By: Michael Corey

Michael Corey — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:45:00 +0000

Newt Gingrich in the South Carolina primary interests me for slightly different reasons. His approach raises the issues of memory and rhetorical slight of hand techniques. Some of us remember Gingrich while he served in office. It is very difficult for me to separate what he says now from what he actually has done over time. Fortunately for Gingrich, memory tends to be selective and is as much a reflection of the way we would like things to have been, rather than a closer approximation of what actually has transpired. During the debate and campaigning process, it is very difficult for voters to separate facts from fiction. Gingrich according to one of his former wives believes what he says is much more important than what he actually does or has done. Gingrich has positioned himself as an authentic Conservative, and the most electable candidate. Both of these may be weak and perhaps misleading assertions.The rhetorical tricky that he has used effectively is in one respect similar to a magician’s slight of hand; divert attention from what is actually happening, and create an illusion about what is actually happening. The practice of propaganda requires that deceit be interspersed with facts and other assertions that are defendable. It is this soup that makes propaganda very dangerous and very effective. When the case is weak, propagandists frequently appeal to emotions rather than reason, and to assert their positions passionately, and emotionally rather than rationally. Effective propaganda relies on the use of misleading binaries to establish distorted associations and meanings. Gingrich seems to have mastered these techniques. It will be interesting to see if during the primary process, larger numbers of voters can figure this out. Unfortunately, these techniques are not unique to Gingrich, and practitioners can be found across the political spectrum.

By: Felipe Pait

Felipe Pait — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:11:00 +0000

Romney and Gingrich are attacking each other for their respective faults. When I see two people without any moral compass doing the right thing, I almost start believing in democracy again 😉

Comments on: All You Need to Know about the Republican Primary in South Carolina

By: Michael Corey

By: Felipe Pait