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As the 2020 presidential campaign revs up, the normal ways of dealing with it seem hopeless inadequate. Fact-checking seems antiquated in the face of a president who’s closing in on 20,000 false or misleading statements and a press corps that remains hopelessly befuddled in how to respond. But there is another way the press — or failing that, citizens themselves — can cut through the blizzard of disinformation.
That’s explained in a forthcoming book by Texas A&M communications professor Jennifer Mercieca, “Demagogue for President: The Rhetorical Genius of Donald Trump.” A historian of American political rhetoric, Mercieca traces Trump’s strategies in the 2016 campaign, finding that they conform to consistent rhetorical patterns.
An ad populum appeal could take different forms, but the basic idea is that the people are right and anyone who opposes the people is wrong. Trump uses it to praise a segment of the people: Only Trump supporters are wise and good hard-working Americans; all others are enemies. Trump claims that his supporters are the best, the smartest, the most patriotic — and then claims that their support makes him right in any controversy. It’s a circular argument: Trump is right because he’s popular with the good people and Trump is popular with the good people because Trump is right.
He wants people to ask: “Do I think the economy is good?” “Should I wear a mask in public?” “Should we go to war with China?” — “I don’t know, what does Trump say?” and then either agree or disagree based on Trump. He wants to be the referent for everything in politics because that ultimately gives him control. When there is no reality except for what Trump creates, he’s America’s authoritarian P.T. Barnum. He has succeeded in controlling our public sphere for five years, making himself the referent on all of our political discussions.
The secret of his success: Donald Trump’s six weird tricks for authoritarian rule – Raw Story
Very captivating interview with the author. Look forward to reading this book.
That’s explained in a forthcoming book by Texas A&M communications professor Jennifer Mercieca, “Demagogue for President: The Rhetorical Genius of Donald Trump.” A historian of American political rhetoric, Mercieca traces Trump’s strategies in the 2016 campaign, finding that they conform to consistent rhetorical patterns.
An ad populum appeal could take different forms, but the basic idea is that the people are right and anyone who opposes the people is wrong. Trump uses it to praise a segment of the people: Only Trump supporters are wise and good hard-working Americans; all others are enemies. Trump claims that his supporters are the best, the smartest, the most patriotic — and then claims that their support makes him right in any controversy. It’s a circular argument: Trump is right because he’s popular with the good people and Trump is popular with the good people because Trump is right.
He wants people to ask: “Do I think the economy is good?” “Should I wear a mask in public?” “Should we go to war with China?” — “I don’t know, what does Trump say?” and then either agree or disagree based on Trump. He wants to be the referent for everything in politics because that ultimately gives him control. When there is no reality except for what Trump creates, he’s America’s authoritarian P.T. Barnum. He has succeeded in controlling our public sphere for five years, making himself the referent on all of our political discussions.
The secret of his success: Donald Trump’s six weird tricks for authoritarian rule – Raw Story
Very captivating interview with the author. Look forward to reading this book.