pivot

[Victor Steinbok]

It's been in media use (political commentary) at least since 2000. It
might have been an internal campaign term with the Clinton people, but
it also might have been wider. But "pivot" does not merely mean "change
the subject", but to change the subject in a particular way while
pretending to answer the question. The idea seems to be to use the
question as a jump point for a talking point. Simply changing the
subject is not a "pivot".

     VS-)

On 6/10/2012 9:56 AM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
> I first noticed this a few months ago in _Game Change_, the Gov. Palin
> movie.  Her adviser suggested that whenever she's asked a question she
> can't answer, she should "pivot," i.e., immediately change the subject.
>
> Since then I've heard it used a lot in reference to politicians.
>
> Not in OED.
>
> JL

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