Resisting a "Treacherous Piety": Issues, Images, and Public Policy Deliberation in Presidential Campaigns

In this essay I explore the ways in which the issue/image dichotomy operates as a default criticism of democratic practice by examining its basis in persistent tensions and idealistic theories of democracy. Turning to political practice, I then explore the articulation and value of political image r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Rhetoric & public affairs 2010-03, Vol.13 (1), p.37-63
Main Author: Parry-Giles, Trevor
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Advertisements
Articulation
Congresses and conventions
Conventions
Criticism
Deliberative democracy
Deliberative rhetoric
Democracy
Graphics
Leadership
McCain, John
Negative campaigning
Nomination
Persona
Personality
Political advertising
Political campaigns
Political candidates
Political leadership
Political rhetoric
Politics
Presidential elections
Presidents
Public policy
Rhetoric
Television advertising
Visual rhetoric
Voters
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Summary:In this essay I explore the ways in which the issue/image dichotomy operates as a default criticism of democratic practice by examining its basis in persistent tensions and idealistic theories of democracy. Turning to political practice, I then explore the articulation and value of political image rhetorics offered during the 2008 presidential election, paying particular attention to political advertisements from the Obama and McCain campaigns that appeared after their nominations were assured but before the national nominating conventions. Ultimately I offer a normative justification of political image rhetorics in campaign discourse as beneficial to deliberation about public policy and political leadership.
ISSN:1094-8392
1534-5238
1534-5238
DOI:10.1353/rap.0.0138