Emotion Got the Best of Rep. Joe Wilson?

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Thursday September 10, 2009 · 7:19 AM PDT

2009/09/10 · 07:19

When I began studying authoritarianism, I arranged to administer a survey to members of the National Socialist White People's Party in Arlington, Va.--otherwise known as the American Nazi Party. As part of the "arranging" I visited the group's headquarters, and while I was waiting to meet with a party official, I had a brief conversation with a young man wearing a swastika arm band who was serving as a receptionist. We talked about sports, and when he brought up the subject of race (he liked hockey because blacks hadn't "taken over" the sport), I asked him how he felt about the black athletes who dominated baseball, football, and basketball.

bob altemeyer

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Wednesday August 05, 2009 · 2:58 PM PDT

2009/08/05 · 14:58

People who want meaningful health care reform are understandably angry about the anti-democratic tactics being used by opponents to shut down the town halls. We want to do something about it. It is important to react, and strongly, but not in a way that undercuts our goal.

If supporters show up in massive numbers at a town hall and get into a huge shouting contest with the opponents, is that going to lead to the kind of meeting that will enable people to ask questions and discuss options with their representative? Probably not. Instead, the town hall will likely be shut down, perhaps by the police, and "It will be the liberals' fault as much as the conservatives'!" Who wins, in that scenario? (Ans: The opponents of health reform, who get what they wanted--no town hall--and only half the blame for undermining a democratic process.) (Maybe not even half the blame on some TV networks.) As well, the supporters "legitimize" the opponents' tactic of shouting down speakers they don't like, since they do it themselves.

bob altemeyer

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Saturday August 02, 2008 · 8:01 AM PDT

2008/08/02 · 08:01

The recent Republican TV ads, "Celebrity" and "Divine" may have persuaded some Americans to support John McCain, but they leave openings for responses that could seriously damage the GOP campaign. I’m sure staffers in the Obama campaign have realized this, but I would like to reinforce the tactic.

"Divine" features the terribly dishonest Obama misquote, "I have become a symbol of America returning..." It would be easy to do an ad that starts, "Remember this one? (Show this misquoting segment of the Republican ad.) Here is what he really said. (Show the whole quote.) Is this arrogance, or is it just the opposite, a humble man realizing that he merely represents his supporters, and the change they want? The Republicans are NOT going to tell you the truth about Barack Obama. Remember that every time you see one of their ads."

As for the "Celebrity" ad, the point can be made, "Wouldn’t it be great to have an American president our allies would admire and want to work with? How big a crowd of supporters would George Bush, or John McCain draw in Europe? If Barack Obama is a celebrity, it's because people realize he stands for the change they want in America. (Who on earth wants four more years like the last eight?)"

Obama and Guilt by Association: Why It Works among Authoritarian Followers

bob altemeyer

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Sunday May 04, 2008 · 7:12 AM PDT

2008/05/04 · 07:12

Senator Obama has shown a remarkable capacity to change perceptions of him among persons initially inclined to vote for someone else.* Partly this is due to his character and message. Partly this is due to the massive funds at his disposal for advertising, which came from an unprecedented number of individual donors. Partly it may be due to the unfairness of some of the attacks upon him, the campaign of religious innuendo, the misleading of voters about their registration status, etc.--a backlash against "dirty politics."

But the Obama campaign has not been able to seal the deal with certain traditional Democratic constituencies–most notably "inherently conservative" white, blue-collar workers. I think I can offer a couple of research-blessed reasons why.

bob altemeyer

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Sunday March 16, 2008 · 9:26 AM PDT

2008/03/16 · 09:26

I consider myself a moderate and an Independent. I look forward to the day when I can vote for a Republican again. But it's a no-brainer for 2008. I shall vote for either (in alphabetical order) Senator Clinton or Senator Obama. My problem is, which one would be the better president? Here is my list of ten things that bother me about them--five for one and five for the other. I also add some things they can each do that will help me decide.

bob altemeyer

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Wednesday July 04, 2007 · 1:45 PM PDT

2007/07/04 · 13:45

About ten years ago, on the evening of May 6, 1997, Terry Washington was executed by the state of Texas for the murder of a restaurant manager. Governor George W. Bush had met that morning with his legal counsel, Alberto Gonzales, and the two had spent (at most) thirty minutes discussing the condemned man’s plea for clemency. As Alan Berlow pointed out in "The Texas Clemency Memos" (The Atlantic Monthly, July/August 2003), several grounds for clemency indeed existed. Terry Washington was mentally retarded, having the communication skills of a seven-year old. As well he had undergone horrific parental abuse while growing up. His defense attorney had clearly been inept, and had brought up none of this during the trial. But Gonzales did not mention any of these things in his three page memo to Bush about the appeal. Instead he focused on the brutality of the murder; Bush denied the appeal; Terry Washington was put to death.

bob altemeyer

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Monday March 26, 2007 · 10:11 PM PDT

2007/03/26 · 22:11

I posted the comment below last Saturday during a dkos session on a book I have written. Several people suggested I present it as an independent diary.

(I should explain beforehand that the "High RWAs" mentioned in the piece are authoritarian followers. They are people who score highly on a personality test called the Right-Wing Authoritarianism scale. If you decide you want to learn more, the book is available for free at www.theauthoritarians.com )

What role will authoritarianism play in deciding who’s going to run for president for the Republicans in 2008? Since this is being written sixteen months before the GOP convention, most of my guesses will probably turn out to be wrong. Things happen fast in politics. But here’s how it looks to me in March 2007.

RSS

<em>Which</em> Emotion Got the Best of Rep. Joe Wilson?

Why Health Care Reformers Should Avoid Confrontations with "the Rabid Right"

Responses to Anti-Obama Ads

Obama and Guilt by Association: Why It Works among Authoritarian Followers

Ten Things That Bother Me About Senators Obama and Clinton

President Bush and "Scooter:" An Authoritarian Concept of Justice

The Religious Right in 2008