MovieChat Forums > The American President (1995) Discussion > what does this line mean?

what does this line mean?

posted 9 years ago by spielman54
5 replies | jump to latest

Louis: I"m hearing rumors that your boss is wavering on the crime bill
Congressional Staffer: I wouldn't listen to rumors Louis, you know this town
Louis: that's what I wanted to hear
Congressional Staffer: I"ll tell you what my boss is starting to waiver on, the crime bill

I don't get this. He just said not to worry about it, then says that its true. Is he trying to say "hey, don't listen to rumors, but this isn't a rumor, it's true"???

[–] PrayingMantis 9 years ago

Is he trying to say "hey, don't listen to rumors, but this isn't a rumor, it's true"???

Yes. He's basically saying that it's worse than just a rumor (that one might be inclined to dismiss), it's a fact.

[–] rknox39 9 years ago

I always took that line as the guy he was talking to wasn't really paying attention to what Luise was saying.

[–] smoko 8 years ago

@spielman54 It's a riff used often in comedy, though I don't know if it has a name. You let someone off the hook, and then put them back on.

So it's like:
"I heard that he might do this."
"No, that's not true."
"Thank God."
"He's definitely going to do this."

[–] Moviefan-Two-Kay-Four 8 years ago

Nice cameo too, by writer Aaron Sorkin (he also scripted "A Few Good Men").

[–] tomatosauce6808 7 years ago

He also wrote the play on which the script for a few good men as based