Adam Parker's Assignments

Final Draft | Peer Edits | Peer Grading | Cover Sheet

Rough Draft - UNIT II

Thesis:

Media (especially television), causes presidential elections and politics in general to become no longer a political race, but a popularity contest between candidates that will go to any length to gain the voter's attention and acceptance.

The art of swaying public opinion has been used since words and images could first be printed on paper. Martin Luther used the invention of the printing press in 1439 to his advantage with a barrage of propaganda to alter the opinions of the masses. Any position of power in the world takes public acceptance, and for the public to accept you, they must know you and your cause and have reason to be behind it. Television made all of this even easier. Now, not only could you get information to the public, but you could do it quickly with the use of video and music. However, elections themselves, and politics in general, became less about politics and more about popularity and the candidates ability to grab and hold the voter's attention.

Politicians not only campaign, but they form advertisement campaigns. They come up with an issue that will get the public's attention and go after their opponent for not agreeing with them, all over the television.

In the 1960 election, the first televised debate was held between presidential candidates John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. Kennedy, a young and good looking democrat (not unlike Obama), went up against an old and normal looking Nixon. What is interesting is that in a debate completely about politics, the looks of the candidates were actually more important to many people. Although people listening to the radio say that Nixon had beaten Kennedy in the debate, those watching on television believed that Kennedy had actually won. So, America was saying that although one man may be more intelligent about political matters, we would rather have a president that is young and good looking.

The election that is currently going on is a perfect example of each party trying to gain more popularity and attention through their backgrounds and looks rather than their political abilities. Obama is running as the first black president, and to catch up, McCain chooses a woman running mate. It's no longer about who has the best mind to do the job, but who has the best face to represent the country. Media follows the president wherever he goes. It has gotten to a point where he is more like an actor than a president.

This has even gone further than simple ads put on television by each party. Clothing brands now use their fan base to promote candidates. Urban Outfitter stores have been selling shirts and other products featuring the face of Barack Obama. Politics seaps into the fasion industry, which is a business that makes it's money on telling people what is "cool" and then providing it to them for a very high price. So the candidate becomes the next "cool" thing among teenagers, and those young voters are swayed to vote for the man even though they may have no idea what he stands for. Democrats have a history of making their candidate seem appealing to the younger voters by choosing young, attractive males. The easiest way to get younger people's attention is through television, and now even websites such as Myspace. It is easy to place the candidates picture near images that are "cool" to the younger generation and play "cool" songs behind his videos, and this seems to be enough to gain the vote of much of the youth.

The fault for this superficial voting lies solely in the hands of the people. Television is a great means for transfering information, so it is obvious that it would be used as a means for broadcasting poltical events and campaign information. It is the people that see what is shown, and rather than listening to what the person has to say, the merely watch how cool they act. It is up to the people to see through the propoganda in campaign advertising and understand what each person is really trying to say. Ignorance is slowly becoming an issue in America, and it starts with our elections. Government doesn't want us to know what the real issues are. It is much easier to tell people what to do when they are more concerned with looks and are completely ignorant to the matters at hand.

As i was reading I noticed that you seem to have the same viepoint on this subject as I do. To me it is obvious that the presidential election is a popularity contest, and I believe that the tv has made this possible by all means. For example, do you think FDR would have been elected if the people could actually see him? All they had to promote him in his time was the radio, not many people saw him. He had polio and was paralyzed from the waist down. He was never seeen in pictures below the waist. It is sad, but true. People thrive on looks, even when it comes to major decisions such as the president. Television is the source off this. The ads on tv can no longer be stopped now that they have begun. The presidential election as we know is coming closer and closer to the televised miss america pageant. "What is one thing you want during your 'reign'?..world peace" Give me a break.

_Rachel Lancaster

I agree with Rachel that the presidential election is a popularity contest and whoever has the best campaign ads will win. A small part of me believes that the media will controls the outcome of the election and our opinions dont really matter. I like how your essay is structured but I would like to see more on this topic.

---Suraj J--

Despite the fact that the elections have become a popularity contest, but think of it this way. Some of the presidents who won by the popular vote turned out to be decent presidents. And some of them who had more experience and more "in touch" with the people turned out to be lousy presidents. While it is a sad fact that now people are finally realizing politics through the media, people are getting more involved. If only they could stop watching American Idol and actually care about the issues. But hey, welcome to the new age of technology, get used to it. Well done, is there more on this topic or that's all you got right now?

--Schan--