Exposing Issue Smoking Gun

Here's a recent still from a phone-recorded speech in a S African provincial legislature.

An elected representative by the name of Jack Bloom. He delivers an excoriating list of factors, any one of which alone would raise more than an eyebrow, but together state his compelling case against the foul stench of corruption coursing through the ruling ANC party.

He keeps this huge photo held up throughout.

It is of an Aston Martin. Worth three mill of the local bucks. So far beyond the means of a local politician (with no other job) as to be crazy. Yet one of the very same parked one in their garage.

It was his emblem of the runaway capture of state funds by a ruling elite whose only concern is the lining of their pockets.

Even worse, their day-job - the actual governmental role to be fulfilled, in this case managing the water supply - was allegedly woefully neglected to the point of utter collapse.

This kind of tactic is familiar from the similar setting of the hearings in the American committee rooms.

Yet it continues to surprise me I don't see more of it in selling.

In this case, it seems he's showing a publicity shot of said car, popped onto a poster, affixed to a card backing.

It is in effect his smoking gun. What he believes a physical embodiment of that which he seeks to root out.

An image representing shame and disgrace which he hopes to imprint upon the minds of his audience. In this case, likely voters.

Whilst we're not on anti-corruption campaigns, we are often looking for that precious emblem of a malady.

When you find one, don't be afraid to spotlight it.

Why settle for having a mere slide with a pic of it? Producing a prop like here can work wonders too. Wave it around and make it count.