Political Communication Final Exam

Barack Obama - A More Perfect Union

"I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother - a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in the world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe."

politics at the margin continued

"Small, but key portion, however, accounts for the fact that public opinion on the whole moves intelligently in relation to most important facts and some very major communication events"

the longstanding struggle for working class white democrats

"Sure, we lost our based in the South; our boys voted for Gingrich. But let me tell you something. I know these boys. I grew up with them. Hardworking, poor, white boys, who feel left out, feel that our reforms always come at their expense. Think about it, every progressive advance our country has made since the Civil War has been on their backs. They're the ones asked to pay the price of progress."

we not us v them

"The fact is that the comments that have been made and the issues that have surfaced over the last few weeks reflect the complexities of race in this country that we've never really worked through - a part of our union that we have yet to perfect. And if we walk away now, if we simply retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like health care, or education, or the need to find good jobs for every American."

Westen on race

"We must 'distinguish what these numbers are telling us about race from what they're telling us about class and the social ills that accompany poverty...'; and also see 'what they'r telling us about some networks about work, responsibility, and respect for those who help themselves that are shared by white and black Americans alike.' "

anatomy of a socially acceptable implicit racial appeal

'Obama's support among working, hard working Americans, White Americans is weakening again.' 'hard working' does not literally modify 'white', but is presented here as being associated with 'white'

presidential realities

'precious little evidence presidents accomplish much by rhetoric - least of all large shifts in public opinion' - Sides

white house communication strategies

3 main strategies winning favor with the press (scoops, access, privileges) shaping the news flow (presidents try to guide the flow of the news by the thrust of their commentary and controlling contacts with the press, commenting on more favorable topics that divert media attention from negative ones) orchestrating coverage (creating newsworthy events, heightening suspense through news blackouts, etc.)

Berg v Katz

Berg uses textual analysis of film as analytical tool to understand how a multitude of elements following the accepted conventions of traditional Hollywood filmmaking contribute to stereotyping Katz talks about how popular culture normalizes and glorifies male violence

The Pickup Truck Divide

Howard Dean wanted to be the candidate for guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks

race and gender in the 2008 democratic primary

Jackman and Vavreck: both race and gender mattered the effects of attitudes about race are twice as large in the Clinton/Obama contest as the effects of gender AND more than twice as large as the effects of the respondent's race

public standing of the president

Jones argues there's little correlation between presidential approval rating and legislative productivity, ability to pass one's own agenda

Jones and Kernell

Jones uses a series of case studies to show there's little correlation between approval rating and legislative productivity, ability to pass one's agenda for a variety of reasons explained by Jones and Kernell

Berg

Latino images in film.. mental stereotype: the pictures in our heads -- more focused on generalized traits that are then applied to actual members of the out-group mediated stereotype: an agreed upon vision and 'shared sign of the other' in precise and material form draws upon cultural history, nearly a century of repeated presentation

elements that drive racial appeals

Mendelberg norm of racial equality (along with ambivalent attitudes) two party system that is polarized along racial lines

media coverage on presidency

NBC News 18 stories/month on presidency 51 mins/month Congress 7 stories 22 mins Supreme Court 2 stories 5 mins

3 Ps

Peace, prosperity and passion movement is in the middle category polls reflect where the passionate are

Jackman and Vavreck

Simon Jackman and Lynn Vavreck wrote the following about Clinton: "In fact, there is perhaps no better recent exemplar of symbolic racism in American political rhetoric than these comments by Clinton."

Chait on Obama

Thinks that Westen's interpretation is based on misconceptions about presidential power, liberal fantasies of presidential ideal

scorekeepers

according to Stimson they are 'nonideological pragmatists who trust or distrust each side equally. They tend to see politics not as a contest of worldview but merely as alternate teams of possible managers of government, each contending that they can do a better job.' pragmatists NOT ideologues most influential group

rhetoric of the race card within the democratic party

appeals re: racial concerns and electability Obama was weak among 'hard working Americans, White Americans' explicit appeals to race appeals to race openly and in a negative way

final forecast election 2012

based on the state by state polling available up until the morning of Nov. 6th, this was the final electoral college forecast: Obama 313, Romney 225 based primarily on state by state poll results from multiple polling companies

race appeal: a spectrum

broadly speaking, at one end, racial appeals invoke race in some way but not necessarily based on racism- often in relation to unity across groups

Lee Atwater

campaign strategist for H.W. Bush absolutely ruthless Willie Horton Republican strategist that was brought in by Bush to run an attack against Dukakis; he oversaw the making of attack ads on Dukakis; A particularly aggressive media program included a television advertisement produced by Floyd Brown comparing Bush and Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis on crime. Bush supported the death penalty for first-degree murderers, while Dukakis opposed the death penalty. Dukakis also supported a felon furlough ("weekend pass") program originally begun under Republican Governor Francis Sargent in 1972.

typology of controlling images

can only tell one part of the story hegemony is also fragile and incomplete within texts - multiple meanings - polysemy within society - resistance (cultural expression that is politically challenging) through audience reception there is also resistance

frames and racial appeals

certain frames trigger or prime race and ethnic group-related associations, even when race is NOT mentioned immigration framed both: activated different racial cognition affected broader interpretation of an issue

Stimson early polls

changes from early polls reflect movement that is largely a false construct of who's known at the start and the fact that much of the public at that stage has no opinion but is pressed for it examples: Bush 41 and Al Gore suffered as vps to charismatic popular presidents seemed small and wimpy in comparison, despite bush being a war hero

Clinton's racist comments

cloaked in legitimate concerns the phrase 'hard working' made the appeal to race acceptable and more powerful because Clinton cloaked the appeal to prejudice in a statement about equality and work ethic... AND electability

Zaller Lewinsky Scandal

consistent in the idea that public is rational three elements distorted image - peace, prosperity, NOT scandal

McIlwain and Caliendo race appeal

contend that race in campaign communications operate on a spectrum no bright line between racial and racist appeals there are characteristics, elements that are used that when accumulated lean towards one end or the other

McIlWain and Caliendo

content that race in campaign in communications operate on a spectrum not bright line b/t racial and racist appeals there are characteristics that when accumulated lean towards one another

filmmaking practices and cultural stereotypes

conventions of traditional filmmaking contribute to stereotyping 'framing' - shot composition staging of action (mise en scene) camera angles and movement, shot selection and duration music sound effects costume makeup art direction/set design scripting -- dialogue acting -- follows classic conventions of villains v heroes narrative

implicit racial appeals

convey the same messages replace racial nouns and adjectives with 'oblique' references to race present and ostensibly 'race free' policy position allude to racial stereotypes use VISUAL images to communicate implicitly invoke perceived threat from African Americans or Latinos or other major ethnic groups related to some controversy

textual analysis

decoding: audience interprets the text takes meaning from the text influenced by individual's unique social position, background

what government execs/legislators want

define situations and project images in a way that furthers their objectives influence the information that media pass on to the public and to other officials

Graber and Dunaway

describe media as 'the lifeblood of politics' because media coverage shapes the perceptions that form the reality on which political action is based

two truths about the racial unconscious

despite conscious values, most people harbor some prejudice values and associations, at any level of conscious, are not merely the result of right-wing propaganda and prejudices, they are also born of personal experiences so it will be easier for people to follow Democrat leaders who can admit to 'inconvenient truths'; acknowledge the legitimate concerns of conservatives

media

do more than depict the environment; they strongly affect the political environment according to Presidential staffers, more time spent discussing the media than any other institution including Congress

racist appeal

draws on racial animosity and negative racial beliefs primarily used to appeal to white voters (or more broadly one racial group using animus about another racial group)

liberal films

even liberal films often have some conservative sentiments and vice versa for example: Rambo vilifying the state, depicting government as evil presenting individual solutions to societal problems

election drivers

everywhere we have looked we have seen order intelligent vote

explicit racial appeals

express anti-black or latino or other anti-minority sentiment represent racial stereotypes portray a threat from the minority key words: blacks, race, racial stereotypical or derogatory statements

honeymoon phase

first phase of press and presidency relationship characterized by cooperation conveying messages about organization of the new administration, plans and proposals for policy

Collins

focuses on explication of common, persistent stereotypes of black women and explicated both the dominant representation and their societal implications

measuring presidential success

historical evaluations based on policy outcomes not correlated with approval ratings possible to have very low ratings and be held in high esteem

3 phases of press and presidency relationship

honeymoon critical mutual retreat

inconvenient truths

humiliation, doubt and fear anger and bitterness suppression of expression

cinematic language - kellner

ideology contains/is transcoded, or communicated in: binaries like heroes and villains images discourses myths what is said, what is shown on screen, what is implied and what is referenced implicitly Avatar, for example

Jezebel

implications of the jezebel images shape the way individual members of a group are seen and treated, even in the legal system victims of assault, sexual harassment internalizing the jezebel can amplify the power of the controlling image psychological constraints imposed self fulfilling prophecy known as 'seductive, alluring, worldly, beguiling, tempting, and lewd.' opposite of a white feminine ideal - models of self-respect, self-control and modesty - even sexual purity, but black women are often portrayed as innately promiscuous

polls about race

indicate that Americans understand we have made great strides on race but also that there is still discrimination and that we can't entirely abandon affirmative action without taking a step backwards these beliefs support efforts to reduce race based inequality

modern permanent campaign

individualism of members of congress partisan polarization of congress demands of 24 hour news cycle also, congress's perception of press power matters

four functions of the press for gov execs

inform about current events keep exec branch attuned to the public's major concerns provide a conduit to the general public as well as to political elites public exposure

highest presidential approval

just after honeymoon phase

presidential approval rating

key eternal factors: state of economy time in office lowers approval events like scandals, wars, foreign policy crises depress approval

Going Public

key factors supporting increased public in this title decline in party power - fewer Americans side wit ha party. independent is most popular affiliation in the past, parties spanned the institutional gulf between the president and Congress Democratizing norms in nominating process for president Divided government - oppositional Congress

racial consciousness and unconciousness

key themes: most people do harbor prejudice, at some level important to distinguish between conscious values and unconscious associations democrats have been afraid to acknowledge prejudice, and allow Republicans to used coded racist appeals

latino images in film

mental stereotype the pictures in our heads -- more focused on generalized traits that are then applied to actual members of the out-group mediated stereotype: an agreed upon vision and 'shared sign of the other' in precise and material form draws upon cultural history 'nearly a century' of repeated representation

Westen and the Presidential Deal

model of American politics in which the president is the most important figure his piece on Obama assumes a model of American politics in which the president is the most important figure his evaluations are in part based on our cultural perception of the president

subtle racial appeals

more subtle, implicit racial appeals work best for several reasons because of dual processing - unconscious and automatic thought some information is processed automatically and beliefs and associations are triggered without consciousness effective bc of priming

relationship between presidency and media

mutually symbiotic competitive, ultimately adversarial have different goals

symbolic racism

one variant of modern prejudice that taps components of racial prejudice in domains such as the values and norms of racial groups (e.g. the stereotype that a particular racial group violates norms of hard work or self reliance) or support for public policies designed to redress racial inequality (e.g. affirmative action)

stimson and presidential campaigns

order and rationality apply economy very influential sometimes in contested elections, campaigns major events matter, especially part conventions

3 types of citiznes

passionate scorekeepers uninvolved the movement is in the middle category accounting for 'virtually all the change'

Drew Westen on Obama

passionless, weak

voters and racial appeals

personal motivation: want to adhere to the norm of racial equality resent blacks claims for public resources and hold negative racial stereotypes regarding work, violence and sexuality

being more effective about race/racial attacks

politicians need to understand how Americans think about race, bearing in mind insights from cognitive psychology what Americans think about race -- their core beliefs about racial groups and policies

Nina Turner racialized image

portrays her as Aunt Jemima

institutionalized pluralism

power sharing between different organizations of government private negotiation based on bargaining, mutual interest, exchange

quantifying presidential influence

presidential support: the frequency with which lawmakers vote with the president when he clearly indicates his preferences

political psychology of racial appeals

priming or triggering an association of an issue, candidate or event with an outgroup - especially negative aspects of an outgroup - can affect candidate or policy preferences

intersecting themes

race and gender intersect to form a very different feminine image in a painting like this one

Obama's race

racial attitudes are correlated with Obama approval rating racial resentment --> lower ratings for Obama positive racial sentiment --> higher ratings for Obama Net loss of estimated 4 points based on 'neutral' simulation African Americans vote for whichever party best represents their interests (democrats always get 80-90 percent of the vote)

implicit appeals

racial message is communicated most effectively when no one notices its racial meaning in a society that has repudiated racism but still has racial conflict, 'playing the race card' is a winning strategy BUT only when it is under the radar

elements of a race based appeal

racial stereotypes racial imagery racially coded language racialized public policy audience demographics effect is cumulative

how Americans think about race

racial thinking is grounded in ingroup/outgroup psychology operates on conscious and unconscious levels

Sharpe James

ran on a platform emphasizing his experience relative to the youthful Booker, utilizing the slogan 'The Real Deal' He also used racially divisive rhetoric, saying to the Start Ledger of his opponent (who is black) 'You have to learn to be African-American and we don't have to train you'. He was also shown in Street Fight, insinuating that Mr. Booker is Jewish and a republican. He also referred to Cory Booker as a carpet bagger, in a speech made in the ironbound section of Newark. James also went on record referring to Booker as a '****** white boy'.

critical phase

second phase of press and presidency relationship admin embarks on controversial programs vulnerable to criticism of the record happening earlier now WH retaliates by withholding news, restricting contact and increasing pr activities

indirect or mediated transmission

shaping of news by media personnel edit statements selected facts and quotes or sound bites to show and also add comments from opposing voices

media texts

sites of struggle

2012 election

slowly growing economy made Obama the favorite in 2012 - had a good hand. showed that 'not one single moment' defined the election - many ups/downs

politics at the margin

stimson - agrees with leading political scientists like converse and zaller in SOME respects lack of information in much of the public much of polling reflects non-attitudes and lack of information and attention especially in early stages of election campaigns

politicians and racial appeals

strategic objectives: mobilize racial resentment but ALSO avoid violating norm of racial equality

election as a gamble

strong relationship between the fundamentals - structural conditions like the state of the nation's economy AND political partisanship taken together, they predict the winner of most presidential elections

media effects and society

studies show that media can indirectly affect perception and attitudes... about social norms, groups of people, social problems and shape the political climate in which policy worked out examples: welfare, immigration, slavery, nuclear war

Jackson Katz

talks about how popular culture normalizes and glorifies male violence equating masculinity with violence, power and control through certain practices violence is genetic use of mil and sports symbols assoc of muscularity with ideal masc equation of heroic masc with violent masc - think gladiator, rome, guns macho violent gunslingers, rambo

public opinion on race

the public opinion surveys suggest most Americans, of any race, share beliefs about 'fairness, equality, and playing by the rules.'

Falling Down

the representation of white men like Douglas's character is fascinating and important the environment, the modern urban environment connection to related media theories of representation and influence

mutual retreat phase

third phase of press and presidency relationship if rifts become exceptionally wide... both sides retreat from hostile behavior to take a more moderate stance frequently coincides with reelection also the president arranges overseas trips that tend to get more favorable coverage

BoogieMan film

this is a story of what happens when our natural instincts meet our polarized political landscape strategic goals. the reading by Tali Mendelberg presents some of the important context for this discussion

what media want

to play the first amendment ordained role of watchdog, monitoring and evaluate government are driven by economic forces and professional forces to present exciting stories that attract large audiences

media and the presidency

tremendous influence power to kill presidential programs and new policies help determine whether the Senate will confirm a presidential appointee in past you have had nominees like Kimba Wood and Lani Guinier being dropped after adverse publicity in the traditional mainstream press

Nate Silver

unlike Sides and Vavreck's work, Nate Silver's election forecast is based primarily on state by state poll results from multiple polling companies. forecasts sometimes combine this data along with data on the fundamentals of the economy, especially earlier on in the race. close to the election, when preferences are pretty much set, the forecast willy rely on current polling

direct transmission

unmediated, unfiltered greater message control

Berg

views cultural stereotypes as the multilayered, mediated stereotypical image with meaning conveyed in multiple ways argues the meaning of Hollywood's stereotypical representation of out-groups not derived solely from characterization, not just from the human stereotype devices deployed at every cinematic register, everything from camera angles to shot duration and sound effects

The Gamble

voters are betting on which party and candidate will be the best manager in particular re: the economy

implicit racial appeals

voters.. want to adhere to the norm of racial equality resent blacks claims for public resources and hold negative racial stereotypes regarding, work, violence and sexuality politicians... strategic objectives mobilize racial resentment BUT ALSO avoid violating the norm of racial equality

Lee Atwater Story

what can we learn? a racial appeal historical context since 1960s norm of racial equality has taken hold United States not 'racist' not made up of bigots But we are still steeped in racial stereotypes, and largely still divided along racial lines in many ways. In terms of daily lives where we live, where we worship, socialize, our outlook about how the world is AND in our politics

puppies bunnies and easter eggs

what do they have in common? all are communication strategies (public ceremonies as media spectacles, etc.)

3 guiding principles for a response to negative racial appeals

when people are conflicted between conscious and unconscious values, make sure to appeal to the level that activates the right emotions if a local population is religious, 'remind people of their angels', frame it as a moral and spiritual issue control the use of the word 'we', use it to identify subject as 'one of us', not someone who is different

Tali Mendelberg

writes about the 1988 presidential campaign, calls it the Willie Horton election talks about how the Horton story was an appeal to white voters' racial fears debate about race came too late to undo the Horton message Bush won the campaign through attacks although most political observers/some scholars now take implicit racial appeals for granted, they nevertheless tend to neglect their significance