Barack Obama’s 2008 speech on Reverend Wright: Defending self and others

•In March 2008 ABC News attacked Reverend Wright, and via guilt by association, Senator Obama.•Obama gave an image repair speech in March 2008.•Obama defended himself with denial and differentiation.•Obama defended Wright, attacking accusers, bolstering Wright’s reputation, and using provocation.•Ob...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Public relations review 2016-12, Vol.42 (5), p.843-848
Main Author: Benoit, William L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bolstering
Denial
Differentiation
Guilt
Obama, Barack
Political campaigns
Presidential elections
Presidents
Provocation
Racism
Reputations
Reverend Jeremiah Wright
Senator Barack Obama
Senators
Speech
Studies
Third party image repair
Values
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Summary:•In March 2008 ABC News attacked Reverend Wright, and via guilt by association, Senator Obama.•Obama gave an image repair speech in March 2008.•Obama defended himself with denial and differentiation.•Obama defended Wright, attacking accusers, bolstering Wright’s reputation, and using provocation.•Obama’s image repair effort was well-crafted for this situation. During the 2008 presidential campaign Senator Barack Obama’s values were attacked using guilt by association. An ABC News story reported incendiary remarks made by Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Senator Barack Obama’s pastor. Obama gave a speech to repair his image. Obama attempted to repair his image using denial and differentiation; however, Obama did not repudiate Wright entirely. Instead, Obama also engaged in engaged in third party image repair, using attack accuser, bolstering, and differentiation to repair Wright’s reputation.
ISSN:0363-8111
1873-4537
DOI:10.1016/j.pubrev.2016.09.003