Synopses & Reviews
Benoit and his colleagues apply the functional theory of political campaign discourse to 25 presidential primary debates beginning with the 1948 American presidential primary campaign. They conclude with the 2000 presidential primaries. They identify the functions, topics, and targets of attacks, and the results are compared with research on primary TV spots and with general debates. An important resource for scholars and students of American presidential and party elections and political communications.
About the Author
WILLIAM L. BENOIT is Professor of Communication at the University of Missouri. Benoit has published extensively in political communication, including The Clinton Scandals and the Politics of Image Restoration, with Joseph R. Blaney (Praeger, 2001).P. M. PIER is a lecturer at Wartburg College In addition to Campaign '96: A Functional Analysis of Acclaiming, Attaching, and Defending, with William L. Benoit and Joseph R. Blaney (Praeger, 1998), she has published in various scholarly journals.LeANN M. BRAZEAL is with the Department of Communication at the University of Missouri.JOHN P. McHALE is with the Department of Communication at the University of Missouri.ANDREW KLYUKOVSKI is Assistant Professor at Truman State University.DAVID AIRNE is with the Department of Communication at the University of Missouri.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction -- 2. Method and Procedures: Analyzing Acclaims, Attacks, and Defenses -- 3. Early Primary Debates: 1948, 1960, 1968, 1972 -- 4. 1980 Republican Primary Debates: "I Paid for This Microphone!" -- 5. 1984 Democratic Primary Debates: Morning Again in America -- 6. 1988 Primary Debates: What After Reagan? -- 7. 1992: Who Will Challenge the Leaders of Desert Storm? -- 8. 2000: Who Will Be the First President of the New Millennium? -- 9. Conclusions -- App. I. List of Primary Debates -- App. II. Sample Acclaims and Attacks on Forms of Policy and Character.