In the context of politics, the phrase “shot/chaser” is typically used to describe a juxtaposition of two related yet contrasting pieces of information, often presented in close succession for dramatic or ironic effect.
The “shot” generally refers to the more impactful or shocking element, while the “chaser” serves to contextualize, contradict, or ironically underscore the “shot.”
Originating from bar terminology where a ‘shot’ of liquor is followed by a ‘chaser’ to smooth the taste.
The phrase in a political setting is often employed to draw attention to hypocrisy, inconsistency, or the complexities of a particular issue.
More on “Shot/Chaser”
An oft-deployed pithy form of attack in Republican and Democratic emails, Twitter posts, and news releases in which a controversial quote or fact—the “shot”—is followed by a contradictory quote or fact—the “chaser.”
“SHOT: Hillary claims server has emails ‘from my husband and me,’ the Republican National Committee said in a March 2015 tweet. “CHASER: Bill hasn’t sent an email since leaving WH.” The tweet included a link to a summary of a Wall Street Journal article quoting Bill Clinton spokesman Matt McKenna as saying that the former president doesn’t use email.
From Doubletalk © 2016 Chuck McCutcheon and David Mark.
Use of “Shot/Chaser” in a sentence
- The campaign’s shot/chaser moment came when the candidate first denounced negative campaigning but was found to have funded attack ads against his opponent just days later.
- In a classic shot/chaser, the senator fervently argued for fiscal responsibility on the Senate floor, only for news to break hours later revealing his support for a pork-laden spending bill.
- The president’s speech praising bipartisanship served as the shot, and the chaser was his immediate veto of a bipartisan bill, leaving political analysts and the public to question the sincerity of his earlier remarks.