Electoral Subconscious: How Biases Affect Our Perception Of Election 2012
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2012-10-04/electoral-subconscious-how-biases-affect-our-perception-election-2012
As Barack Obama and Mitt Romney prepare for presidential debate season, both campaigns are calibrating their messages for different audiences: diehard partisans, regional voting blocks and specific immigrant communities. But these constituencies often respond very differently to the message -- and the messenger. Howard Ross argues that subconscious biases profoundly influence the way we see politics. He joins Kojo for a look at our electoral subconscious.
Guests
Howard Ross
author, "Reinventing Diversity: Transforming Organizational Community to Strengthen People, Purpose, and Performance" (Rowman & Littlefield); also Principal, Cook Ross
Comments
Please familiarize yourself with our Code of Conduct and Terms of Use before posting your comments.
I would like to add that last night was President Obama's 20th anniversary, which might have had some influence on his performance.
I found Mr. Romney very shrill in his replies. In his shrillness, and talking over Jim Lehrer, he struck me as someone who is powerful and has never had his power questioned - or rather, has never understood how his position of power (white, wealthy, male, straight) impacts how he comes across to those who are other.
Obama didn't do well- he seemed out of focus and disengaged. But it doesn't change my opinion about him. Obama does need to walk a fine line- between subtle prejudice (a person of color esp a black man is not allowed to appear ungrateful or angry) and being in charge. But policy is policy, character is character. Romney is a bully. He appears "plastic." And he appears to be able to "lie" at the drop of a hat. We STILL don't know what his policies are or how he will accomplish anything. When Romney stated that (to paraphrase) just repeating something doesn't make it true, he was obviously seeing in others what he sees in himself. Again w/ the Moynihan quote essentially "Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts" he was seeing this in himself. Romney is scary. What won't he say or do just to have the title "President?" Lehrer was very disappointing- time to go out to pasture. However none of this let's Obama off the hook. He is the better president- no question. But so many people vote on impulse, the flavor of the day- and Obama can't come across as a milquetoast.
dupe
dupe
dupe
What happend last night was not a debate. It was a 90 minute reality show. I think the American electorate is the real loser here. The moderator was not able to draw out any specifics. It is shameful when one candidate can get on the national stage and lie about everything and no one holds him accountable. I though Obama was Presidential and dignified, but am dissappointed that he did not follow up on the 47 million. It was a competition between an intellectual and a street fighter.
I think it is important to point out that while Mr. Romney is engaged in campaigning and nothing else, President Obama cannot delegate his obligations as our President and Commander in Chief while he is on the campaign trail. Do we know what else was on his plate as he prepared for and participated in the debate last night? Is it not possible that he was "distracted" by matters we do not know about?