MPSL VLog: Time to Leave the Party?

Political parties were started in the early 1900’s to insulate the nominating process from political bosses. There is a growing movement to abandon this system, and pick a candidate with no regard for her political party. Professor Gaffaney explains.

Selective Perception Among Voters

Media coverage of political campaigns tends to focus on the horserace—the reporting of public opinion results on a daily, sometimes hourly basis.  They also tend to focus on the attempts by candidates and their managers to craft images and messages to suit particular blocks of voters.  Unfortunately, only scant reporting is made of the conflicting and sometimes contradictory opinions and perceptions held among a candidate’s supporters.  Comments made by people in the crowd, the “man-in-the-street,” are reported without filter and as matters-of-fact, with little or no attempt to probe or challenge their assertions.  A more critical ear would likely provide an important opportunity to explore the role of selective perception among the voting public.

Selective perception is a concept taken from the study of public opinion (with a background in the field of psychology) that describes the influence of our biases and prejudices on our interpretations of various forms of information and experiences.  The literature on selective perception suggests that certain predispositions filter our perspectives and attitudes, especially in the context of supporting or not supporting a particular candidate.  Just think of the role that ideology and partisanship play as filters at work in the minds of potential voters.  Understanding how selective perception works helps us understand why so many voters accept or ignore the mistakes, miscues, and waffling of candidates over the course of an election—when it’s their candidate.  When it’s another candidate, the same lens that is used to forgive is now turned into a magnifying glass that is used to scorch the opposition.  What do you think?  Should reporters do more to explore the role of selective perception when on the campaign trail?  How might more critical reporting of the voting public affect election coverage?

–DENNIS FALCON

Related articles

• After victories, Santorum has more work to do (philly.com)
• Makeover Meter: Selective perception (thehindu.com)

Primaries and the Party-in-the-Electorate

Primary elections are historically biased toward activating a particular component of what political scientists refer to as the party-in-the-electorate.  The party-in-the-electorate includes voters who more often than not support candidates from a particular party, those who support the party on a consistent basis, and the most loyal party faithful.  The focus in primary elections tends to be to excite and win over the most loyal party faithful, the base of the party base, with the specific intention of winning a party’s nomination.  For this reason candidates in primary elections often emphasize positions that will appeal to the most conservative or liberal component of the party-in-the-electorate, depending on the party the candidate represents.

The Republican primary of 2012 is no different.  Although the field has narrowed significantly, for those remaining, the race continues to be waged around the race to the right—the attempt to establish themselves as the one, true conservative that can best represent the party against President Obama in November.  As the general election begins, candidates from both parties will take positions that appeal to the broadest pool of voters—as opposed to the narrowest—with the election outcome in large part depending on how well a candidate is able to separate him or herself from positions they expressed vociferously just a few months earlier.  The irony of course lies in the possibility that by doing so a candidate will lose the support of party faithful, thereby losing the election.  What do you think?  Should candidates be judged on how accurately and consistently they represent the positions of their respective parties?  Or should candidates continue to run as individuals who are at best approximations of their party’s image and values?

–DENNIS FALCON

Related articles

• GOP voters confused? Experts say give them a break (sfgate.com)
• Florida Republican Primary – Election Results – Election 2012 – NYTimes.com (policyabcs.wordpress.com)
• Electoral Politics Influence Possible Israeli Attack on Iran (incaunipocrit.wordpress.com)

MPSL VLog: Frontloading to Pick Frontrunner

The national government selects the date of national elections, but states decide how to run elections within each state. There is a trend to set earlier primary dates.  Professor Gaffaney explains the significance of frontloading primary elections.

MPSL VLog: GOP Hopefuls Highlight States’ Rights

The 10th Amendment remains relevant today as GOP candidates highlight states’ rights in their bids to be the Republican nominee for President.  Professor Gaffaney explains.

MPSL VLog: Establishment Clause

How should religious politicians reconcile their world view with the principle of separation of church and state?  Professor Gaffaney explains.