The recently concluded CNN Republican debate is a lesson in the use of non sequitors. Unspining the candidates' responses to questions from moderator Anderson Cooper and attacks from fellow candidates, it is clear that all three major Republican candidates (Romney, McCain, and Huckabee) used one of the oldest political plays in the persuasive playbook: non sequitors.
In some of the posts that follow, we'll unspin each candidate's use of the non sequitor.
Mit Romney Non Sequitors
John McCain Non Sequitors
Mike Huckabee Non Sequitors
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I like the name "unspun" — and analyzing candidate responses to questions is interesting. Do you think the current environment encourages non sequitors? That is, to give a clear answer to a controversial question risks having one's opponents take it out of context, as well as alienating voters.
And, of course, the format of the "debates" tends to demand quick rather than nuanced answers. Perhaps candidates are sometimes trying to avoid "Have you stopped beating your wife (or in Hillary's case, husband)?" questions.
There is no doubt that it is politically advantageous to respond with non sequitors. The debate moderators have shown a preference for good television over good debate In other words, many moderators appear to incite controversy (e.g., when Barack was asked point-blank about Bill's ostensibly racially insensitive comments).
Post a Comment