersen and Theodore Clevenger found that the audience's perception of the speaker's character was a major factor in the speaker's credibility.

So, a complicated story.


Official White House photo, cropped