Demonizing A President

This groundbreaking political exposé scrutinizes the motivations behind the unparalleled attacks on President Barack Obama that attempted to undermine his eligibility to lead the country. The ascendancy of the first Black president was a watershed moment in American history. In response, Obama's adversaries engaged in relentless and systematic mudslinging throughout his campaign and well into his presidency, "othering" him as a foreign and dangerous political figure. Never before has a presidential candidate been so maligned, by so many, in such a variety of ways-and yet won. This provocative study investigates the unrest behind the Obama campaign and election, and the controversial political machine that caused it. Martin A. Parlett, himself a former campaigner for Barack Obama, examines the role identity politics and racialization played in the anti-Obama movement, shows how foreignization is the latest tool for political dissent, and discusses the ways in which Obama successfully used the "outsider" label to his own advantage. The book questions the popular-and often contradictory-notions of Obama as illegitimate, Muslim, Marxist/Communist, socialist, Kenyan, terrorist, and angry African American. Additionally, chapters trace political marginalization and race throughout history from slavery to Reconstruction to the Civil Rights Movement, concluding with the culture of distrust in the American political psyche since the events of September 11, 2001.

In The Presidential Road Show: Public Leadership in an Era of Party Polarization and Media Fragmentation, Diane J. Heith evaluates presidential leadership by critically examining a fundamental tenet of the presidency: the national nature of the office. The fact that the entire nation votes for the office seemingly imbues the presidency with leadership opportunities that rest on appeals to the mass public. Yet, presidents earn the office not by appealing to the nation but rather by assembling a coalition of supporters, predominantly partisans. Moreover, once in office, recent presidents have had trouble controlling their message in the fragmented media environment. The combined constraints of the electoral coalition and media environment influence the nature of public leadership presidents can exercise. Using a data set containing not only speech content but also the classification of the audience, Diane J. Heith finds that rhetorical leadership is constituency driven and targets audiences differently. Comparing tone, content, and tactics of national and local speeches reveals that presidents are abandoning national strategies in favor of local leadership efforts that may be tailored to the variety of political contexts a president must confront.

At the close of the twentieth century the stereotyping and demonization of 'others', whether on religious, nationalist, racist, or political grounds, has become a burning issue. Yet comparatively little attention has been paid to how and why we fabricate images of the 'other' as an enemy or 'demon' to be destroyed. This innovative book fills that gap through an interdisciplinary, cross-cultural approach that brings together a distinguished array of historians, anthropologists, psychologists, literary critics, and feminists. The historical sweep covers Greco-Roman Antiquity, the MIddle Ages, and the MOdern Era. Antisemitism receives special attention because of its longevity and centrality to the Holocaust, but it is analyzed here within the much broader framework of racism and xenophobia. The plurality of viewpoints expressed in this volume provide fascinating insights into what is common and what is unique to the many varieties of prejudice, stereotyping, demonization, and hatred.

In the last six years, Nigeria has broken the grip of dictatorship, poverty, and corruption to emerge as one of Africa's most peaceful nations. A role model for other developing countries, Nigeria now enjoys its position as a peace and power broker, defying the odds of its past. Home to the world's greatest concentration of black people and led by President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria now enjoys economic prosperity and the fruits of democracy. But these successes were fraught with challenges. The denigration and stereotyping of black people created a constant barrier to change, one that was not easily overcome. Dr. Jubril Olabode Aka delivers a compelling portrayal of Nigeria, focusing on the country's emerging force for tolerance and hope. Aka discusses such topics as peaceful conflict resolution, Nigeria's foreign policy, the government's success in eliminating fraud and corruption, and the need to eradicate discrimination. Blacks Greatest Homeland examines Nigeria's history, leadership, and future, offering an honest and positive look at the sweeping changes Nigeria has made in the last decade.

Studies of Communication in the 2020 Presidential Campaign explores a wide range of communication elements, themes, and topics of the 2020 presidential election. The introduction provides a brief snapshot summarizing the role of more traditional elements of campaign communication as well as the newer elements of social media and journalistic practices that transformed the political landscape in 2020. Each chapter serves as a stand-alone study focusing on the role and function of communication within the context of the chapter topics and the 2020 election.

"Popular conservative radio host and blogger Ed Morrissey argues that the fate of conservatism hangs on the 2016 election--and on a mere seven counties that will decide the whole race. Together, these counties are home to only 5 million people (that is, 1.5% of the American population), but it was in these communities that Barack Obama won the 2008 and 2012 elections, and in 2016, they hold the key to the states Republicans must win in order to take back the White House. For Republicans, this is bad news and good news. Bad news, because all seven of the counties pulled for Obama in one or both of the last two elections; good news, because they all voted for George W. Bush in 2004, and due to the Democrats' misadventures under the Obama administration, the door is open for Republicans to win these counties--and the presidency--once again, making a decisive mandate against progressivism for the generation to come. Going Red will take readers inside these battlegrounds, weaving never-before-seen data into human portraits that illuminate why these communities have changed from Republican to Democrat, why the Obama administration has disappointed them, and what conservatives can do to win them back in this election cycle--and beyond. With echoes of Nate Silver, Dick Morris, and Charles Murray, this is a timely and crucial book for anyone who cares about conservatism's future"--

The world's most populous nation and soon-to-be largest economy is rapidly turning into the planet's most efficient assassin. Unscrupulous Chinese entrepreneurs are flooding world markets with lethal products. China's perverse form of capitalism combines illegal mercantilist and protectionist weapons to pick off American industries, job by job. China's emboldened military is racing towards head-on confrontation with the U.S. Meanwhile, America's executives, politicians, and even academics remain silent about the looming threat. Now, best-selling author and noted economist Peter Navarro meticulously exposes every form of "Death by China," drawing on the latest trends and events to show a relationship spiraling out of control. Death by China reveals how thousands of Chinese cyber dissidents are being imprisoned in "Google Gulags"; how Chinese hackers are escalating coordinated cyberattacks on U.S. defense and America's key businesses; how China's undervalued currency is damaging the U.S., Europe, and the global recovery; why American companies are discovering that the risks of operating in China are even worse than they imagined; how China is promoting nuclear proliferation in its pursuit of oil; and how the media distorts the China story--including a "Hall of Shame" of America's worst China apologists. This book doesn't just catalogue China's abuses: It presents a call to action and a survival guide for a critical juncture in America's history--and the world's. Publisher's note - in this book various quotes and viewpoints are attributed to a 'Ron Vara'. Ron Vara is not an actual person, but rather an alias created by Peter Navarro in order to present his views and opinions.

Contains papers presented at a conference, entitled 'Cutting Edge Theories and Recent Developments in Conflict Resolution'. This work explores some of the major themes of conflict analysis, including how dominant discourses can soothe and exacerbate conflict, and the importance of a structural understanding of ethnocentrism and racism.