Combining humor and wisdom, this timely volume examines how presidential campaigns can-and often have-become undone by an unguarded comment, an unintentional misrepresentation, or an unwise initiative.
Almost every politician has occasionally misspoken, sometimes with disastrous effect, sometimes with little effect at all. O.O.P.S.: Observing Our Politicians Stumble: The Worst Candidate Gaffes and Recoveries in Presidential Campaigns observes and analyzes this phenomenon to document why some gaffes prove fatal while others are easily survived.
Combining humor with a thorough knowledge of American politics, author Stephen Frantzich uses detailed vignettes to showcase a wide range of slipups committed by presidential candidates from 1968 through 2008. He looks at what really happened in each case, as well as whether the video and reportage accurately reflected what was said or done. By delving into the reasons the media and the public react to gaffes as they do, this thoroughly entertaining analysis provides fresh insights into the workings of presidential campaigns and the roles of candidates, their handlers, the media, and the voting public, underscoring, among other things, how the media revolution has changed the landscape of presidential campaigns.
30 before-and-after polls that illustrate the effect gaffes can have on campaigns, both immediately and over timeDetailed vignettes placing specific gaffes in their contemporary political and social contextsSidebars and political cartoons that enrich the discussion of particular gaffes
- ISBN10 1280779543
- ISBN13 9781280779541
- Publish Date 1 January 2012
- Publish Status Active
- Out of Print 21 April 2015
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Praeger
- Format eBook
- Language English