PropagandaandSpinOverviewInthislesson,studentsexplorepropagandatechniquesaswellastheconceptof“spin”anddiscusshowpoliticiansusethesetechniquestoswaypublicopinion.Studentswillidentifypropagandausedinpastandcurrentadsandcreatetheirownadvertisementusinganassignedpropagandatechnique.Studentswillalsoexaminehowpoliticiansspincurrenteventstosuittheirownagendasandwillassumetheroleofaprominentpoliticalfigure’scommunicationrepresentativewhoisresponsibleforspinningnewsevents.Grade10NCEssentialStandardsforAmericanHistory:TheFoundingPrinciples,Civics&Economics• FP.C&G.2.8-AnalyzeAmerica’stwo-partysystemintermsofthepoliticalandeconomicviewsthatledtoits

emergenceandtherolethatpoliticalpartiesplayinAmericanpolitics(e.g.,Democrat,Republican,promotionofcivicresponsibility,Federalists,Anti-Federalists,Influenceofthirdparties,precincts,“thepoliticalspectrum”,straightticket,canvass,planks,platform,etc.)

• FP.C&G.4.3-AnalyzetherolesofcitizensofNorthCarolinaandtheUnitedStatesintermsofresponsibilities,participation,civiclifeandcriteriaformembershiporadmission(e.g.,voting,juryduty,lobbying,interactingsuccessfullywithgovernmentagencies,organizingandworkingincivicgroups,volunteering,petitioning,picketing,runningforpoliticaloffice,residency,etc.)

• FP.C&G.5.1-Analyzetheelectionprocessatthenational,stateandlocallevelsintermsofthechecksandbalancesprovidedbyqualificationsandproceduresforvoting(e.g.,civicparticipation,publichearings,forums,atlargevoting,petition,localinitiatives,localreferendums,votingamendments,typesofelections,etc.)

EssentialQuestions• Whatispropagandaandhowisitusedinpolitics?• Whatarethevariouspropagandatechniquesandhowdotheyaffectthedisseminationofinformation?• Whatisspinandinwhatwaystopoliticiansemploythistechnique?• Howdoesacandidate’spartyaffiliationandagendainformtheirpubliccomments?• Howdopropagandaandspinaffecttheelectionprocess?• Howdocitizensdecipherpropagandaandspininordertomakeaneducateddecisionwhenvoting?Materials:• ImagesofPropaganda,attached• JudgingPropaganda,worksheetattached• Politicalads(examplescanbefoundathttp://www.livingroomcandidate.org/)• AmericanPoliticalSpinCycleisOutofControl,articleattached• PutaPoliticalSpinonThings,assignmentsheet• Informationonpoliticalfigures;thiscanbeaccessedviainternetsitessuchashttp://ontheissues.org.If

internetisnotavailableforstudents,teacherscanpreselectpoliticalfiguresandprintoffinformationaboutthemtoprovidetostudents.

• Internetaccessforadditionalresearchonpoliticalfigures(optional)• SpinReflectionSheet,attached• Homeworkassignmentonspin,attached

DurationTwo60minuteperiodsProcedureDayOne

IdentifyingPropaganda1. Asawarm-up,writethewordpropagandaontheboardandaskstudentstobrainstormwhatthisword

means,eitherinsmallgroupsorasaclass.Encouragestudentstothinkaboutthedefinition,examples,situationsinwhichitisused,etc.

2. Afterthediscussion,studentsshouldunderstandthatpropagandareferstoatypeofmessageaimedatinfluencingopinionsand/orthebehaviorofpeople.Propagandamayprovideonlypartialinformationorbedeliberatelymisleading.Propagandatechniquesareoftenfoundontelevisionandradio,aswellasmagazinesandnewspapers.Projecttheattachedexamplesofpropagandaanddiscusswithstudents:• Whatdoyouthinkthepurposeofthisimageis?• Isthispropaganda?Whyorwhynot?Ifyes,whichpiecesofinformationregardingthesubjectofthe

imagearenotaddressed?• Whatmightwelearnaboutsocietybasedonthispieceofpropaganda?

3. Focusonexamplesofpropagandabyaskingstudentswhattypesofpropagandatechniquestheycanname.

Revieworintroducethefollowing:• Emotionalappeal(i.e.fear):Appealingtotheemotionsofyouraudience.Forexample,whena

propagandistwarnsmembersofheraudiencethatdisasterwillresultiftheydonotfollowaparticularcourseofaction,sheisusingfearappeal.

• Glitteringgeneralities:Aglitteringgeneralitydeviceseekstomakeusapproveandacceptwithoutexaminingtheevidence;Glitteringgeneralitiesincludephrasessuchas“Webelievein”,“fightfor”,and“livebyvirtue”.Theyalsoincludewordsaboutwhichwehavedeep-setideas,suchascivilization,Christianity,good,proper,right,democracy,patriotism,motherhood,fatherhood,science,medicine,health,andlove.

• Testimonials:Famouspeopleorfigureswhowillappeartrustworthyspeaktotheaudience• Bandwagon:Thebasicthemeofthebandwagonappealisthat"everyoneelseisdoingit,andsoshould

you."• Plain-folks:Byusingtheplain-folkstechnique,speakersattempttoconvincetheiraudiencethatthey,

andtheirideas,are"ofthepeople.”• Scientificapproach:Usingscientificjargon(i.e.numbers,statistics,data,etc.)toconvinceyouraudience• Snobappeal:Givingtheimpressionthatpeopleofwealthandprestigeareonboard• Cardstacking:Onlypresentingonesideoftheissue/situation• Transfer:Transferisadevicebywhichthepropagandistcarriesovertheauthority,sanction,andprestige

ofsomethingwerespectandreveretosomethinghewouldhaveusaccept.• Name-calling:Thename-callingtechniquelinksaperson,oridea,toanegativesymbol.Thepropagandist

whousesthistechniquehopesthattheaudiencewillrejectthepersonortheideaonthebasisofthenegativesymbol,insteadoflookingattheavailableevidence.

• Euphemisms:Thepropagandistattemptstopacifytheaudienceinordertomakeanunpleasantrealitymorepalatable.Thisisaccomplishedbyusingwordsthatareblandandeuphemistic.Anexampleisduringwartime,sincewarisparticularlyunpleasant,militarydiscourseisfullofeuphemisms.Inthe1940's,AmericachangedthenameoftheWarDepartmenttotheDepartmentofDefense.

4. PlacestudentsintosmallgroupsandhandouttheattachedKidsVotingworksheet,JudgingPropaganda.

Havestudentscompletethesheetintheirgroupsthengoovertheanswersasaclass:1.B 6.H2.E 7.C

3.A 8.F4.D 9.G5.J 10.I

5. Discuss:• Whyshouldweexamineadvertisements,campaigns,andvariousmediaformsingeneralforpropaganda?

Ispropagandaanegativetacticinyouropinion?Explain.o Discusshowpersuasivetechniquesareregularlyappliedbypoliticians,advertisers,editorialists,

radiopersonalities,andotherswhoareinterestedininfluencinghumanbehavior.Whilepropagandisticmessagescanbeusedtoaccomplishpositivesocialends,asincampaignstoreducedrunkdriving,theyarealsousedtowinelectionsandtosellproducts.Astechnologyincreases,peoplearereceivinghundredsofmessagesdailyviaInternet,TV,radio,news,etc.Thus,itisimportantwetakethetimetoanalyzewhatwearehearing/seeingtoensurewearefindingthekerneloftruth.

• Outofthetypesofpropagandafromtheworksheet,whichdoyouthinkismosteffectiveandwhy?Whichdoyouthinkmaybeusedtodisguisetruththeeasiest?

6. Ifpossible,playexamplesofpoliticaladsforstudentstoexamine.(Teacherscanrecordadsoffoftelevision,

orsearch“politicalads”onwww.youtube.comfornumerousexamples.ManyschooldistrictsblocktheuseofYouTube;teachersmightthuswanttosearchforadsathomeanddownloadthemforshowinglater.AnothersitetoconsultistheCenterforMediaandDemocracy’s“SpinoftheDayathttp://www.prwatch.org/.)Chooseseveraladstoplayforstudents,askingthemtonotewhichofthepropagandatechniquestheyseeillustratedineach.

UtilizeaPropagandaTechniquetoCreateanAdvertisement

7. Next,assigneachgrouponeofthepropagandatechniquesfromthehandout.Then,tellthegroupstocompletethefollowingassignment:• Youhavebeenassignedaparticularpropagandatechnique.Asagroup,createanadtopresenttoclass

usingthispropagandatechnique.YoumaycreateanadforTV,anadfortheradio,oravisualad(i.e.poster).

• ThepurposeoftheadistorecruitvotesforJerimiahJacobs,whoisrunningfortheNorthCarolinaStateSenate.

• YoumaybecreativeinthecontentyouprovideaboutJerimiah,butitmustbepresentedinawaythatutilizesyourpropagandatechnique.

• Bepreparedtopresentyouradtotheremainderofclassin15minutes!Ø Teachernote:Ifusingthisactivityduringanelectiontime,youmaywanttoassignstudentsarealpolitical

figuretocreateanadfor.Studentswouldthenneedtoresearchfactsaboutthatfigureandhis/herpoliticalvaluesandagendasothattheiradisrealistictothecandidatewhilestillutilizingtheassignedpropagandatechnique.

8. Oncestudentsarefinished,havethempresenttheiradtothereminderofclasswithoutsharingthe

propagandatechniquetheywereassigned.Aftereachpresentation,instructtherestofclasstoidentifywhichtechniquethegrouputilized.Discuss:• HowdidtheadsforJerimiahdiffer?• Ofalltheadsyouheard/sawtodayfromclassmates,whichadwouldmakeyoumostwanttovotefor

Jerimiahandwhy?• Whenpoliticiansarecampaigningduringelections,inwhatwaysdotheyutilizethetechniquesthatyou

justusedinyourownads?Howdothesepropagandatechniquesaffecttheelectionprocess?9. Forhomework,instructstudentstobringinanexampleofpropaganda.Studentsshouldexaminemagazines,

theInternet,orwatchTVandscanforexamplesthensummarizetheadexampleonnotebookpaper,classify

thetypeofpropagandausedinthead,andevaluateitseffectiveness.(Askstudentstobringincopiesoftheadsifpossible.)

Day2

Exploring“Spin”10. Asawarm-up,writethefollowingontheboardforstudentstoreadastheyenterclass:

• Asofnextmonth,allsnackmachinesarebeingremovedfromschoolpremises.11. Dividestudentsintosmallgroupsandtellthemtowriteashortblurbannouncingthisnewsintheschool

newspaperfromtheperspectiveofoneofthefollowinggroups(groupassignmentscanberepeatedifyouhavealargerclass):• Group1:Schooladministratorswhoaretiredofthesnackmachinesgettingknockedoverandvandalized• Group2:Studenthealthadvocacygroupcalled“MakingBetterChoices”• Group3:Studentathletes,whoraidthesnackmachinesdailywhenstarvingafterpractice• Group4:12thgraderswhocan’tleavecampusforlunchanddespisethecafeteriafood• Group5:Cheerleaderswhohavebeenadvocatingforlowcalorieandfat-freesnackstobeputinthe

vendingmachines• Group6:TheBoosterClub,whohasreliedontheproceedsfromthevendingmachinetofundathletics

(i.e.newuniforms,improvedfootballfield,etc.)12. Givestudents5-10minutestocompiletheirnewsblurbthenhaveeachgroupsharetheirblurbwithclass.

Discuss:• Inwhatwaysdidourblurbsdiffer?• Eventhoughwewereallrespondingtothesametopic,whydidourblurbsdiffer?(Theyweretoldfrom

peoplewithdifferingperspectivesandagendas)• Inwhatwaysdoesthishappeninthemediatoday?

13. Explaintostudentsthatwhennewsworthyeventsoccur,politiciansoftenutilize“spin”,whichisaheavily

biasedportrayalinone'sownfavorofaneventorsituation.Politicianswillprovidetheirpointofvieworinterpretationoftheeventinawaythatiscompatiblewiththeirownagendainanefforttoswaypublicopinion.Whiletraditionalpublicrelationsmayalsorelyoncreativepresentationofthefacts,"spin"often,thoughnotalways,impliesdisingenuous,deceptiveand/orhighlymanipulativetactics.Politiciansareoftenaccusedofspinbycommentatorsandpoliticalopponents,whentheyproduceacounterargumentorposition.

14. Givestudentsanotherscenariotoreporton,suchas:

• Thisyear,promwillnotbeheldontheschoolpremises.RatherthanaDJ,abandhasbeenhiredtoplay.Ticketpriceswillcost$50extra.

15. Again,intheirsmallgroups,studentswillwriteashortblurbfortheirtown’spaperregardingpromfromtheir

perspective:• Group1:ParentPromPlanningCommittee,wholikesthechangessincetheywanttomaketheproma

veryexclusive,high-classeventinhopesofattractingwealthierfamiliestotheschoolsystem.• Group2:“StudentsforStudents”,astudentleadgroupwhoisconcernedlesswealthystudentswillnot

beabletoattendpromduetothechanges.• Group3:Schooladministrators,whohopecutbackonpromcostwhilechargingmore;thiswillcreate

extrarevenueforupdatingthelibrarycollection.• Group4:“RockTill’YouDrop”,thebandthathasbeenhiredtoplaytheprom.Thisisyourfirstgigand

youhopeitwillbethestartofabiglocalcareer.• Group5:“DJJazzyJakeandCompany”,theDJwhowasnotrehiredtoplaythisyear’sprom.

16. Afterafewminutes,againhavestudentssharetheirblurbsanddiscuss:• Howdidnewsofthesameeventchangewhengivenbypeoplewithdifferentagendas?• Canyouthinkofanyevents,eithercurrentorhistorical,thathavebeen‘spun’bypoliticians?• Isitethicaltospinasituationinone’sfavor,ortowardsone’sownagenda?• Whendealingwithpolitics,doyouthinkitispossibletosaysomethingneutralaboutapoliticalsituation?

17. HandouttheattachedopinionarticleAmericanPoliticalSpinCycleisOutofControl.(Whilethearticleisfrom

2001,itssubjectmaintainsrelevance.)Afterstudentshaveread,discussasaclass:• LauraWeissstates,“Whatpoliticianswriteandsaydizziesthepublic’smindonagrandscale”andthat

spinhasgotten“outofcontrol.”Doyouagreeordisagreeandwhy?• Howcanpoliticalspinbedeceiving?• WhydoyouthinkWeisscallstheWhiteHouse(regardlessofthepartyinpower)“America’slargestspin

producinginstitution”?• Whoisresponsibleforuncoveringthevalidityorunderlyingtruth(ifany)beneathspin?• WeisssaysthattheWhiteHouseattemptstokeep“scandalousnews”frombreakingontheTV.Isthisa

violationoffreedomofthepressinyouropinion?Shouldtherebelimitationstowhatthepresscanreporton?Explain.

• Whatcanthepublicdoregardingcampaignspin?

PracticingPoliticalSpin18. Havestudentsbrainstormrecenteventsthathavebeeninthelocal,nationaland/orinternationalnewsthat

theythinkareverysusceptibletospin.Then,dividetheclassintosmallgroups,assigningeachgroupacurrentpoliticalfigure.Examplesmightincludeprominentmembersofgovernment,presidentialcandidates(ifduringanelectionyear),politicalpundits,etc.Givethegrouptheattachedassignmentexplanation,PutaPoliticalSpinonThings.Goovertheassignmentsheettogether,whichexplainstostudentsthattheyaretoimaginetheyaretheirassignedpolitician’scommunicationsteam.Theymustfirstresearchtheviewsofthepoliticalfigureassignedtothem.StudentswillneedcomputerswithInternetaccess;sitessuchashttp://ontheissues.orgwillhelpstudentsunderstandtheviewsandvotingrecordsofpoliticians.Otherwise,teacherscanprintinformationoffandprovidetostudentsinhandoutform.Oncestudentshavefamiliarizedthemselveswiththepoliticalfigure,theyareresponsibleforspinningarecentnewsevent.(TheexampleprovidedinvolvesaconflictwithAlQaeda,butteacherscansubstitutetheexampleforstudentstospinastheyseefit.)

19. Allowstudentstoaskquestionstheninstructthemtoworkontheirstatement.Aftergroupsarefinished,

bringeveryonebacktogetherandgiveeachstudenttheattachedSpinReflectionSheet.Haveeachgrouppresenttheirwork,firstgivingasummaryofwhotheyworkfor(thepoliticalfigureassignedtothem),theirfigure’spoliticalparty,andthefigure’sviews/politicalagenda.Then,groupsshouldsharetheirstatementsthathavebeenpreparedwithspin.Allstudentsshouldtakenotesontheirreflectionsheetastheylistentoeachgroup’spresentation.Afterallstudenthavepresented,discuss:• Whatwerethemajordifferencesbetweenthetalkingpointsofpoliticalfigures?Didtheirpartyaffiliation

makeadifference?Explain.• Whatmakesasuccessful“spin”?• Foranygivenevent,isthereasingletruthaboutwhathappenedordoesitalwaysdependonwhois

tellingthestoryandhowtheytellit?Explain.• Isspindeceitfulinyouropinion?Isitpossibletoeradicatespin?Explain.• Howdoesacandidate’spoliticalagendaasconnectedtotheirparty,andthewayhe/shecommunicates,

shapeourpoliticalsystem?• Doyouusespinwhendiscussingeventsinyourownlife?Ifso,inwhatwaysandwhy?• Ifyouwereapolitician,isthereanythingthatyouwouldconsidertobeoff-limitstospin?Whyorwhy

not?

• Asresponsiblecitizens,howdowemakeaneducateddecisiononwhichcandidatetovoteforwhenthereissomuchspinandpropagandaatplay?Whatquestionsdoweneedtoaskourselveswhenviewing,hearing,andreadingcampaignadsorcandidateresponseblurbs?

20. AssigntheattachedhomeworkassignmentinwhichstudentsrespondtoLeonE.Panetta’sopinionofspinand

howitisaffectingAmerica.

WorldWarIIPropagandaPosters

ModernAdvertisement

PoliticalSpinCycleIsOutofControlbyLauraB.Weiss,TheDailyUtahChronicle,September10,2001

It’shere.It’sleachedintothewrittenandspokenwordsofourculture.Ithasinvadedourtelevisionsetsintheformofasitcom.IthaseventakenoveranentireroomatCNN.It’sspin—thepracticeofmanipulatingthefactstoprofitthepoliticianandallaypublicconcern.

Politicalspinningcomesnaturallytohumans.Thefirstcaveman,insteadofgoingfishingfordinner,wentintotheforestanddownedafewsweetnectarswithhiscomrades.However,whenhecamebackfromthe"river,"thefirstcavewomandidnotbanishhimtothepre-historicdoghouse.Why?Hesaidhegavetonight’scatch(thatwasTHISbig)toIgorinthenextcaveover.Igor,heexplained,wastoodecrepittofish.Nowweallsigh—thefirstcavemanwasalsothefirstphilanthropist—orthefirstspindoctor.Butwhocanblamehim?Spinreservedhimawarmplaceinthecavethatnightandmaintained,ifnotimproved,hisimageintheeyesofthefirstcavewoman.Themanipulationtakingplaceontoday’spoliticalstageemulatesthisprehistoricnarration.Whatpoliticianswriteandsaydizziesthepublic’smindonagrandscale.Spin,apracticethatpublic-relationconsultantsusetocontrolpublicperception,has,itself,gottenoutofcontrol.Caseinpoint:theWhiteHouse,America’slargestspin-producinginstitution.Theveneratedestablishmentplaysgeneroushosttoateamofperception-savvyspindoctors.Thispublicopinionposseperformsdamagecontrolonsubjectsrangingfromtheadministration’sfund-raisingengagementsandpersonalhealthtojudicialappointmentsandloveaffairs.

InhisAug.9addresstothenation,PresidentGeorgeW.Bushtriedouthisownhandatspinning,assuringtheAmericanpeoplethat"60stem-celllines"exist.Theselines,heextolled,"havegreatpromise."Purseyourlipsandfurlyoureyebrows,Mr.President,becausescienceisn’taseasytospinasyouthink—especiallywiththenationwatching.

OnAug.17,solidobjectionsemergedfromtheworld’slargest(over138,000members)allianceofscientists.TheAmericanAssociationfortheAdvancementofSciencecalledforBushtoimmediatelyidentifythe60linesheclaimedwereavailableforfederallyfundedresearch.Untilthisinformationisverified,thestatementsaid,itisimpossibleto"assessthepotentialvaluesofthecellsforresearchandpotentialmedicaladvances."Othersaren’tswallowingBush’sspineither.Severalnationalfigures,includingRep.DianaDeGette(D-Colo.)andSen.EdwardKennedy(D-Mass.)havewrittenletterstoHealthandHumanServicesSecretaryTommyThomsonandleadersattheNationalInstituteofHealth(NIH),respectively.DeGetteoutlined10questionsonthespecificconditionandownershipofthestem-celllines.KennedydemandedaresponsefromNIHregardingsimilarconcerns.DuringClinton’spresidency,spin-doctorsmadeOlympianadvancesinevadingthestraighttruth,"bychidingthepress,browbeatingreporters,referringinquiriestolawyerswhowillnotcommentorjustplainchangingthesubject,"saidWashingtonPostmediacriticHowardKurtz.Bushcannoteschewthestemcell60lineconundrumwithsuchanachronistictechniques.EvenwithanentireWhiteHouseoffice—theDepartmentofCommunication—dedicatedtoproducingandmanagingspin,Bushcannotevadethevalidityofscientists’concerns.Untiltheexistenceofall60stem-celllinesisconfirmed,itlooksasifBushhasspunhimselfanexcruciatinglytangledweb.Spinningevenitsownmoniker,theWhiteHouse’sDepartmentofCommunicationhasbeenworkingdoubletime

overthepastdecadetodevelopnewspinstrategies.Inthisageofever-proliferatingpeeping-Tomcoverage,reportersclimbover,drillholesthroughandgenerallydestroytraditionalreportingroadblocks.However,theSpinOffice,Imean,CommunicationOffice,hasdevelopedfail-safetacticsthateffectivelykeepthecorkonnewstheWhiteHousedoesn’twantreporterstouse.

Forinstance,WhiteHousespinnersdon’tallowscandalousstoriestobreakonthetelevision.Bynotconfirmingthevalidityofastoryuntilthereporter’sdeadlinepasses,pressaidshavealmostcompletereignoverinformation.Ifreporterschoosetoairthestoryanyway,theyrisktheirentireprofessionalcareer.What’sunfortunateisthat,fordecades,theWhiteHousehaslassoedtypicallytrustedfiguresintotheirspinsavvycorral.TheWhiteHousehascourtedphysiciansinordertoconvincethepublicofthephysicalwellbeingofournation’shighestrankingrepresentatives.

Foroveradecade,FranklinDelanoRoosevelt,withtheaidofdoctorsandthesecretservice,spunhisparalysis.ThespinteammaskedtheseverityofFDR’sdisabilityfrommillionsofpotentialvoterswithdeceptivestatementsabouthishealth,inadditiontotallpodiumswithcamouflagedrailingstocreateamirageofFDR’smobility.Herelied,literally,onfamilyandfriendsforsupportwhileapproachingvenuesandposingforphotographs.Unfortunately,spin-doctorshavenotdoneaswellinconcealingtheseverityofVicePresidentDickCheney’shealthproblems.Earlyinthepresidentialrace,theBushcampaignprovidedthepresswithawell-editedreportofCheney’smedicalhistory.However,somethings—likethreeheartattacksbeforetheageoffifty—justcan’tsuccessfullybespun.Norcancheckingintoahospitalfor,whatBushdescribedas"mildchestpains,"but"notaheartattack.”Helaterretractedthisstatement,addingthatitwasa"veryslightheartattack."Theproblemwithourspinnationisthis:Intheprocessofourgovernmenttellingtheworldwhitelies,we,asasocietyarenotonlyfrequentlyfooledbywhatwereadbutarealso,albeitindirectly,sanctionedbythegovernmenttotellourownwhitelies.SpinteachesmethattaxevasionisOK.WhentheInternalRevenueServicecomespoundingatmydoor,allI’vegottodoisspinmystory.InsteadofadmittingIdidn’tpaytaxes,I’lljustsayImadea"veryslightmiscalculation."IfslipperysemanticsworkforourrepresentativesinWashington,theyworkforme.Whenitcomestoissuesliketheenvironment,theCommunicationsOfficeneeds,insteadofglossingoverthethreateningglobalsituationwith30-secondnewsclipsofthepresidentdressedinnaturaltoneshelpingforestrangersinColorado,togiveittousstraight.Thepresidentwantstobreaktheenvironmentandtakeitforabigbusinessride,andmostofAmericaknowsthatalready.InaleakedWhiteHousememo,EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyAdministratorChristieWhitmanofferedheradvicetoPresidentBushonglobalwarming,asserting,"weneedtoappearengaged."Whatabrillianttactic—spinitlikewecareabouttheenvironment(insteadofaboutpollnumbers)thenleavetheearthtopillagers.Bushhimselfthrowsoutvague,meaninglessphraseswhencontemplatingthesubject.Hisrecentbestis:"Ideeplycareabouttheenvironment."Inhisstem-cellresearchaddress,healsousedthisambiguousgem,professingtohave"madethedecisionwithgreatcare."Atthisrate,perhapsBushwillbeginto"deeply"and"greatlycare"aboutthe42percent(ascalculatedby“U.S.NewsandWorldReport”)ofhistimeinofficespentenroutetooronvacation.Justtrytospinthatone.Source:http://media.www.dailyutahchronicle.com/media/storage/paper244/news/2001/09/10/Opinion/American.Political.Spin.Cycle.Is.Out.Of.Control-91040.shtml

PutaPoliticalSpinonThings!• Yourgrouphasbeenhiredasthecommunicationsteamfortheprominentpoliticalfigureassignedtoyou.• Asnewemployees,youmustfirstlearnabouttheviewsandpoliticalagendaofyourpoliticianbyreadingthe

informationprovided.• Paycloseattentiontothisperson’spoliticalparty,currentandpastpositions,andhis/herfundamental

politicalbeliefs,and/oragenda.Together,discussandsummarizethisinformationandbepreparedtopresentittoyourclassmates.

• Onceyouarefamiliarwiththisfigure’spoliticalperspective,yourfirstpublicrelationsassignmentisto

commentontheongoingwarinIraqfromyourpolitician’sperspective.Createa5-10sentencestatementthat“spins”thefollowingsituationinawaythatencompassesyourfigurespointofviewandsupportshis/herpoliticalagenda:

FiveAmericansoldierswerekilledandninewerewoundedinactionduringabattlewithAlQaedainBaghdadyesterday.

• Remember,thespinyouputonthestatementsyoumaketothepressonbehalfofyourpoliticianemployerwilleffecthis/herstatusinthepubliceyeandcouldpossiblyaffecthis/herelectionorreelection.Thus,thisaffectsyourfutureemployment!

• Youwillpresentyourworktoclassinapproximately20minutes.Youmustbepreparedtogiveasummaryof

yourassignedpoliticalfigure(akayourcurrentemployer)andthenshareyourspinstatements.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PutaPoliticalSpinonThings!• Yourgrouphasbeenhiredasthecommunicationsteamfortheprominentpoliticalfigureassignedtoyou.• Asnewemployees,youmustfirstlearnabouttheviewsandpoliticalagendaofyourpoliticianbyreadingthe

informationprovided.• Paycloseattentiontothisperson’spoliticalparty,currentandpastpositions,andhis/herfundamental

politicalbeliefs,and/oragenda.Together,discussandsummarizethisinformationandbepreparedtopresentittoyourclassmates.

• Onceyouarefamiliarwiththisfigure’spoliticalperspective,yourfirstpublicrelationsassignmentisto

commentontheongoingwarinIraqfromyourpolitician’sperspective.Createa5-10sentencestatementthat“spins”thefollowingsituationinawaythatencompassesyourfigurespointofviewandsupportshis/herpoliticalagenda:

FiveAmericansoldierswerekilledandninewerewoundedinactionduringabattlewithAlQaedainBaghdadyesterday.

• Remember,thespinyouputonthestatementsyoumaketothepressonbehalfofyourpoliticianemployerwilleffecthis/herstatusinthepubliceyeandcouldpossiblyaffecthis/herelectionorreelection.Thus,thisaffectsyourfutureemployment!

• Youwillpresentyourworktoclassinapproximately20minutes.Youmustbepreparedtogiveasummaryof

yourassignedpoliticalfigure(akayourcurrentemployer)andthenshareyourspinstatements.

SpinReflectionChartPoliticalFigure PartyAffiliation Beliefs/AgendaSummary

Name:_________________________________Homework

ReadthefollowingexcerptfromLeonPanetta’sarticleThePriceof‘Spin’Versusthe‘Truth’andanswerthequestionsthatfollow.

HueyLong—theinfamousLouisianapoliticianoftheThirties—oncepromisedacertainconstituencyinanelectioncampaignthathewoulddeliverapublicworksprojecttothemifelected.Whenhefailedtodelivertheprojectafterhewaselected,hewasaskedwhy.Hisreply:"Ilied!"

Long'sadmissionwasbrutallyfrank.ItwasthekindofhonestythatworkedwellforLong.Whyisitsodifficulttoworkformanyofthoseinpublicofficetoday?

Thetypicalstrategyistotellpeoplewhatconsultantsandpollsterssaythepublicwantstohearandwhenthefactsprovedifferently,tokeeprepeatingthesamewordsinthehopethatrepetitionsomehowwillmakeitright.Butthereisaterriblepricetobepaidforthispolitical"spin"game—thelosttrustofthepeople…

Asourparentsdid,wetrytoteachourchildrentobetruthful.Ourverydemocracyisdependentonastrongrelationshipoftrustbetweenthepeopleandtheirleaders.Butinrecentyears,whetherbecauseoflostvaluesortheeaseandspeedofmoderncommunications,abadexampleisbeingsetforfuturegenerationsbythosewhotellpeoplethepoliticalmessageratherthanwhatisreallyhappening.

Thismayprovidesomeshort-termpoliticalgains,butultimately,thenationpaysaterribleprice.HueyLongdecidedtotellthesimpletruthwhenhesaidheliedinhiscampaign.Itmightjustbethattellingthesimpletruthcanworktorestorebothourpoliticsandourdemocracy.Lordknows,it'sworthatry.FromThePriceof'Spin'Versusthe"Truth”byLeonE.Panetta,TheMontereyCountyHerald,September9,2001http://www.panettainstitute.org/Commentaries/090901.htmRespondwithyourthoughtsbelow(usethebackifnecessary):1.Panettasays,“…honesty…workedwellforLong.Whyisitsodifficulttoworkformanyofthoseinpublicofficetoday?”Doyouagreethatmanypeopleinpublicofficearedishonest?Whydoyouthinkpublicofficialsfinditdifficulttobehonest?2.DoyouagreewithPanettawhenhesaysthatduetothe“spingame”,thepeoplehavelosttrustingovernmentandpolitics?Why?Whatevidencemakesyouthinkthis?3.Panettaalsostates,“…abadmessageisbeingsetforfuturegenerationsbythosewhotellpeoplethepoliticalmessageratherthanwhatisreallyhappening.”Howdoyouinterpretthiscomment?Doyouagreeordisagree?Explain.4.“This[spin]mayprovidesomeshort-termpoliticalgains,butultimately,thenationpaysaterribleprice.”WhatpricedoyouthinkPanettaisimplying?