There are a few tells in politics giving away that an imposter is among us. Specifically, beware of those individuals who use the phrase – break bread – as an action phrase or point of political destination.
The term originates with the actual breaking of hard bread while people would gather around for a meal. The phrase also depicts the sharers of the bread dividing their pieces between themselves – interesting interpretation in our modern politics. We can find evidence of the phrase “break bread” in the dating back to the Acts of the Apostles and the New Testament. Good concept, bad phrase.
The late and great Nick Acocella, founder of the then ground breaking political newsletter (fax) Politifax was a political guru. Nick was Hudson County born and bred. He was one of the most authentic and wisest human beings I ever met. I spent a lot of time in some cool restaurants in Hoboken with Nick and he schooled me decades ago in the art of politics.
One political gem that Nick passed along to more than one Governor and a few legislative leaders was the idea of having legislators and governors work and actually get along. Stop the presses!
Here was his plan. The Governor was to set up 40 lunch or dinner meetings with each legislative team in a two-year period. The plan envisioned each legislative team take the time to share a meal with the Governor and talk about priorities. The idea is if you spend quality time with the Governor and the running mates, something positive would come out when the check was paid.
A few practical problems with the plan. Not all legislators and running mates actually can sit down civilly with each other, forgot about adding the titular head of the political apparatus to the mix.
Also, far too many legislators think they are smarter than the Governor and egos might not allow for an actual good faith give and take. Some legislators are so narrow minded they can’t see the vision. And some Governors think they know it all, but have zero clue about real life beyond their bunker or bubble world.
It may be difficult, but that doesn’t mean efforts to collaborate should be ignored. I greatly encourage all players – professional and political – to sit down and spend some time talking about life and priorities. It is enormously beneficial to try it.
But to those in politics who actually utter or say the words “break bread,” you don’t know just how amateurish and silly you sound. Imagine a youngster wearing his parents business suit and acting like a grown-up – it just doesn’t work, might be funny, but not to be taken seriously. In the last few months someone in Trenton must have handed out a cheat sheet that coaches the legislators and staffers to use the term “break bread.” It just sounds out of step, dated, contrived and inauthentic with the real professionals.
Tip of the day – stop saying “break bread,” and just do it without the slogan.