Media pundits as purveyors of grade school style peer pressure

[jpgray]

Ever notice how everyone talks up George Bush's likeability? Does it exist, or is it merely a media invention? If every pundit notes how much of a factor in his favor his likeability is, that likeability becomes a fact, even if it never existed in the first place. Why? If many supposedly 'objective' sources in the media report on it as though it were a fact, the implication becomes 'everyone thinks GWB is likeable--what's wrong with you?' Then to feel intelligent and informed, people will start to believe it themselves.

The other side of the coin is clearly seen in Kerry. When he is ahead, behind, tied, rising or faltering, pundits always hammer home the theme that his campaign is not clearly defined, that he is not connecting with voters, and that he is losing. The pundits can simply include these themes in their questions to Kerry people, to independent pundits, etc. and the idea is planted and it grows with each repetition.

Bob Somerby talks of media 'scripts', and he's exactly right. The script that pleases the media on Bush is that he is a down-home, likeable and eminently ordinary fellow who is stupid and coasting to inevitable victory, and the script for Kerry is that he is an aloof, awkward politician that flip flops at the drop of a hat and is running a losing, crappy campaign. Now when these themes are constantly repeated, the human tendency is to believe them to be true. It doesn't matter what the polls say about how well Kerry's doing--this tactic would work if he led Bush 54-38.

[bluedeminredstate]

1. Remember "Clinton fatigue?"

It was later proved to be bullshit. You're on to something.

[gottaB]

2. media pundits as class warriors

How does the median income of the punditry compare to that of the nation as a whole (a little less than 50K iirc)?

Kerry/Edwards campaign messages are directed at the middle class. There are few genuine representives of this class on the tube. Leading pundits exert "peer pressure" to validate themes and styles of discourse that serve to promote the interests of the upper class.

People like Cokie Roberts, to name just one, can afford to ignore their interests as members of the bottom 98%. In fact, they can ill afford not to.

[fugue]

3. I think American culture works that way

I believe it was Churchill who commented that no one was so conformist about their individuality as Americans.

I think our culture is one big peer-pressure experience. It's just louder in the media (and harder to debunk) than in our everyday lives.