Politico has an article complaining about President Trump's "lack of message discipline." Definition,
Message discipline is the concept that politicians and other public policy advocates should talk about what is relevant to achieve their aims, and not allow themselves to be sidetracked either by their own thoughts or the questions of press or audience.
I am willing to stipulate that the President lacks message discipline. However, what political consultants push and what voters prize are sometimes opposite things. Trump has his style and has been elected twice to the world's most powerful job, no small feat.
I believe Trump's willingness to be sidetracked and to say what he is thinking and feeling is experienced by many voters as "authenticity and spontaneity," which they like a lot. By contrast the pol who sticks rigidly to the "party line message" seems robotic and programmed, and is a turn-off to many, including me.
The consultants may be correct that message discipline gets the word out to uninvolved, disinterested voters. If such are inadvertently exposed to the disciplined candidate they hear the core message. Discipline means those of us who follow politics get bored hearing the same old talking points over and over.
