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Baylor Presidential Rhetoric Expert Featured in USA TODAY re: Scalise, GOP shooting
Martin Medhurst, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Rhetoric and Communication, is featured in this USA TODAY story regarding the role of rhetoric in the shooting of House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) and four others. Medhurst, a renowned expert on presidential rhetoric and political communication, helped put into historic context the role of violent and divisive rhetoric in American history. "You can go back to the election of 1800 between Jefferson and Adams and find a whole lot of quite outrageous statements made on both sides," he told USA TODAY. "The same is true throughout American political history. We had one guy, [Charles] Sumner, who was caned on the floor of the Senate and almost killed. We have a long history of violence in this country, both rhetorical and otherwise." "I think what has changed in the 21st century is the nature of the different media of communication and especially the rise of social media, where people apparently believe that they can pretty much say anything," he said. Source:
Kennesaw State political science professor Kerwin Swint says that while Trump may not want to use his new Twitter handle when it is handed to him on inauguration day, he believes that Trump is setting up a war on traditional media that is unusual in its intensity and apparently strategic in nature. "He is trying to de-legitimize the media, and use social media to communicate directly with the American people. Trump is using Twitter the way FDR used radio - go over the heads of the mass media and communicate your message directly to the American people. Why would he stop?" said Swint, who explores the use of social media in political communication. Swint, who wrote the book, "Mudslingers: The 25 Dirtiest Political Campaigns of All Time" is now working on his newest book which will delve deep into the political nastiness of the historic Trump - Clinton election. Source:
