Presidential Campaign Rhetoric in an Age of Confessional Politics
When a Bible-quoting Sunday School teacher, Jimmy Carter, won the 1976 presidential election, it marked the start of a new era of presidential campaign discourse. The successful candidates since then have followed Carter's lead in publicly testifying about their personal religious beliefs and invoking God to justify their public policy positions and their political visions. With this new confessional political style, the candidates have repudiated the former perspective of a civil-religious contract that kept political leaders from being too religious and religious leaders from being too political. Presidential Campaign Rhetoric in the Age of Confessional Politics analyzes the religious-political discourse used by presidential nominees from 1976-2008, and then describes key characteristics of their confessional rhetoric that represent a substantial shift from the tenets of the civil-religious contract. This new confessional political style is characterized by religious-political rhetoric that is testimonial, partisan, sectarian, and liturgical in nature. In order to understand why candidates have radically adjusted their God talk on the campaign trail, important religious-political shifts in American society since the 1950s are examined, which demonstrate the rhetorical demands evangelical religious leaders have placed upon our would-be national leaders. Brian T. Kaylor utilizes Michel Foucault's work on the confession-with theoretical adjustments-to critique the significant problems of the confessional political era. With clear analyses and unsettling relevance, Kaylor's critique of contemporary political discourse will rouse the interest and concern of engaged citizens everywhere.
1101830213
Presidential Campaign Rhetoric in an Age of Confessional Politics
When a Bible-quoting Sunday School teacher, Jimmy Carter, won the 1976 presidential election, it marked the start of a new era of presidential campaign discourse. The successful candidates since then have followed Carter's lead in publicly testifying about their personal religious beliefs and invoking God to justify their public policy positions and their political visions. With this new confessional political style, the candidates have repudiated the former perspective of a civil-religious contract that kept political leaders from being too religious and religious leaders from being too political. Presidential Campaign Rhetoric in the Age of Confessional Politics analyzes the religious-political discourse used by presidential nominees from 1976-2008, and then describes key characteristics of their confessional rhetoric that represent a substantial shift from the tenets of the civil-religious contract. This new confessional political style is characterized by religious-political rhetoric that is testimonial, partisan, sectarian, and liturgical in nature. In order to understand why candidates have radically adjusted their God talk on the campaign trail, important religious-political shifts in American society since the 1950s are examined, which demonstrate the rhetorical demands evangelical religious leaders have placed upon our would-be national leaders. Brian T. Kaylor utilizes Michel Foucault's work on the confession-with theoretical adjustments-to critique the significant problems of the confessional political era. With clear analyses and unsettling relevance, Kaylor's critique of contemporary political discourse will rouse the interest and concern of engaged citizens everywhere.
57.99 In Stock
Presidential Campaign Rhetoric in an Age of Confessional Politics

Presidential Campaign Rhetoric in an Age of Confessional Politics

by Brian T. Kaylor
Presidential Campaign Rhetoric in an Age of Confessional Politics

Presidential Campaign Rhetoric in an Age of Confessional Politics

by Brian T. Kaylor

Paperback(New Edition)

$57.99 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    In stock. Ships in 1-2 days.
  • PICK UP IN STORE

    Your local store may have stock of this item.

Related collections and offers


Overview

When a Bible-quoting Sunday School teacher, Jimmy Carter, won the 1976 presidential election, it marked the start of a new era of presidential campaign discourse. The successful candidates since then have followed Carter's lead in publicly testifying about their personal religious beliefs and invoking God to justify their public policy positions and their political visions. With this new confessional political style, the candidates have repudiated the former perspective of a civil-religious contract that kept political leaders from being too religious and religious leaders from being too political. Presidential Campaign Rhetoric in the Age of Confessional Politics analyzes the religious-political discourse used by presidential nominees from 1976-2008, and then describes key characteristics of their confessional rhetoric that represent a substantial shift from the tenets of the civil-religious contract. This new confessional political style is characterized by religious-political rhetoric that is testimonial, partisan, sectarian, and liturgical in nature. In order to understand why candidates have radically adjusted their God talk on the campaign trail, important religious-political shifts in American society since the 1950s are examined, which demonstrate the rhetorical demands evangelical religious leaders have placed upon our would-be national leaders. Brian T. Kaylor utilizes Michel Foucault's work on the confession-with theoretical adjustments-to critique the significant problems of the confessional political era. With clear analyses and unsettling relevance, Kaylor's critique of contemporary political discourse will rouse the interest and concern of engaged citizens everywhere.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780739148792
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date: 04/13/2012
Series: Bloomsbury Studies in Political Communication
Edition description: New Edition
Pages: 276
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Brian T. Kaylor is assistant professor of communication studies at James Madison University.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Chapter One. Introduction
Chapter 2 Chapter Two. Carter and Reagan
Chapter 3 Chapter Three. Bush and Clinton
Chapter 4 Chapter Four. W. Bush and Obama
Chapter 5 Chapter Five. Confessional Politics
Chapter 6 Chapter Six. Societal Religious-Political Shifts
Chapter 7 Chapter Seven. Implications From the Confessional Booth
Chapter 8 Chapter Eight. Conclusion

What People are Saying About This

Melissa Rogers

This treasure trove of stories and statements from the presidential campaign trail will thrill political junkies and captivate all those who care about faith and politics. Brian Kaylor skillfully demonstrates how discussions of a candidate’s religious beliefs have become an essential part of running for president, and he offers powerful arguments about what this portends – not only for politics, but also for religious liberty, religion, and our democracy.

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews