The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

Final Exam Essay Question





Personally, I have been intrigued by political propaganda since reading George Orwell’s book 1984. It was very interesting to me to see how the populous and politics can be controlled through the use of language, for that is what propaganda truly is, the creative use of language to control people’s emotions. I remember during the end of the cold war and the Regan administration reading the English translation of a Russian newspaper Pravda, which was ridiculed by the American press as nothing more than Russian state propaganda in print. Currently, spin-doctors are widely employed by United States presidential candidates and play a key role in our current political system.

The article “Clinton accuses Obama of being too far left” by Glen Thrush is an example of transfer in the negative form. This article is attempting to associate Obama with “too far left” in hopes of swaying Republican voters and conservative Democrats towards the Clinton campaign by associating Obama with unfavorable positions. Associating Obama with banning the possession of all handguns, being against the death penalty, and for socialized medicine, presents Obama as being too far left for modern or conservative Democrats and totally unacceptable for even the most liberal Republicans.

The press release from HillaryClinton.com “Obama Forced to Defend Electability in Face of New Poll & Discovery of Questionnaire” uses the card stacking technique through utilization of half-truths and partial facts to make it appear that Obama is inconsistent in his stances. It states that while criticizing other’s consistency Obama has modified his political platform for no other reason than to appeal to a wider range of voters. This is considered card stacking because only the desired (negative) information is presented. The article fails to mention that the questionnaire that is referred to was not necessarily filled out by Senator Obama but by an aide and was never signed off by the senator.

“Civil Rights Icon Calls Obama too Young” by Errin Haines is an excellent example of name-calling. In this article the Clinton campaign utilizes the technique of name-calling by implying Obama too immature to send to the white house, stating he lacks a support next work, and infers that he is inexperienced both politically and with black women. “Bill is every bit as black as Barack he’s probably gone with more black women than Barack”. It further compounds the image of Obama as a man in training for the position he is currently seeking and will perhaps be ready for it in 2016.

The article “Bill Clinton and the Philanderer’s Code” by Karen Hawthorn uses testimonial propaganda. Hillary Clinton has been relying on testimonials from Bill Clinton, her husband, as a corner stone of her campaign. In the article Bill Clinton describes Hillary as “the most gifted person I ever met” and implied she should have dropped him because he was not worthy. Bill Clinton talks himself down to his supporters in order to transfer their support of him to her.

The article “Hillary Clintons Magic act” by Marc Malkin is a good example of the glittering generality form of propaganda. Magic Johnson introduced Hillary Clinton as being “born to lead this country” but then did not elaborate as to why this is so. This is the very definition of glittering generality as it sounds as if something very profound and important was said but in reality, no real information was disseminated.



Interestingly enough the term spin doctor or publicity agent in it’s self is propaganda, created to avoid the negative connotations of using the term propagandist. A propagandist utilizes various means to sway public opinion in the direction that suits his employers’ directives, spin doctors and publicity agents do the same thing only the name has changed. All candidates have publicity agents and or spin doctors not Just Hillary Clinton: it is part of trying to be everything to everybody, wining votes and protecting your image that was so carefully crafted, from the mud thrown by you opponents team while using you team to throw some mud of you own.































Hillary Clinton's Magic Act by Marc Malkin Sep. 18, 2007 2:23 PM

http://www.eonline.com/gossip/planetgossip/detail/index.jsp?uuid=063dc7fe-fa24-4e34-bb73-949f57506090



Bill Clinton and the philanderer's code

Posted: December 11, 2007, 2:54 PM by Karen Hawthorne

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2007/12/11/bill-clinton-and-the-philanderer-s-code.aspx



Civil Rights Icon Calls Obama too Young by Errin Haines

Dec 8, 5:52 PM (ET)

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20071208/D8TDI1B00.html



Clinton accuses Obama of being too far left

BY GLENN THRUSH | glenn.thrush@newsday.com

9:48 PM EST, December 11, 2007

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/ny-usobam1212,0,6542148.story

COMMENTS

-

---

ladybriarrose
21:56 Sep 03 2012

This reminds me once again that I really need to read "1984." Especially since it's already there on my shelf just waiting for me right next to a copy of "Animal Farm."

Interesting entry.

---

POST COMMENT