corpse cuddling

A derogatory expression for the cynical act on the part of a politician of visiting the relatives of a recently deceased person in order to express his or her sympathy.

Corpse cuddling is meaningless unless there is a full media continent present to record the visit as a photo and soundbite opportunity that will be broadcast on the evening news.

Ideally the deceased is either a "typical" member of the community or someone in the emergency services e.g. a paramedic who died in unusual circumstances. The objective of corpse cuddling is to win public support for the politician by portraying this person as someone having deep human empathy and who is "in touch" with "ordinary" citizens.

Also known as shroud waving.

In a blatant act of corpse cuddling, embattled Senator Aegis visited the widow and children of Thomas Brown who recently lost his life when the power company mistakenly cut the electricity powering his life support system.