Image Construction in an Information Age - September 2nd
Why is image so important for politicians today? Give
an example of a politician who you think does a good job of managing her/his
image and an example of a politician who could use some help in managing
her/his image.
By: Taylor Popielarz
ReplyDeleteIn the world of politics, image reigns supreme. Without a reputable and respected image, one’s fate is essentially predetermined. Your journey will not last long. Image is so important for politicians in today’s world because we are visual beings. We look to find comfort in those who hold public office. We strive for security in the people we elect. Running and obtaining public office is as close to a theatrical performance as you will get in the real world, because no matter the chaos that is unfolding backstage, the second you step in the spotlight, you have to give your audience the best show they’ve ever seen. Politics is a game, and a perfect image is the final prize.
On page 104 of Richard J. Semiatin’s Campaigns on the Cutting Edge, an interesting description of our country’s two political parties’ changing throughout the years is explained. “In the process, the country went from having two ideologically diverse parties and a clear Democratic majority to having two ideologically distinctive parties whose strength is nearly equal.” I bring this quote up because it helps support why image is vital in politics. Not only has our country, and society, become a media-obsessed, ever-informed swell of people who look only for the most appealing things, but our two political parties have morphed into near enemies, that are looking to attack one another to prevent any chance of succeeding image-wise.
An example of a politician in today’s world who does a good job managing her image is Hillary Clinton. Though she’s been in the public eye for a number of years, Hillary has consistently managed to keep her political image positive. From enduring her husband’s ordeal back when he was in office, to trudging through the difficulties of testifying about Benghazi, Hillary has kept it classy, which is a juggling act for some, especially when political figures’ personal lives come into the spotlight. From page 41 of John B. Thompson’s Political Scandal:
By presenting themselves as ordinary individuals with their own values and beliefs, with their own personal lives and commitments and with their own reasons and motives for what they do, political leaders and others were giving character and integrity ever greater salience in public life. But character was an attribute by which they could just as easily be hung.
An example of someone not so fortunate as Hillary is mayor of New York City Bill de Blasio. Though he has yet to face a mass scandal similar to Chris Christie or Anthony Weiner, de Blasio has faced some flack over some of his personal choices: vacationing for ten days in Italy with a possible Long Island Railroad struck looming in the distance; disregarding the media and shutting them out of multiple events he is attending or holding; and battling claims that he had DOS workers remove snow in his community faster/before the other four boroughs during this past winter. Despite these issues falling under the lackluster category of overall importance, de Blasio has definitely said some things, and made some decisions that have not put him in some New Yorkers’ winner’s column.
Works Cited
Semiatin, Richard. Campaigns on the Cutting Edge. USA: CQ Press, 2013. Print.
Thompson, John. Political Scandal. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers Inc., 2000. Web.
Maintaining a professional and credible image as a political figure has become increasingly important in modern society. Political figures have roles in the government to not only serve and inform the people but to also maintain a reputable image. However, it can be difficult for some politicians to keep this image.
ReplyDeleteWhile politicians differ in views, they also differ in "personal styles, and these differences can be very important in the performance of their public relations function"(Semiatin 107). For example, one political figure that could use some help in their public relations and image department is the former Republican National Committee (RNC) chair Michael Steele. While Steele was “widely praised for such public efforts to rev up the base, Steele’s blunt and off-the-cuff remarks to the media brought him much criticism and may have cost him his job”(Semiatin 108). Yes, it is important to voice opinion and encourage members of your political party to become more engaged-especially as a politician-but it is very important to realize that these actions can sometimes across as obnoxious or demeaning.
The first image a political figure gives about themselves could significantly affect the way people deal with them. The political figure may be welcomed by them and given their support, or rejected. First impressions are essential for everyone but especially essential for politicians. Politicians are under immense pressure to maintain good image. The higher up of a role a political figure has, the more pressure they are under to uphold respectable image as well as “the more interested we are likely to be in revelations which compromise these self-images” (Thompson 86.) As a society, we seem to be waiting for not only celebrities and public figures to “crack” or make a big mistake that hurts their image but also politicians.
The media plays an important role in politicians maintaining good image. The media is constantly bombarding us with information. “Beyond the press and media, the Internet, and new realities such as Facebook or so many other points of meeting in cyberspace are providing image, forming opinions, determining votes and power”(Frendo 1). However, despite the heavy influence of the media, one political figure that has stood out with a respectable image is Michelle Obama. Michelle has been described as “an expert motivator and charmer and a champion of safe causes like helping military families and ending childhood obesity” (Kantor 1). Even though her husband has faced stressful situations during his presidency, Michelle has managed to sustain a civilized image. She has been noted for her classy style and her passion for helping those who are less fortunate. Michelle acts as a wife and mother first.
In summary, image is a vital component in modern society. We get our information and form our opinions based on the images we see. Politicians have an image to maintain, no matter their beliefs, interests, or political party. The image that the politician provides sticks out in our minds more than anything else.
Works Cited:
Frendo, Michael. "The Politics of Image." Centre of the Picture Industry (n.d.): 1-4. Cepic.org. 4 June 2008. Web. 1 Sept. 2014.
Kantor, Jodi. "Michelle Obama and the Evolution of a First Lady." The New York Times. The New York Times, 06 Jan. 2012. Web. 01 Sept. 2014.
Semiatin, Richard. Campaigns on the Cutting Edge. USA: CQ Press, 2013. Print.
Thompson, John. Political Scandal. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers Inc., 2000. Web.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteIn the ever-shifting world that is politics, the only thing that a politician can truly control is their self-image. Being that the tenure of most politicians is relatively short, there is a small margin of error allotted in regards to self-image. The majority of American voters are often uninformed about a politicians campaign platform or their past political endeavors. Most have their minds made up strictly based on that politician’s reputation and image. As noted in the book Political Campaign Communication, “Those relative few who did change their minds did so not because of attending to the media directly, but by the filtering of information to them from the people in their community whom they respected. Such people were perceived to be highly active, highly informed, interested in politics, and therefore more likely than others to read or listen to media coverage of the campaign. These individuals were labeled “opinion leaders” “ (Trent 123). This quote is supporting evidence that outside of the small population of opinion leaders, most voters had their minds made up and disregard the other information being fed to them from people and the media.
While the negatives almost always outweigh the positives in the public eye, there are many politicians who have been able to keep their name in a good light and avoid scandal. Former mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani has been a prime example of this. As mayor of one of the most visible and analyzed cities on earth, Mayor Giuliani took what at the start of his term was a dangerous, struggling place and molded it back into its glory. He removed the homeless from the streets and gave them shelters and food. He completely revamped the New York subway system, making people feel safe once again to travel around Manhattan. Above all, he stood by New York and helped the city recover and feel safe after the attacks on September 11th, 2001. I was 7 years old when that day occurred. I will for the rest of my life remember seeing Mayor Giuliani on our television screens telling us that we were all going to be ok, and that New York was now stronger than it ever had been before. His image will always be positive in my mind for his efforts during that trying time.
Unfortunately, some politicians with a very promising image falter at the hands of false promises and scandal. A glaring example of this is Former Governor of New York Elliot Spitzer. A once promising face in the New York Government, Elliot Spitzer quickly let his public image go by the wayside. The most glaring evidence of this would be his prostitution scandal. Spitzer had spent tens of thousands of dollars on a New York escort service, only to then be outed and become one of the biggest scandals New York had ever seen. Spitzer was subjected to the image restoration strategy of mortification. “The final general strategy for image restoration is to confess and beg forgiveness which Burke labels Mortification” (Benoit 181). To try and save some of his reputation, Spitzer admitted his wrong doings and resigned from office promptly.
Works Cited
Benoit, William L. Image Repair: Discourse and Crisis Communication. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 177-86. Print.
Trent, Judith S., Robert V. Friedenberg, and Robert E. Denton. Political Campaign Communication: Principles and Practices. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2011. Print.
Blog #1
ReplyDeleteBrianna Millor Hammond
The image and impression of a political figure is crucial to the success or downfall of his political career in many ways. There are three major reasons why image is so important to a politician or a public figure; to sustain and retain their supporters, to appear appealing to possible new adherents, and lastly to be reelected to the position they are in or to a higher one. All these reasons are vital to the success of the career of a public figure; there supporters are the reason why they are in office and why they will be successful. This support can come from people or money. The more money you have as a politician the better. This helps to pay for upcoming elections and any other necessary expenses. By gaining new adherents this can increase their likelihood to win an upcoming election and other future elections. The main reason politicians do anything is to win future elections they want to maintain power and stay in office their public and private image is essential to that outcome. Keeping a clean reputation is important because you want to appear trust worthy and reliable to maintain your devotees. You want to stand clear of corruption and scandal because that shows the public you are not credible. Corruption “…involves the infringement of rules, conventions or laws concerning the proper exercise of public duties: a scandal will arise only if the rules, conviction or laws have some degree of moral bindingness and only if the infringement is regarded by others as sufficiently serious or important to elicit a vigorous expression of disapproval” (Thompson, pg 29); any signs of corruption or a scandal will lead the public to believe that you are untrustworthy. This will cause you to lose supporters and you will not be able to maintain your position in office. Your presentation to the media is vital as well to your image. The media and reporters are seen as the protectors of public interest and sometimes can even have more control over the situation that the politician. “The unveiling of the hidden secrets of power is seen by some journalist as a way of pursuing their calling as guardians of public interest.” (Thompson, pg 32) Your image is a reflection of who you are and what you represent, looking the part is as important to politicians as actually playing the part.
One politician that has a good image is Theodore Roosevelt. To the public he was a saint. He was extremely personable. When he caught polio and was forced to use a wheelchair during his presidency he was seen as a survivor and a man that was strong despite his condition. He also was seen as trust worth because things he advocated for was to restore trust between the people and big businesses; “While in office, Roosevelt was known for his progressive policies. One of his nicknames was Trust Buster because his administration used existing antitrust laws to fight against corruption in the railroad, oil, and other industries. His policies concerning trusts and labor reform were part of what he called the Square Deal” (Martin Kelly). These things made the public see that he was reliable and had the better interest of the people at heart. This caused him to have a positive image, which is why he had so many terms in office because his mage caused him to have overwhelming public popularity.
An example of a politician that has a bad image is President Richard Nixon. He was seen as a man that was dishonest and was a key player in one of the most memorable presidential scandals in history, The Watergate Scandal. Nixon “…stonewalled further progress on civil rights, created the federal War on Drugs apparatus, and expanded the power of the presidency so much that his administration is still the imperial presidency by which all other unitary executive presidencies are judged” (Tom Head). Due to his tyrannical behavior the public viewed him as unfit to be president which was why resigned before being impeached to avoid further humiliation.
The manner in which one presents themself often speaks volumes to who they are, and within the political arena this sentiment could not be closer to the truth. The public eye is always keeping a critical watch—whether it is examining the corruption of Watergate or President Obama wearing a tan suit when discussing important issues. As the influence of technology continues to grow, politicians are becoming increasingly fluent in maintaining an image of their lives, and utilizing technology as preventative, persuasive, and reparative tool. The success of a politician is largely rooted in their ability to do so, and failing to can have a negative effect. That is why political communication has become an art form. It is orchestrated by a team dedicated to upholding an individual’s reputation and image both in and out of the spotlight. With the advent of technology only increasing the role of critical media, it is becoming more important for politicians to compete to preserve their image for the sake of their political future.
ReplyDeleteIt is impossible for politicians to have a flawless image, yet it is crucial to keep it in check. As “media [has] created...a new kind of publicness in the modern world, a kind of publicness which endow[s] individuals, actions and events with a much greater visibility than they had in the past” it is easy to see the why there is such a challenge. (Thompson 41) Secretary of State John Kerry has not been immune to public critique and scandal, yet he has always been able to overcome it. Through various elections and positions, Kerry and his team have crafted an image of him that is positive yet safe. Kerry taking the place of Clinton received little attention, as Clinton’s departure remained the primary focus. Now, some have argued that he has surpassed Hillary Clinton in the position of Secretary of State. This is rooted in Kerry’s focused approach. For example, his social media accounts he is focused on business. When criticisms of his ego or ignorance arise he often responds appropriately, admitting when he is at fault, and being as direct as possible.
Someone who has been the opposite of Kerry in terms of image recovery has done so on a smaller scale. Governor Paul LePage of Maine always creates a sense of discomfort in nearly every interaction with the press. LePage even made national headlines when he made controversial remarks on immigrantion. Much of his performance and their evaluation are due to his strong right-wing affiliation. The governor has received an abundance of coverage due to his uninhibited remarks, and it is often followed by harsh criticism. Yet he never responds successfully, if at all to his critics. The role in which party affiliation plays here is crucial in this image as there are “consequences of increased inter-party ideological polarization.” (Semiatin 118). Here the polarity is accentuated and in his upcoming campaign, the opposition will use this poor image in in their favor. It is both what he says and fails to do afterward that has a lasting impact.
In conclusion political image can often be a polarized issue. With the “development of the relation between scandal and the media...shaped by changing forms of political regulation, changing conventions and practices of publication, [and] changing media technologies...the meaning of ‘scandal’ itself “ has changed (Thompson 46). John Kerry is representative of how one can successfully recover from these “scandals” and maintain an image, whereas Paul LePage demonstrates the contrary. The latter will likely have a negative impact on the individual’s political future, as they fail to acknowledge the importance of the role of the media on one’s image.
Works Cited
Semiatin, Richard J. Campaigns on the Cutting Edge. SAGE Publications, 2013. Kindle Edition.
Thompson, John. Political Scandal. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers Inc., 2000. Web.
Image is so important in politics because a politicians image is how we, the people view them. The way people see politicians is as someone to look up to or someone that shouldn’t have flaws per say. Just like politicians, similarly to celebrities in ways that they so easily get scrutinized for doing something wrong or being involved in scandal. “… ‘Scandal’ refers to actions or events involving certain kinds of transgressions which becomes known to others and are sufficiently serious to elicit a public response.” (Thompson, 13). Image is also important because if people see them doing something wrong with in their own lives then how can we be sure that they will be able to have control of a city, state or even a country. For example if someone such as Clinton lies about having an affair how can the people be sure he isn’t lying about stuff happening within the government. I personally believe that it’s hard to trust politicians and the government whether they are involved in scandal or not because I think there is a lot of information they don’t allow the general public to know.
ReplyDeleteA politician I personally think could work on a better image is President Obama. I know Obama hasn’t been involved in any scandals but he definitely could improve his image a little bit considering he is the president of the United States. Just last month General Harold Greene was laid to rest, Greene was the highest rank American serviceman to be killed in the Afghan war. Since Greene was the highest ranked serviceman to be killed in the war you would assume that the president or even vice president would attend the funeral but neither were there. Obama was actually on vacation, playing golf on Martha’s Vineyard instead of being at the funeral. Also a family friend that actually works at that golf course also said Obama does not tip the employees at the golf course. Besides that I think it seems like Obama also is out of the office on vacation quite often. Obama has also spent the most amount of money since he’s been in office; I think that this is bad for his image because the United States is already trillions of dollars in debt. I assumed that when Obama went into office he would try to fix this problem but he seems to have only made it worse.
A politician that I think has a good image is governor Chris Christie. Chris Christie has been with New Jersey through their hardest struggles such as Hurricane Sandy, Christie was there for the citizens that lost their property and wanted to “restore the shore” which was one of the many slogans after the hurricane. Christie visited the areas that had the most damage to show he was there for the people of New Jersey. Christie also targeted some of New Jersey’s other problems such as the health care and pension reform as well as passed a cap on property tax. I recently heard about Bridge gate and heard that might not be so good for Christies image but I don’t know much about it so I still believe that he has a good image. I would definitely vote for Chris Christie if he ran in during the next presidential election, although that might seem bias since I’m from New Jersey and I have read that Christies New Jersey attitude does come off as a bit mean to people from states besides New Jersey but that’s just the Jersey attitude.
Works Cited:
Newby, Joe. "Obama Golfs Instead of Attending Funeral for Maj. General Harold Greene." Examiner.com. N.p., 18 Aug. 2014. Web. 01 Sept. 2014. .
Thompson, John B.. Political Scandal : Power and Visability in the Media Age. Hoboken: Wiley, 2013. Ebook Library. Web. 02 Sep. 2014.
Lindsay Goldstein
ReplyDeleteA scandal can make or break a person who has dreamed of holding a political position of power, as John B. Thompson writes in his text, “Political Scandal.” According to the author, “’scandal’ refers to actions or events involving certain kinds of transgressions which become known to others and are sufficiently serious to elicit a public response,” (Thompson 13). Scandals taint the image of those involved in the public transgression. The power that scandals have over political figures in particular is a large reason that image has become so important for politicians today.
Politicians hold a position of power. Whether president or mayor, they are the elected voice for their public and a positive image is necessary. As mentioned in “Political Campaign Communication,” “elections provide us with the opportunity to determine how our own interests can best be served,” (Trent, 3), so why would we choose to elect someone with a negative image? Furthermore, we live in a society where first impressions matter greatly, and if the first thing that you hear or see about a person is negative, their reputation is instantly affected.
While some politicians break under the pressure of living their lives under a microscope, Hillary Clinton has successfully maintained her positive image, even after over 21 years in politics. As the wife of former President Bill Clinton, the First Lady managed to avoid an image-ruining scandal, her husband’s affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, coming out the other side with an even more impressive and powerful image.
Even as a woman in the mostly male-dominated world of politics, she manages to keep the attention on the important issues and less about questions of her attire and hairstyle. She does not want to be perceived in any way but as a successful political figure. Her image is obviously very important to her, and her ability to rise above her fellow politicians and remain in good standing with the public is one reason she continues to excel in politics.
Not all politicians are as successful. The phrase “there is no such thing as bad publicity” isn’t necessarily the case for politicians who find themselves in the midst of a scandal. Anthony Weiner, for example, tarnished his image when a scandal, which has become known as “Weinergate,” occurred while he was serving his term as a Democratic Congressman.
When the politician Tweeted an inappropriate photo, he did one of the worst things that you can do while in the midst of a scandal, according to Thompson. Weiner attempted to amend the scandal by using what Thompson calls a “second-order transgression,” “where attention is shifted from the original offence to a series of subsequent actions which are aimed at concealing the offence,” (17). This poses a problem because it can make the original scandal even worse, like what happened in “Weinergate.” Instead of admitting his mistake, Weiner denied it, which of course was later proven to be a lie when he admitted to the scandal days later. At that point, however, it was too late. His image as a political leader was tarnished and he was forced to resign from his position.
Weiner’s image was ruined forever, as evidence by his next political move when he announced his plans to run for Mayor of NYC. He obviously didn’t learn from his first scandal, and created an alternate identity, “Carlos Danger” to send more provocative photos. He remained in the race, coming in fifth place in the Democratic primary, an obvious sign that his tainted image ruined his political career. This is also explained by Thompson, who states in his text, “Mediated scandals are not only stretched out in time: they also display a sequential structure in the sense that one phase of a scandal is typically followed by another,” (72). These two phases of this scandal ruined Weiner’s political career, proving that image does play a very important role in politics.
Lindsay Goldstein
ReplyDeleteWorks Cited:
Thompson, John B. Political Scandal: Power and Visibility in the Media Age. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2000. Print.
Trent, Judith S., Robert V. Friedenberg, and Robert E. Denton. Political Campaign Communication: Principles and Practices. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2011. Print.
The public interest is the basis for why image is important to politicians. Politicians have to appeal to the interest of the public to be able to maintain their existence in office and manage a favorable reputation.
ReplyDeleteWork Cited
Head, Tom. "8 Worst Presidents From a Civil Liberties Perspective." About. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Sept. 2014. .
Kelly, Martin. "Learn About Theodore Roosevelt's Life and Presidency." About. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Sept. 2014. .
Thompson, John B. Political Scandal: Power and Visibility in the Media Age. Cambridge: Polity, 2000. Print.
There is a quote by the famous politician and LGBT leader Harvey Milk that I think perfectly demonstrates how image and politics overlap “Politics is theater. It doesn't matter if you win. You make a statement. You say, "I'm here, pay attention to me”. Often times, it’s not what you do in office that effects your career but rather how the voters see you as a person.
ReplyDeleteOne politician that has caught on to this trend is New York Senator Chuck Schumer. Turn on any political news show and you have a good chance of seeing the Veteran New York Senator. An infamous joke on Capitol Hill claims “the most dangerous place in Washington is between Chuck Schumer and a TV camera.” Even President Barack Obama once joked Schumer had brought his “loved ones” to an event – “the folks with the cameras and the notebooks in the back of the room.” Although a there is a method to Schumer’s media madness.
Schumer’s Sunday morning press conferences are a key part to his media strategy. In past press conferences, Schumer has called for tougher regulations on everything from metal barbecue brushes to laser pointers. The New York Observer once teased Schumer’s for tackling these trifling causes with a slideshow titled, “A List of ‘Fun’ Things Sen. Charles Schumer Has Tried to Destroy.”
It’s easy to be dismissive of Schumer’s odd list of pet projects. Regulations on metal barbecue brushes and laser pointers might not come to mind as the top political problems facing the nation – but they are important to ordinary New Yorkers. The method works too. Schumer has been reelected twice, and according to the Daily News, 57 percent of Schumer’s Sunday morning events in 2013 were followed by federal action on the issue.
Any politician trying to improve their image could learn a thing or two from the classic Schumer approach. Here’s the “formula”: Present the problem, personalize the problem, present the solution, and personalize the solution.
In other words, something is wrong or needs fixing, here’s why, when Mary Smith needs to do X or tries to do Y, she can’t do it because of the problem just told you. I believe that this problem can be fixed the following way. Now Mary’s able to do it.
Schumer not only tackles problems that his constituents want fixed but also those he knows he can fix. Is it TARP or Medicaid reform? No. But, whether the suntan lotion that you’re putting on you kids is actually protecting them, that’s a real issue, and one everyone can get behind.
One Politician with an Image problem (among other problems) would be Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. Ford has been in the headlines since May of 2013 when Gawker reported that they had seen a video of Mayor Ford allegedly smoking Crack Cocaine. Ford then tried to use many of the image restoration strategies discussed by Wiliam Benoit in “Image Repair Discourse and Crisis Communication.” Ford Originally simply denied the reports calling the claim “ridiculous”.
At this point, the story was in the pre-scandal phase described in Political Scandal by John Thompson “The pre-scandal phase may involve investigations or inquiries carried out by journalists, the police, and others. In some cases they may be carrying out routine investigations that lead unexpectedly to disclosures of a scandalous kind.” That is exactly what happened in the Ford scandal the man with the alleged video was arrested during a series of police drug raids in June. By November of 2013 Toronto Police confirmed they were in possession of the video and Mayor Ford admitted to smoking Crack Cocaine but said the act was an accident since he was “probably in a drunken stupor”. In the end there was no amount of downplaying or apologizing Mayor Ford could do. By the end of November Mayor Ford was stripped of most powers as mayor by Toronto city council.
Works Cited
ReplyDeleteMilk, Harvey. "Harvey Milk(American Politician)." Famous Quotes by Harvey Milk. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Sept. 2014.
Kurtzman, Daniel. "Transcript of Barack Obama's Comedy Roast at Al Smith Dinner." About. N.p., 16 Oct. 2008. Web. 01 Sept. 2014.
Kamer, Foster. "A List of 'Fun' Things Sen. Charles Schumer Has Tried to Destroy (with Commentary)." New York Observer. N.p., 21 Feb. 2012. Web. 01 Sept. 2014.
Blau, Reuven. "Sen. Chuck Schumer's Sunday Morning Press Conferences Were Highly Successful in Getting Federal Action in 2013." NY Daily News. N.p., 29 Dec. 2013. Web. 01 Sept. 2014.
Benoit, William. "Image Repair Discourse and Crisis Communication." Public Relations Review 23 (1992): n. pag. Web. 1 Sept. 2014. .
Doolittle, Robyn, and Kevin Donovan. "Rob Ford in 'crack Cocaine' Video Scandal | Toronto Star." Thestar.com. N.p., May 2013. Web. 01 Sept. 2014.
Thompson, John B. Political Scandal: Power and Visibility in the Media Age. Cambridge: Polity, 2000. Print.
Edelman, Adam. "Rob Ford Admits Smoking Crack Cocaine during 'drunken Stupor' but Refuses to Resign." NY Daily News. N.p., 5 Nov. 2013. Web. 01 Sept. 2014.
In order to get elected into office today, a politician must have an image that is untarnished and strong in order to gain the trust of the voters and local people. Image is so important for anyone running for office in the present time because it serves as a first impression to potential supporters. If a politician’s image is made up of negative publicity and scandal while running for office it becomes extremely unlikely that they will be successful with having a campaign that will win them the election. An image that portrays a politician as strong and unwavering in their beliefs and convictions is the best way to gain support of voters.
ReplyDeleteIt can become extremely difficult to maintain a spotless image because of actions and situations that happened either prior to a person knowing that they wanted to become a politician or actions believed to be done in complete privacy. These actions can lead to scandal, which is defined as “actions or events involving certain kinds of transgressions which become know to other and are sufficiently serious to elicit a public response,” (Thompson 403). Because there is usually a sense of guilt that comes along with these types of behaviors there is always more likely than not an effort made by the people involved to try and cover things up. This concealment can then lead to an even bigger scandal erupting. There must be public knowledge of these immoral actions taking place in order for there to be a scandal at all, “… non-participant knowledge is a necessary condition of scandal, scandals are often characterized by a drama of concealment and disclosure.” (Thompson 528). I believe that this human instinct of trying to cover up unflattering actions is the reason that so many politicians’ images become tarnished.
One politician that I believe has done a good job of keeping up a strong public image is President Barack Obama. He has made an effort to try and relate to the American people. This in return allows the American people to begin trust him and believe that he will actually accomplish the things he said he was going to do. He did a good job in his campaign in working hard to create a good strategy. According to Renner, “Party leaders may realize when they’ve been dealt a bad hand and adjust their strategy accordingly, (108). President Obama was able to do this when he took over after President George W. Bust stepped down in 2008.
A politician whose image is less than perfect and who seems to need help in acquiring a more stable look is Anthony Weiner. He has been at the center of scandal and controversy since 2011 when images were leaked of him “sexting” a number of younger women while being married. The American people saw this as immoral and inappropriate. When he tried to run for New York City mayor in 2013 more images were released of him apparently engaging in the same types of behaviors that had got him in trouble before. I believe that because he had a tarnished image already these new pictures completely destroyed his public image for good and cemented the fact that he would never win a political election.
In conclusion, image is so important to politicians because it can be the deciding factor for voters on whether or not to give their support. If someone has a good image they are far more likely to win than someone who has been involved in numerous scandals throughout the lives and careers.
Works Cited
Renner, Tari. "Political Parties - Beyond Revitalization." Campaigns on the Cutting Edge. Ed. Richard J. Semiatin. 2nd ed. Thousands Oak: CQ, 2013. 103-20. Kindle file.
Thompson, John B. Political Scandal: Power and Visibility in the Media Age. Malden: Blackwell, 2000. Kindle file.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteEmily Fagan
ReplyDelete“Sex, money, power: it is little wonder that scandal has exerted, and no doubt will continue to exert, a degree of fascination for the popular imagination.” (Thompson 15). It is a well-known fact that, in todays society, image is everything. With the rise of different mediums, the pressure is being put on politicians to have a good image.
The first debate that was ever television was during the 1960 election between Kennedy and Nixon. This debate was a turning point in American history because it showed how much imaged mattered. Kennedy was a good-looking man, and he took the necessary steps to make sure he looked good on camera. While Nixon on the other hand, had just gotten over being sick, and did not look his best during the debate. The people approved of Kennedy much more because he looked healthy; no one wants a President who is sick. Since the 1960’s everything has changed. Back then it was as simple as opening the newspaper, or listening to the radio, but as those mediums are rapidly declining, the main focus of a campaign is no longer about how qualified for the job the politician is, but is now how well they advertise themselves.
Technology has changed the manner in which candidates run for office (Trent 14). Politicians are always in the public eye, but with the expansion of social media, the public eye does not always have to be public. Image is so important for politicians today because it can either make or break your career. The times are changing, and the generations that are going to be voting in the future spend a large part of their time glued to a screen. Since 2003, social networking sites such as Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter have pushed online campaigning to a new level (Trent 15-16). To keep their image up politicians are adapting with the times. By sending out tweets, and Facebook posts, they are reaching voters. This is good for their image; their image is what is going to get them votes, and it going to get them approval. In the end, the voters want to vote for someone with a good image.
A politician who does a good job managing her image is Hilary Clinton. Hilary has been able to use her husbands presidency to benefit herself. During the Lewinsky scandal she stayed calm, and stayed by her husbands side though his infidelity. There was a lot of detail in this scandal. As a scandal unfolds, the event itself is continuously narrated by a variety of commentators and participants with access to the media (Thompson 76). Hilary was able to deal with the situation, the way the First Lady should, she was open and did not hide from the fact her husband made a mistake, and she did not want anything to be twisted. She has made a name for herself in political world by being a powerhouse, and her image is flawless.
A politician who could use some help managing his image is Bill Clinton. With the scandal involving Monica Lewinsky, he did not deal with it well. His story was very jumbled and he kept changing it. When scandal breaks, it can spread quickly and uncontrollably, because the speech-acts and images which fuel the scandal can be transmitted across large distances instantaneously, and because the networks or communication are so ramified and complex that it is extremely difficult to contain damaging revelations (Thompson 22). Clinton was not prepared enough for damage control. When he made his apology to the press it was half-hearted and insecure. This situation came out of nowhere and it took everyone by surprise, it spread fast and he was not ready for the rocky road that he faced.
Image is an important part of any politicians’ career. Their image is what the public sees, it is how they judge them, and it will decide how they vote.
Cited Work
Thompson, John B. (2013). Political Scandal : Power and Visability in the
Media Age. Retrieved from http://www.eblib.com
Trent, Judith S.; Friedenberg, Robert V.; Denton, Robert E., Jr. (2011). Political
Campaign Communication : Principles and Practices. Retrieved from
http://www.eblib.com
In 2014, the image a politician portrays to the general public is essential to said politician’s election to office, gaining of public support, and perhaps re-election. The self-image of a respected politician requires the individual to hold themselves to a higher standard, as they are looked upon as a leader by the fellow citizens who elected them. Your image, the way you’re perceived by the general population, is directly related to your reputation among the same peoples. A politician’s image goes only as far as their reputation, and as John B. Thompson pointed out in Political Scandal, reputations can be ruined by scandal. Thompson describes one characteristic of scandal as, “The disclosure and condemnation of the actions or events may damage the reputation of the individuals responsible for them” . A scandal results in a tarnished reputation which hurts a politician’s image the voters have of him/her. The image a politician has is so important because it is their public image that has great influence on whether they are elected or voted out of office.
ReplyDeleteJohn Hickenlooper, the Democratic Governor from Colorado, does an exceptional job at retaining a respected image with the voters of Colorado. Since Hickenlooper was elected as Governor in 2011, Colorado has been in the media spotlight for various reasons. Gun violence, marijuana, and same sex marriages have all put Colorado in the national media in recent years. Colorado, being a democratic state, voting for Obama in 2008 and 2012 while both the state and senate houses are controlled by democrats, would favor liberal policies addressing the issues previously listed. And Hickenlooper did just that, Colorado has gone on to legalize marijuana and same sex marriages while adopting some of the toughest gun-control laws in the country under Governor Hickenlooper’s first term. The way the Colorado Governor handled these three public policy issues has pleased the voters of Colorado. Governor Hickenlooper’s action added to his already positive self-image with Colorado voters and is predicted to win the 2014 Colorado gubernatorial election.
Meet Blake Farenthold, the U.S Congressman representing the 27th Congressional district in Texas. Farenthold was elected to office in 2010, defeating veteran incumbent Soloman Ortiz. In this election, Farenthold upset Ortiz in a district that was 90% Hispanic and 86% of the Hispanic voters voted for Ortiz. Poor voter turnout for the Hispanic population ultimately hurt Ortiz, and Farenthold was elected. Realizing the demographic of his district was against him, once elected, Farenthold re-drew the map of his district. Gerrymandering is the practice when a politician re-draws the map of their respective district but they pack opposition voters into areas of their district they already feel strongly about. Essentially cutting out the town of Brownsville from the 27th district, which was predominantly Hispanic and democratic, Farenthold created a new 27th Congressional district that now had a majority Republican demographic instead of potentially having a swing district. In what Thompson refers to as “despatialized simultaneity” , distant others, which could number in the millions, could now see, hear, or read about Farenthold’s redistricting move that could protect him as a U.S Congressman for years. Tari Renner writes of the gains resulting from redistricting in Campaigns on the Cutting Edge, “They (Republicans) now control the majority of the nation’s governorships and state legislatures, so they can expect important strategic advantages for the new districts drawn for the next decade.” Farenthold’s actions resulted in the Congressman being negatively featured on Bill Maher’s HBO series Real Time. In 2014, thousands of viewers watched and heard Maher portray Farenthold as a slimy politician and I am assuming some of the viewers expressed their opinion on at least one of the many social media platforms either reprimanding or supporting Farenthold’s redistricting.
Works Cited :
ReplyDeleteSemiatin, Richard J. "Political Parties-- Beyond Revitalization." Campaigns on the Cutting Edge. Washington, D.C.: CQ, 2008. N. pag. Print.
Thompson, John B. Political Scandal: Power and Visibility in the Media Age. Cambridge: Polity, 2000. Print.
Markella Damianos
ReplyDeleteDaniel Boorstin said: “An image is not simply a trademark, a design, a slogan or an easily remember picture. It is a studiously crafter personality profile of an individual, institution, corporation, product or service” (BrainyQuote). Image in today’s world plays a big role: “Image is essential to organizations as well as individuals” (Benoit 177). Politicians, celebrities, businessmen, etc. all have a certain images that they maintain. Society hones in on these images through various methods especially for politicians. Politicians have always been faced with being the image of a political party. They represent what the parties’ values and desires. Today a politician’s image is under even more scrutiny than the past due to the advancement of technology.
Technology has become crucial in emphasizing a politician’s image. For example, when John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon were running for the 1960 presidential election the importance of image pushed to the forefront. This election was the first to use the new media of television to show voters the candidates. The first televised debates highlighted certain aspects for each candidate. For JFK, it emphasized the image that he was a young and able speaker. For Nixon, it emphasized the image that he was old and nervous. JFK spent the whole day preparing for the debate and even wore make up for the cameras. Nixon, on the other hand, had been campaigning all day, he looked sickly, and his leg was in pain. It was a rough road for Nixon after the debate. He had to change the image that was set in voter’s minds after the election.
Today politicians have various different fields of technology to present their image: Facebook, Twitter, television, YouTube and much more: “Today campaigns must use direct mail, microtargeted television, and radio ads along with Internet ads, Facebook, Youtube, websites, e-mails, text messaging, and Twitter” (Semiatin 116). All of these medias can show an image of the candidate for the voters: “The biggest tactical challenge national parties currently face is to keep on top changes in campaign communication. The Internet and associated new technologies, for example, have clearly emerged as critical ‘new’ modes of communication” (Semiatin 111-112). These various forms of media are how politicians today get their images out. The media provides the outlet for the spread of an image. The spreading of an image is similar to trying to save an image. One of the ways to save an image is by identifying relevant audiences: “It is vital to clearly identify the salient audience(s)” (Benoit 182). The same can be said to whom and where the image is spread through the media: “The interests of these groups differ widely and thus message appeals that might be effective with one group could be worthless with another” (Benoit 183). Today politicians focus on spreading their image though the media to relevant audiences.
(Damianos cont.)
ReplyDeleteA politician who has done a good job in spreading his image to various audiences is Barack Obama. President Obama spreads his image in various different medias and to various audiences. For example, his friendship with Jay-Z is part of his image. The friendship makes him relevant to young voters. Many young voters listen to Jay-Z and idolize him, when they see him hanging out with Obama they may think that Obama is the guy to vote for, especially since many young voters do not pay attention to Obama’s platform. Another aspect of Obama’s image is that a single mother raised him. Many of today’s voters come from single-family homes. The main focus on Obama’s image is relating to voters. President Obama has also done a good job of spreading his image through various media forms like Twitter, television, Facebook, etc.
A politician that needs to work on their political image is Sarah Palin. Sarah Palin throughout McCain and her run for the White House, she struggled with her image. She could and still cannot escape from the image of being incompetent and only being selected as McCain’s running mate because she was a woman. Even her image of being a family woman was rustled when rumors came out that she and Tom were heading for divorce. Palin could use some help in un-tarnishing her image.
Politics in today’s society is dominated by image and the spread of that image. The two go hand in hand. The media can make or break someone’s image. For example, several Saturday Night Live skits attempted to make light of Sarah Palin’s image crumbling but even her appearance on the show could not help it. Obama, on the other hand, uses the media to his advantage like appearing on late night talk shows and appearing to younger audiences through his friendships with celebrities like Jay-Z.
Works Cited:
Benoit, William L. "Image Repair Discourse and Crisis Communication." 3.2 (1997):
177-86. Web.
Boorstin, Daniel J. BrainyQuote. BrainyQuote, 2001. Web. 1 Sept. 2014. .
"Political Parties- Beyond Revitalization." Campaigns on the Cutting Edge. Ed. Richard J. Semiatin. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks: CQ, 2013. 103-19. Print.
Maintaining a positive image is absolutely vital for all politicians in today’s society. Image is so important because it can make the difference between a politician keeping his position or being removed from office. Details about a politician’s personal life or questions about his or her character can reflect poorly on them and their political party. Now more than ever politicians are closely monitored and scrutinized especially during elections and campaigns. A lapse of judgment or even a past mistake can be used to deface a politician’s reputation and could spell disaster for their tenure or campaign or, at the very least, cause a major distraction. Therefore, a politician’s image and public appearance are a constant concern today. Benoit suggests that while its definition is being somewhat redefined, image can be considered “a single impression shared by an audience” (177) Using this definition, image can be considered a mass audience’s perception of an individual and therefore if a politician’s image is ruined their career could likely be as well.
ReplyDeleteTrent suggests that a major reason politicians need to maintain a positive image has been the steady increase of mass media. Trent in Chapter 4 details that citizen’s access to mass media has grown, as well as, numerous studies which indicate that mass media can be very influential and can be used to form perceptions of individuals or organizations. This considered the presence of so many different mediums today can make it difficult for politician’s to keep complete control over their image and therefore, more than ever before, it is essential for an official to be constantly wary of their public appearance. Essentially media has lessened the barrier between the public and politicians thus creating more transparency into a politician’s work and personal life. Trent states “In short, the mass media has had a profound impact on the electoral process by connecting citizens and candidates” (118)
A politician who I believe did a good job managing his image is Senator John McCain. While running for president in 2008, a report was released which insinuated that McCain had an affair with a lobbyist. By immediately addressing the allegations publicly, McCain was able to make the story a relatively non-issue and thus was able to continue the campaign without this distraction. Rather than denial and allowing speculation to build, McCain’s strategy quickly resolved the situation and protected his image.
Unlike McCain, a politician who I believe has done a bad job managing his image in a crisis is Rob Ford, the mayor of Toronto. Ford was caught in a scandal when he allegedly smoked crack cocaine. To make the scandal even worse, Ford initially denied the allegations and also handled interviews with the press poorly which has made his tenure as mayor look like a complete farce. By being misleading and not entirely honest about his drug use immediately, Ford allowed the situation to develop into a full blown scandal. It’s possible that the allegations and evidence against were enough to ruin his career regardless; however, his public relations strategy appeared to make the situation worse rather than keep it contained.
Works Cited
Goldman, Russell. "How to Handle a Scandal." ABC News. ABC News Internet Ventures, 12 Feb. 2008. Web.
Dale, Daniel. "Rob Ford : 'Yes, I Have Smoked Crack Cocaine.'" Toronto Star. Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd, 5 Nov. 2013. Web.
Trent, Judith S.; Friedenberg, Robert V.; Denton, Robert E., Jr.. Political Campaign Communication : Principles and Practices. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011. Ebook Library. Web. 02 Sep. 2014.
Benoit, William. "Image Repair Discourse and Crisis Communication." Public Relations Review 23.2 (1997). Print.
Image is important for numerous reasons, especially in the field of politics. One of the most straightforward reasons is that public image will directly effect if voters will cast their ballots for you in elections. But before the issue of who will give their votes, it is important to take a step back and realize the effect of image on endorsement by the RNC or DNC and collection of finances. It is well known that politicians in today’s society would be unable to succeed without numerous donations generated through individual contributions as well as national endorsements through big-ticket supporters. In the Semiatin textbook, Tari Renner penned a section on the role of national party organizations. One of the aspects she mentioned was the role to “recruit and legitimize candidates” which speaks to endorsement issues, as well as their work as indicators with, “…decisions to support candidates at the beginning of the process and the targeting choices they make in the homestretch serve as cues to the entire community of donors (PACs as well as wealthy individual contributors)” (Renner 106). Tying this back to image, the importance emerges when trying to secure this endorsement and financial assistance. No one within the national party structure will want to back a potential candidate who either has a terrible image or is struggling to maintain an image at all.
ReplyDeleteImage also directly effects prospects for reelection, assuming the candidate is successful. How one conducts themselves while in office directly correlates to their public image, which then effects reelection chances. One final note on this aspect is the concern with relatability to constituents. Public image affects how much or how little attention constituents feel said politicians are paying them. Another mention in the Semiatin text is on page 117, where Renner writes, “Overall, the minority population increased from 30.9 to 36.3 percent of the population”. Minority factions are quickly becoming an influential force in today’s society, and one that is easily disregarded by politicians if they aren’t careful. Public image of politicians can directly affect how they appear to minorities and from there determine necessary responses.
On a similar note, public image is important because it can give the general public a basis on which to make judgment. For instance, with the emergence of scandal, it is essentially “…a stumbling block placed along the path, which was intended to test people and see how they would react” (Thompson 12). Image speaks volumes to an individual’s character and can tell people a lot about who the politician is as a person and how they may be inclined concerning decisions. Relative to this, image is correlated to reputation. As Thompson explains in the context of scandal, “…the question of reputation, of one’s ‘name’ – that is, one’s standing as a person of honesty, integrity and good character” (22). Image is, simply put, a multi-faceted issue that can be both extremely beneficial and detrimental depending on the situation.
A politician who I feel does a good of managing her image is Hillary Clinton. Aside from the Lewinsky scandal, she faced her own controversy during the fallout of the conflict of Benghazi. While there was initially some confusion with reported information, she fully cooperated and did everything she could to assist the process. Overall I believe this is what contributed to her still-present positive image.
Conversely, a politician who needs some assistance with his image in the Governor of Maine, Paul LePage. Many of the comments he has made in public settings have not been appropriate. Additionally many of the programs he has implemented have not been effective, generally leading the people of Maine to have unfavorable opinions of him and to believe his image needs work.
Works Cited:
ReplyDeleteSemiatin, Richard J. "Political Parties -- Beyond Revitalization." Campaigns on the Cutting Edge. Washington, D.C.: CQ, 2008. Print.
Thompson, John B. Political Scandal: Power and Visibility in the Media Age. Cambridge: Polity ;, 2000. Print.
Image is so important for politicians today because of the use of new media and new technology. Before the Internet and, even further, television, people would read papers or listen to the radio and learn about candidate’s platforms and policy positions. The ideas of the candidates used to matter more than their public appearance. In Political Scandal, Thompson says that one consequence of increased competition between newspapers for market share was “the continued expansion of mass circulation newspapers which emphasized entertainment and story-telling, and which used strong headlines, vivid photos and popular styles of writing…” (57)
ReplyDeleteImage mattered so little the President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was able to get elected three times. All the while, the country was not aware that he had polio. The change was first noticed in the 1960 Presidential Election between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. Nixon was the Vice President at the time while Kennedy was a senator from Massachusetts from a wealthy family. These two men were very different. Nixon was not very personable and therefore was not very likeable. Kennedy, on the other hand, set a standard for how to use the media to your advantage. The people saw Nixon as a grouchy older man, whereas Kennedy was young, good looking, energetic, and had a beautiful family. He also had a tremendous amount of charisma. He used all of these characteristics to perfectly craft his image through the media and eventually win the election. He did such an amazing job at crafting his image that even over the years, as details of personal life have come to light such as his extra-marital affairs and suspected ties to the Chicago mob, Kennedy still, to this date, has the highest approval rating of any President, according to Gallup.
A more recent example of a politician doing a good job of shaping their image was Barack Obama in 2008. This situation was very similar to Kennedy. Obama was able to sell himself to the public as a symbol for change. He was young, energetic, and very charismatic, just like Kennedy. He almost transcended the role of a politician in the way that he was able to endear himself to country. The Obama campaign in 2008 also showed how new media and technology could be used in an election. His campaign utilized social media in a way that had never been done before, which energized the youth vote. The Obama campaign also executed a great get out the vote effort, which would not have been possible if it weren’t for his image, as well as using the traditional forms of media like television effectively. In Campaigns on the Cutting Edge, Tari Renner cites David All and Jerome Armstrong saying, “the best run campaigns are going to be those that execute their traditional activities while fully integrating an online GOTV campaign.” (113) Obama was able to sell himself as something different, something new. He positioned himself as the opposite of his opponent John McCain. McCain, like many of the most recent Presidents, was an old, white male. He had also been a member of Congress for decades. Obama was able to use this image of McCain being just another Washington politician to bolster his own image as young, fresh candidate. The candidate’s ages played a major role as many feared that McCain’s age would lead to illness or death of a President in office. Obama youthful appearance was a key factor as many voters were not afraid that he would become ill or die in office.
In conclusion, as media has treated politics more as entertainment then hard news, with scandals dominating the coverage, a candidate’s image has become vital to winning an election. As we’ve seen in recent years, often times it is simply the candidate who is most likeable who eventually wins that race.
Works Cited:
Semiatin, Richard J. "Political Parties -- Beyond Revitalization." Campaigns on the Cutting Edge. Washington, D.C.: CQ, 2008. Print.
Thompson, John B. Political Scandal: Power and Visibility in the Media Age. Cambridge: Polity ;, 2000. Print.
Works Cited:
ReplyDeleteRomney, Mitt. ""47 Percent" Remark: Quote of the Year." Mother Jones. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Sept. 2014.
Herman, Alison. ""It's Gonna Be May": The Unexpected Drawbacks of Barack Obama's Hip Social Media Presence." Flavorwire. N.p., 2 May 2014. Web. 02 Sept. 2014.
McLuhan, Marshall. "Politician Quotes." BrainyQuote. Xplore, n.d. Web. 02 Sept. 2014.
Benoit, William L. "Image Repair Discourse and Crisis Communication." Public Relations Review 23.2 (1997): 177-86. Web.
Marshall McLuhan once said, “Politics will eventually be replaced by imagery. The politician will be only too happy to abdicate in favor of his image, because the image will be much more powerful than he could ever be.” A politician’s image is so important in modern society because it is all voters see. It is not possible for any politician to get to know their constituents on a personal level but the image they project by taking a stand on issues tricks the public into believing that they know this guy and this is the guy that is going to fight for what I believe in. A politician’s image is so important because it is the product they’re selling to their voters.
ReplyDeleteBut developing their image is the easy part, it’s the keeping part that gets dicey. In “Image Repair Discourse and Crisis Communication” William Benoit discusses five image restoration strategies that politicians use to keep their image in check; denial, evasion of responsibility, reducing offensiveness of the event, corrective action, and mortification.
A Politician that we all know well and who has been successful with his image our President Barack Obama. His 2008 election was genius in utilizing social media to reach out to the younger voters. And he continues to keep up with his image of being a “hip” president while being spotted with a beer Who can forget about the Monica Lewinsky scandal!? Well apparently a lot of people. But that didn’t just happen on its own. When Clinton was first accused of having the affair he simply denied the act with the famous quote, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky.” Blogger Alison Herman says that “Obama’s not a regular president; he’s a cool president,” on her Flavorwire blog and references the headline, “The White House Made a Mean Girls Joke on Twitter and It was Awesome”. So while he isn’t making the strides he may have hoped to with the economy in his presidency, his “cool” president IMAGE still remains prominent.
Poor Mr. Romney didn’t stand a chance against Obama’s image in the 2012 election. Not only was he seen as a buttoned up, can’t relate, rich guy but he was even caught on tape basically saying that, "There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what...who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims. ...These are people who pay no income tax. ...and so my job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them that they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives." Unfortunately, the denial strategy didn’t work for Mitt because someone had caught his words on their iPhone.
Sarah Faidell
ReplyDeleteAs important as political images were in the days of old media (television and radio), they are even more crucial in today’s world of social media. Rumors and scandals regarding politicians can be passed around the Internet with just the click of a button, and online forums give easy access to dissenters. Renner references these changes in Campaigns on the Cutting Edge in relation to campaign communication. Communication is vital to a politician’s image and agenda, which means getting a handle on campaign websites and social media is vital. (Renner 111-112) Thompson also references this change when mentioning, “mediated scandals” (Thompson 33). Scandals not only involve the politician now, but also the discourse that occurs afterwards in the media. It can be detrimental to a politician if they have a poor image in the media, and with new media, that now includes the vast spaces of the Internet.
Hillary Clinton is an example of a politician who has good image management. The image she has of a politician is impressive in itself, considering the sex scandal her husband went through while he was president. Hillary was able to turn the image of a scorned wife, to an image of a politician fit to be secretary of state. As rumors surface of her intent to run for president in the next elections, Hillary and her advisors have managed to elude the press meaning Hillary and her team will be making the announcement of whether or not she intends to run on their own terms. In February 2014, as evidence of the image building and coaching that Hillary has received, the Washington Post released reports and memos to Hillary form various image consultants and politicians during her times as first lady and U.S. Senator. The correspondences highlight the effort to make Hillary appear more soft and likeable, get her featured in women’s magazines, and how to speak at political events and parties. Good image management continues to benefit Hillary Clinton, and wil no doubt be in full swing if/when her intentions as a presidential candidate are announced.
To counter the example of a well-managed image like Hillary Clinton’s is that of Rob Ford, former mayor of Toronto. Rob Ford’s issues with drugs have fueled jokes from many late-night talk shows, and during the worst of it he has been featured across various news platforms. While Rob Ford definitely needed to improve his image in early 2014, it seems he may be working to improve his damaged image. In May 2014, he was admitted into rehab. This was not only a smart move for his own well-being, but boosts his political image significantly, although the question still arises of whether or not he can come back from such a scandal. However, some PR experts point out the publics’ capacity for forgiveness and love of the comeback stories. Time and the future actions of Rob Ford will tell if having a scandal could have been the best thing for his image.
Works Cited:
Mayer, Andre. "Rob Ford Scandal: Can the Mayor Play the Rehab Redemption Card?" CBC News. N.p., 02 May 2014. Web. .
Renner, Tari. "Political Parties - Beyond Revitalization." Campaigns on the Cutting Edge. Washington, D.C.: CQ, 2008. N. pag. Print
Rucker, Phillip. "Secret Memos Reveal Efforts to Shape Hillary Rodham Clinton's Political Image." Washington Post. The Washington Post, n.d. Web. 02 Sept. 2014.
Thompson, John B.. Political Scandal : Power and Visability in the Media Age. Hoboken: Wiley, 2013. Ebook Library. Web. 02 Sep. 2014
Within a democratic system, the media is knowingly charged with enforcing accountability on those in power. Whether they are a local politician or the President of the United States, it is the right of the voting citizens to have a look into the lives of their leaders. However, this right to know must come in moderation, not necessarily in terms of scope, but in quantity of coverage. Many political scandals covered in America tend to linger in the media for days, weeks and even months, simply to bolster the ratings of the major news networks. If media were to be just and balanced it could weigh whether or not Monica Lewinsky’s stained dress was more important than a crisis overseas. Unfortunately, American media driven by financial gain can become entrenched in the lives and scandals of our political leaders, and lose focus of what is most important for the public.
ReplyDeleteNaturally, the more publicized scandals are those rooted in sexual misconduct of married male politicians, simply because “sex sells.” Anthony Weiner sending nude photos, John Edwards cheating on his wife, and Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky are all prime examples. Even in other countries the exposure of such acts has proven to have a crippling effect on the public’s view of the leader. At the time, Bill Clinton was ridiculed in every form of media, with the hearings covered live on television. What this brings into question is whether or not the socially inappropriate behavior impacts the job. The media does not discuss that. Instead, the same instance is covered endlessly. It is the repetitive bashing of a politician’s character in the media that forces the viewers to lose respect and appreciation. It is “the media’s endless appetite for scandal and negative information and images...” that has manifested this problem. More so, “the internet has made the surveillance of candidates even more constant and damaging” (Semiatin 149).
The life of a politician does not have to always be scandalous in order to drive media attention. Simply, "the more visible you are, the more vulnerable may be, because visibility will generate more interest from the media” (Thompson 108). For example, President George H. W. Bush went skydiving once again to fulfill his promise for his 90th birthday. The former president’s skydiving adventure had little to no impact on the lives of the American people, yet all of the major news networks around the country went to Maine to cover the story. Some argue that it was just a publicized event for the Bush family as they are often intentional with media visibility. The former president and first lady allowed the media to dive into their lives as they age. Further, they made sure America knew Bush Sr. kept his promise. This story also lingered in the media for a while, because an old man skydiving sells, especially when he was once the president.
Whether it is sensationalized sex acts or a heartwarming family-friendly story, focusing on lives of politicians will always be something the media cannot get enough of. It will continue to detract from the daily hard news stories, and even push them below the fold. While there can be a negative impact, it is still necessary that these stories be recognized in a true democracy. Without the accountability of the media on politicians there is nothing else. It is their role to accurately depict the leaders of our nation as humans, for better or for worse. In doing so, the citizens are aware of the leader’s character, and determine if they remain in their position. Delving into the lives of political leaders establishes a true sense of democracy and ensures that patriotism is maintained nationwide.
Works Cited:
Semiatin, Richard J. Campaigns on the Cutting Edge. SAGE Publications, 2013. Kindle Edition.
Thompson, John. Political Scandal. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers Inc., 2000. Web.