Transcript of Dialogic Argument vs. the Politics of Resistance Thomas Hollihan August 30, 2010.
- Slide 1
- Dialogic Argument vs. the Politics of Resistance Thomas
Hollihan August 30, 2010
- Slide 2
- This study: Analyzed the public arguments during the debate
over health care reform. The talk will discuss: 1) Obamas campaign
message and its impact on argument strategy 2) The concept of
dialogic deliberative argument 3) Arguments in the controversy used
by the administration and the Republican leadership Other lobbying
groups contributed arguments to the debate over health care reform,
but a discussion of their impact comes in a later study 4) Co
nsequences for the political sphere
- Slide 3
- The essence of Obamas Message:
- Slide 4
- Obama promised: To change the practice of politics itself....
To reach out to allies and adversaries alike... to restore the
American peoples trust in their government by making government
more open and transparent. (Obama Campaign Website, 2008)
- Slide 5
- Message was optimistic and dialogic: Like much liberal
political discourse it emphasized scene and agency (Burke, 1945)
Created a view of America as broken and in need of repair
Emphasized confidence in American people Communicated that
government was capable of responding and finding solutions Promised
healthy and vigorous public debate on issues with a transparent
policy making process
- Slide 6
- Obama expressed commitment to dialogic argument: In his
declaration of candidacy speech at Illinois State Capitol: It was
here we learned to disagree without being disagreeablethat its
possible to compromise as long as you know those principles that
can never be compromised; and so long as were willing to listen to
each other we can assume the best in people instead of the
worst.
- Slide 7
- He emphasized the importance of empathy: In a commencement
speech at the University of Massachusetts, Boston he urged
graduates: to cultivate a sense of empathyto put yourself in other
peoples shoesto see the world from their eyes. Empathy is a quality
of character that can change the worldone that makes you understand
that your obligations to others extend beyond people who look like
you and act like you and live in your neighborhood.
- Slide 8
- Republicans had a choice: They could offer alternatives to
Obamas policy proposals but embrace his call for changing the style
of Washington politics Or they could challenge the administration
on both substance and style through a strategy of resistance The
debate over health care reveals their choice
- Slide 9
- The role of argument in democracy: Citizens must engage in
arguments to resolve controversies and evaluate decisions
(Goodnight, 1991) Citizens surrender power to elected officials to
act in their interests (Castells, 2009) Political parties,
lobbyists, special interests, and powerful elites must be kept from
manipulating the system in the service of their own narrow concerns
(Castells, 2009) Democratic governance demands a healthy
argumentative ecology (Klumpp, 2009)
- Slide 10
- Characteristics of democratic argument: The identity, history
and direction of development in democratic societies emerge from
the texture of public arguments Democratic argument assumes that
arguers are willing to put their own arguments at risk Arguments in
a democracy are a rich mix of self- interest, special interests,
and the public interest The ability to locate a unifying spirit of
communal interests is at the essence of a healthy democratic
political sphere (Habermas, 1962)
- Slide 11
- Dialogic argument: Principles of dialogic argument suggest a
process of reasoned interaction on topics of mutual concern
(MacKau, 1995) Is rule governed activity that requires special
qualities from participants and adherence to principles of mutual
respect (Fisher, 2008) Arguers must be willing to learn from each
other, should attempt to agree on shared principles, and must
recognize their connections to each other (Linklater, 2005)
Requires listening as well as speaking, and emphasizes a search for
empathy (Pearce, 1995)
- Slide 12
- Effective dialogic argument: Assumes that arguers are intent on
making a decision Presupposes a genuine search for agreement
Requires that advocates evaluate key principles that are in
conflict and offer clearly stated claims outlining their own
positions (Hollihan & Baaske, 2004) Dialogic argument may be
heated but it presumes sincere caring about the future of the
other, the relationship, and the joint project of sense-making and
not just winning and losing (Cissna & Anderson, 1994) Democracy
is a mode of associated being (Dewey, 1916)
- Slide 13
- In contrast, purely strategic argument: Emphasizes maximizing
ones gains and minimizing losses Encourages arguers to take rigid
pre-determined positions in which willingness to change or
modifying ones position, or permitting the evolution of ideas
through argument is perceived as a sign of weakness (Klumpp, Riley
& Hollihan 2000) Undermines the possibility for public debate
and deliberation to serve as a creative process (Osborne &
Osborn, 1995)
- Slide 14
- Contemporary politics favors the strategic: Strategic arguers
do not put their own positions at risk Focus is on pleasing the
interests of ones core constituency Lends itself to a focus on
self-interest rather than public or common interests Means more
focus on the direct effect of argumentative actions and less
emphasis on the reflexive effects Denies the opportunity for people
to weave together competing even incommensurate positions into
results less clearly defined as wins and losses (Pearce, 1995;
Rapoport,, 1995; Hollihan, 2009)
- Slide 15
- Contemporary media worsens the situation: Increasingly people
turn to news sources that confirm what they already believe Social
networking in new media pushes out those messages further creating
an echo chamber Competition for audiences means an emphasis on
conflict frames for news
- Slide 16
- Obamas arguments in health debate contained clear statements of
principle: Declared that health care was a right and that providing
access to all was a moral issue At stake was not just details of
policy, but fundamental principles of social justice and the
character of our country Americans are a self-reliant people but
when fortune turns against one of us, others are there to lend a
helping hand Americans are entitled to a measure of security and
fair play and sometimes government has to step in to deliver on
that promise (Obama speech to Congress, September 9, 2009)
- Slide 17
- Obama was dialogic in his willingness to listen, compromise,
and find solution: Called for a calm debate Offered to create
demonstration projects to test alternative ways to proceed Asked
members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to submit their
ideas and to work together to find a solution Expressed a
willingness to consider GOP alternatives such as malpractice tort
reform but indicated that this is not a path to guaranteeing access
to all citizens
- Slide 18
- Obama attends GOP retreat: Accepts an invitation to speak at
Congressional retreat in January, 2010 Challenges the attacks that
have been made against him by opponents to health care reform and
expresses a commitment to continuing a dialogue Promises that he
reads all the GOP proposals that come before him and the good ideas
we take But reminds GOP that it cant be all or nothing and that
governing requires compromise because: If theres uniform opposition
because the Republican caucus does not get 100% or 80% of what you
want, then its going to be difficult to get a deal done, because
thats not how democracy works.
- Slide 19
- Obama holds day long summit: Surrenders presidential authority
Not at White House Conference table setting Obama moderates
discussion Opens meeting with a call for dialogue Urged
participants to use it for real discussion and not just talking
points Kept searching for points of agreement
- Slide 20
- GOP Refuses to engage in dialogic argument: Senator Mitch
McConnell declared that the GOP: is simply and flatly opposed to
the core of the Democratic health care reform proposal Only by
scrapping the whole proposal and starting over could he win
Republican support The core of the bill is a trillion dollar
government attempt to take over one sixth of the U.S. economy
- Slide 21
- Party leaders demand opposition to the bill Intent on thwarting
not just health care reform but all of administrations agenda
Unanimous opposition prevents Obama from demonstrating he can
change Washington View takes advantage of impatience and cynicism
of American public Minority leader Boehner declared the GOP did not
just say No, we said Hell No!
- Slide 22
- GOP fails to clearly state their own clear principles: They do
not concede that health care is a right and refuse to state how
they would extend coverage to almost 46 million with no health
insurance (16% of population) and millions more with inadequate
coverage; but also do not say when it is OK not to provide medical
assistance Use a vague rhetoric of health care as a responsibility
but do not suggest how to turn this into policy Seem to suggest
that health care can be rationed on the basis of ability to pay (as
is housing, food, educational opportunities, etc.) but refuse to
openly espouse this position for fear of creating a backlash If
health care can be rationed then precisely what is a minimal level
of care?
- Slide 23
- GOP engages in name calling: Rep. Joe Barton: The presidents
proposal is a radicalization and some would say socialization.
Governor Sarah Palin warned about death panels Rep. Boehner
declared Obamacare is a job killing monstrosity Sen. Jim DeMint
promised to make health care reform Obamas Waterloo
- Slide 24
- Tea Party activists are mobilized: Series of town hall meetings
mobilize public opposition Tea Party says it is not affiliated with
any party but Washington protests are organized by Freedom Works
Foundation which is headed by former House Majority Leader Dick
Armey
- Slide 25
- Tea Party opposition becomes increasingly hysterical: Protests
are held all around the nation Polls suggest that more people doubt
Obama is a citizen People begin to express concern that their
government wants to take away their rights and harm them
- Slide 26
- Yet GOP leaders align themselves with Tea Party: Governor Palin
gives keynote address at a Tea Party convention and declares: I
will live, I will die for the people of America. Whatever I can do
to help. This movement is the future of politics in America.
Republican Party head Michael Steele describes the Tea Party as a
revelatory movement and says Its important for our party to
appreciate and understand that so we can move toward it and embrace
it.
- Slide 27
- Tea Party extremism radicalizes the GOP: Senator Bob Bennett
loses reelection in the Republican primary in Utah Rand Paul wins
the Republican nomination in Kentucky Sharon Angle wins the
Republican nomination in Nevada Tea Party announces it is seeking
to take over local Republican Party organizations by electing
precinct level officers
- Slide 28
- GOP position clarified: Government is unreliable so thwarting
government seems an acceptable strategic maneuver One way to
convince the public they need less government is to exploit their
cynicism and impatience with their government (remember those
arguments about death panels!) Of course, this serves only to
deepen public cynicism, discourage voter participation and increase
feelings of political alienation (Riley, Hollihan & Klumpp,
1998) Polling confirms the strategy is working (Pew studies)
- Slide 29
- The strategy has consequences: Threats were made to members of
congress who voted for health care reform The Southern Poverty Law
Center reports there has been a 244% increase in anti-government
patriot groups (from 149 in 2008 to 512 in 2009) Militias the
paramilitary arm of the movement grew from 42 in 2008 to 127 in
2009
- Slide 30
- Does history repeat itself?
- Slide 31
- Civic virtue matters: Elected officials are sworn to the
following oath: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support
and defend the Constitution of the United States against all
enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and
allegiance to the same This obligates them to conduct themselves in
a manner that strengthens and not undermines our democratic form of
government remember Deweys notion of democracy requiring arguments
that preserve our ways of associated being Those who profess to
love their country must learn to responsibly disagree and argue in
good faith When they dont their fellow citizens and the media must
call them out on it
- Slide 32