Comments on: Check, Check and Check http://blackinformant.wordpress.com/2007/06/30/check-check-and-check-2/ African-American culture, news commentary, politics Sun, 06 Jul 2008 06:57:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: MIB http://blackinformant.wordpress.com/2007/06/30/check-check-and-check-2/#comment-4726 MIB Tue, 03 Jul 2007 13:47:55 +0000 http://blackinformant.com/2007/06/30/check-check-and-check-2/#comment-4726 I believe most people -- regardless of political orientation -- understand politics as something other than a strictly intellectual exercise. The telegenic candidate with the glib remark or gesture usually resonates with would-be voters much better than those who hold lectures on the fine points of policy. I wouldn't argue with Jackson that voters, again, at every point of the political spectrum, appear dissonant. But, sound bite politics can also backfire on a politician. My point being that histronics (e.g.; 'outrage') on the campaign trail has value as a form of rhetorical shorthand that is kind of necessitated by American-style politics. I believe most people — regardless of political orientation — understand politics as something other than a strictly intellectual exercise. The telegenic candidate with the glib remark or gesture usually resonates with would-be voters much better than those who hold lectures on the fine points of policy.

I wouldn’t argue with Jackson that voters, again, at every point of the political spectrum, appear dissonant. But, sound bite politics can also backfire on a politician. My point being that histronics (e.g.; ‘outrage’ ;) on the campaign trail has value as a form of rhetorical shorthand that is kind of necessitated by American-style politics.

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