Venomous Speech [2 volumes] : Problems with American Political Discourse on the Right and Left [2 volumes] /: Problems with American Political Discourse on the Right and Left [2 volumes]. (2013)

• Record Type: Book
• Further Information: Note: Clarke Rountree.
• Editors: Rountree, Clarke
• Contents: AcknowledgmentsINTRODUCTIONStrained Voices in American Political DiscourseClarke RountreeThis introductory chapter argues that current problems in American political discourse have relatively recent origins stemming from cultural and technological changes in political news coverage, the reshuffling of political parties, the campaign finance revolution, and a new culture of fear that is undermining our most basic political values. These sources have contributed to venomous and problematic discourse from both sides of the political spectrum, as well as gridlock such as we witnessed in the summer 2011 U.S. federal debt crisis, which led to a downgrading of American credit for the first time in history.PROBLEMATIC CONGRESSIONAL DISCOURSE1. Finding Consensual Fact in Political DebateKathleen Hall Jamieson and Timothy W. FallisConsensual fact is needed to ground engaged argument. One advances an argument from agreed-upon ground that serves as the foundation for the case being made. Among those disposed to contest inconvenient data, engaged debate is made possible, in part, by the existence of institutional sources that each side considers methodologically sophisticated as well as expert in the subject of the debate. Here we examine the role two types of nonpartisan organizations, the Congressional Budget Office and three Internet-based fact-checking entities, play in identifying consensual fact and show the functions these organizations play in creating common ground.2. A "Dialogue of the Deaf": Obama, His Congressional Critics, and Incivility in American Political DiscourseChristopher R. DarrThis chapter compares the rhetoric of President Obama and Republican leaders in the House and Senate regarding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in order to illustrate the larger point that Obama and his critics are engaged in what Pierre Bayard calls a "dialogue of the deaf." Obama and his conservative opponents disagree not only on policy but also on the proper nature of political discourse. While Obama engages in civility through transcending differences, emphasizing cooperation over ideology, and respecting diverse views, his opponents advocate and create incivility by exacerbating difference, provoking partisanship, and openly disrespecting other points of view.PROBLEMATIC PRESIDENTIAL DISCOURSE3. Intransigence and Self-Justification as a Political Way of LifeKathryn M. OlsonUsing a presidential press conference from each of the left and the right, this chapter analyzes recent democratic leaders' heavy-handed practice of intransigence buttressed by self-justification as a habit of political life rather than an occasional occurrence. Clinton's press conference concerned the 1994 midterm elections in which voters gave control of both houses to the Republicans. Bush responded to the release of a 2007 National Intelligence Estimate indicating that, contrary to his justification for considering military action against Iraq's neighbor, Iran did not have and was not making nuclear weapons. The chapter critiques four rhetorical moves used by both leaders to avoid correction from friendly quarters (not just political opponents) and recommends three ways to facilitate a more functional democracy.4. Contesting the So-Called Postracial Landscape of Presidential Politics: Obama, African Americans, and a Shifting ElectorateSteven R. Goldzwig and Patricia A. SullivanBarack Obama's presidency has caused many to speculate on the onset of a postracial or postethnic society. This development provides an occasion for interrogating the larger political, social, cultural, and economic factors that are driving changing race relations in the United States. In this chapter we offer: (1) a discussion of Obama's presidential campaign, (2) an interpretation of the election outcome that highlights issues of diversity, (3) a rehearsal of African American narratives calling for a specific black political agenda to combat contemporary social inequities, and (4) implications and conclusions that seem most germane in interpreting the present circumstances.5. Where Is the Democratic Narrative, FDR Style?Edward C. AppelAs various scholars have noted, President Obama and national Democratic leaders in general have been inept in answering the regnant Republican story line about past and current U.S. American politics. Possible explanations include the historic swing to the right of the 1980s and 1990s, and the Republican-lite financial profile of today's federal officeholders, regardless of party. Four reasons are offered why a forceful "melodramatic" counterstatement is necessary—now. Such a statement is given in full and in short. The dramatistic philosophy of Kenneth Burke is invoked as paradigm for that potent and required melodrama, and for a cautionary "comedy" as check on melodramatic excess.6. Presidential Policies and Discourses on the Environment in the Past Decades: A Social Scientific AnalysisQingjiang (Q. J.) Yao, Zhaoxi (Josie) Liu, and Andrée E. ReevesHow have the U.S. presidents addressed the issue in the past decades? With a content analysis of presidential speeches and documents from 1980 to 2007, this study finds that Republican presidents talked about environmental issues less and with a less accommodating tone than did their Democratic counterparts. Meanwhile, after George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton peaked in the number and tone of presidential speeches on the environment for their respective parties, later presidents seem to avoid the topic, while a stronger leadership on the issue is needed to address serious environmental threats.PROBLEMATIC CAMPAIGN DISCOURSE7. Mudslinging: The Nature of Attacks in Political CampaignsWilliam L. BenoitThis chapter explores the problem of why voters (and scholars and journalists) condemn attacks in political campaigns when in fact attacks are a vital element in the evaluation of candidates. Three dimensions are identified. Campaign messages should be truthful (veracity); both attacks and acclaims (positive statements) can be misleading if not false; both attacks and acclaims can be true. We should not condemn attacks because some of them are false or misleading (we should condemn false/misleading statements whether they are attacks or acclaims). A second dimension is function (acclaims, attacks, and defense). These functions work as an informal variant of cost–benefit analysis: acclaims, if persuasive, increase the sponsoring candidates' benefits; attacks, when accepted by the audience, increase the opponent's costs; and defenses can reduce a candidate's alleged costs. Voters need to know both the benefits and the costs of the candidates for office. Attacks (when not fraudulent) help voters learn the costs or drawbacks to a candidate and so are vital to the democratic process. A third dimension is topic: candidates can discuss what they (and their opponent) have done and will do in office (policy, actus) or who they are (character, status). Finally, one risk candidates should consider is the possibility that attacks on character are more likely (than attacks on policy), to be viewed by many voters as mudslinging, and may provoke a backlash against the candidates who attack on character.8. Citizens Undone: Freedom of Speech, Political Discourse, and the Import of Citizens United v. Federal Election CommissionStephen A. SmithCitizens United v. Federal Election Commission was arguably the most counter-majoritarian opinion of the last two decades. This chapter summarizes and critiques the Court's decision that enhanced corporate personhood and endowed it with expanded First Amendment rights. By examining the ensuing political controversy and discussing the impact of the ruling on the political culture, it makes clear that the opinions of the Supreme Court are key texts in contemporary American political discourse and explicates the ways in which the Court's decision has been contested by both political institutions and concerned citizens.9. The Frightening State of Political Discourse: A Case Study of the Use of Fear in the 2012 GOP PrimaryRebecca M. L. CurnaliaThis chapter addresses the use, and misuse, of the label job killing in the GOP primary debates leading up to the 2012 Iowa caucuses. "Job killing" was used to describe Obama's tax policies, legislation, and governmentagencies. A review of candidates' use of job killing claims suggested that these arguments often lacked convincing support. However, the ubiquity and consistency with which the label was applied may have pronounced effects by playing on existing economic fears and activating authoritarian attitudes in voters. Implications for debate and the health of American democracy are discussed.10. Direct Attacks in the 2008 Presidential DebatesEdward A. Hinck, Shelly Schaefer Hinck, and William O. DaileyThis chapter offers a case study of the problems posed by direct attacks in the 2008 presidential debates between Barack Obama and John McCain. We consider political debates as contests where candidates must find ways to argue with each other while also respecting the other person in disagreeing over leadership issues for the nation. We distinguish between messages that help viewers evaluate differences in the arguments about policies from messages that attack the image of the candidate with little regard for policies. We illustrate the problems of direct attacks with examples from the three 2008 presidential debates.11. Social Media, the GOP, and Campaign 2012Mary Tucker-McLaughlinSocial media's entrée as a legitimate communication tool has changed the face of politicians' campaign communication. GOP 2012 candidates prepared their campaign strategies, with websites, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter all playing a unique role. This chapter looks at the GOP's social media communication from August 2011, through Super Tuesday in March 2012. The findings showed that although messages improved as the campaign grew more competitive, man
• Publisher Details: New York : Praeger
• Publication Date: 2013
• Extent: 1 online resource (544 pages)
• Subjects: Political Science -- Political Ideologies -- General; Political Science -- Political Process -- Political Parties; Political Science -- Political Process -- Leadership; Politics & government
• Languages: English
• ISBNs: 9798216161561
• Access Rights: Legal Deposit; Only available on premises controlled by the deposit library and to one user at any one time; The Legal Deposit Libraries (Non-Print Works) Regulations (UK).
• Access Usage: Restricted: Printing from this resource is governed by The Legal Deposit Libraries (Non-Print Works) Regulations (UK) and UK copyright law currently in force.