Ken Berwitz
First, the definition of paralipsis (also spelled paralepsis):
paralipsis [par-uh–lip-sis] noun, plural paralipses: The suggestion, by deliberately concise treatment of a topic, that much of significance is being omitted, as in “not to mention other faults”.
Now, this excerpt from Lisa Hagen\’s article at thehill.com, which describes Senator Bernard “Bernie” Sanders\’ comment, at an Iowa town hall meeting, to a woman who raised Bill Clinton\’s sexual predations as an issue:
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Friday called Bill Clinton\’ssexual scandals “totally disgraceful and unacceptable” but said he would notuse the former president\’s infidelities against Hillary Clinton.
“HillaryClinton is not Bill Clinton. What Bill Clinton did, I think we can allacknowledge was totally, totally, totally disgraceful and unacceptable.
“But I am running against Hillary Clinton. I am not runningagainst Bill Clinton,” he continued. “What we need to do as a nation is focuson the bloody issues facing this country.”
Without that first sentence, Sanders would have kept this issue out of the discussion.
But by making sure to use it, Sanders has shown us the genteel way of saying “We all know that if you put Hillary Clinton in the White House we\’re putting that totally, totally, totally disgraceful and unacceptable Bill Clinton in the White House too. But, hey, I\’m running against Hillary, y\’know (wink wink)”.
There is your lesson in paralipsis, courtesy of Bernie Sanders\’ lip service.
Impressed?
