The Rhetoric of New Conservative Populism
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University of Iowa Iowa Research Online Theses and Dissertations Fall 2013 Imagining American democracy: the rhetoric of new conservative populism Paul E. Johnson University of Iowa Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd Part of the Communication Commons Copyright 2013 Paul Johnson This dissertation is available at Iowa Research Online: https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/4996 Recommended Citation Johnson, Paul E.. "Imagining American democracy: the rhetoric of new conservative populism." PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) thesis, University of Iowa, 2013. https://doi.org/10.17077/etd.h3xcxu5m Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd Part of the Communication Commons IMAGINING AMERICAN DEMOCRACY: THE RHETORIC OF NEW CONSERVATIVE POPULISM by Paul E. Johnson A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Communication Studies in the Graduate College of The University of Iowa December 2013 Thesis Supervisor: Associate Professor David B. Hingstman Copyright by PAUL E. JOHNSON 2013 All Rights Reserved II Graduate College The University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL PH.D. THESIS This is to certify that the Ph. D. thesis of Paul E. Johnson has been approved by the Examining Committee for the thesis requirement for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Communication Studies at the December 2013 graduation. Thesis Committee David B. Hingstman, Thesis Supervisor Isaac West Jeff Bennett Mark Andrejevic David Wittenberg To Alan Coverstone, who inspires me daily. ii The considerations about the possible danger of uncontrolled metaphors…reawakens the hidden uncertainty about the rigor of a distinction that does not hold if the language in which it is stated reintroduces the elements of indetermination it sets out to eliminate. Paul de Man, “The Epistemology of Metaphor” Historically, populist movements use the rhetoric of class solidarity to seize political power so that “the people” can exercise it for their common benefit. American populist rhetoric does something altogether different today. It fires up emotions by appealing to individual opinion, individual autonomy, and individual choice, all in the service of neutralizing, not using, political power. It gives voice to those who feel they are being bullied, but this voice has only one, Garbo-like thing to say: I want to be left alone. Mark Lilla, “The Tea Party Jacobins” iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Writing a dissertation is hard. Even though one often imagines a pleasing and solitary life of the mind spent at a warm desk while wind howls out of doors, the reality is that the solitude can be its own kind of maddening. I am fortunate to have had a number of communities to give me advice, support, and encouragement during this process. My first acknowledgments go to the kind graduate students and faculty at the University of Pittsburgh where I spent my undergraduate time as a debater. Instead of treating me as a young, naïve, stupid, and shallow youth, the graduate students and faculty who worked with the debate team treated me as an equal, even at moments where I had not earned such equality. Second, I must thank those I worked with at Wake Forest. To Allan Louden and Ross K. Smith who worked with the debate team: both of you believed in me in ways that I have not always lived up to, but I know that for that you do not believe in me any less. Allan has always been a trusted confidant, advisor, and human being. Ross K. Smith was a pleasure to work with, and for suffering my academic pretentions he was none the worse. For Peter Brunette, may you rest in peace, I have nothing but thanks. You taught me a lesson about professionalism, work ethic, and attitude that has impacted me daily. Third, my graduate school colleagues at Iowa were not only capable intellectual sparring partners but wonderful friends as well. Atilla, Michael, Mikey, Chad, Alison, Kyle, Niko, Rebecca, Brooke, Michaela, Moyer, Bookman, Lisa, and Dan: you are all wonderful people I am proud to call friends. A special thanks to Michael Albrecht, who read much of this manuscript. Meryl Irwin provided invaluable friendship and iv intelligence. Megan Foley is a brilliant human being and an even better friend. Sarah Spring’s contributions to my life in graduate school are immeasurably immense. Fourth, the A. Craig Baird Debate Forum at the university was a second home within the university for me. The debaters I worked with, including Kyle, Corey, Khiran, Eric, Ryan, and David, all made my work with the debate team less of a job and more of a pleasure. Adam Abelkop was a joy to coach with. And of course in Jason Regnier, I found a best friend who was not only a happy colleague but a worthy intellectual sparring partner. Fifth, the faculty at Iowa provided me with enormous support and knowledge. David Depew and Barb Biesecker, especially, shaped my thinking in ways for which I owe an essentially infinite debt of gratitude. David Wittenberg’s sound theoretical insights and questions always make me think. Jeff Bennett has always lent eyes and ears when asked, and Isaac West provided rigor, criticism, professional advice, and listened to my endless questions, rants, and theoretical obfuscations. His advice and support were sorely needed. David Hingstman has been a joy to work with both as a debate coach and as my advisor, always asking the right questions and pushing me in productive ways. A number of outsiders also contributed to this project, whether scholastically or socially. Ronald Walter Greene provided helpful comments on early drafts of some of the work. Randall Bush, who I now call a dear friend, provided a wealth of useful feedback and helpful thoughts in long conversations over excellent beer. Special thanks to the faculty and graduate students at Northwestern University for tolerating my presence. My home (again) at the University of Pittsburgh has also been a hospitable site to inhabit as I finish this project. The faculty and graduate students of the communication v studies department have been invaluable intellectual and emotional sources of support. Thank you, John, John, Shanara, Brent M., Sydney, Amber, Odile, Matt, Taylor, Joe, Brent S., Ethan Brita, Cherod, Katie, and Martin. Joseph Packer read almost every page of this dissertation, which is insane. Thanks especially to Gordon Mitchell: you have been a really big part of everything. Many people leave for their first job only to find that it is a very lonely place. Mine is not. Mine is a home. Finally, I would like to thank those very close to me. My family unconditionally supports and loves me. Caitlin Bruce is kind, charitable, and brilliant and I am lucky to have you. You keep me up when I might otherwise fall. Thank you for everything. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... xi CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ............................................................... 1 A Tea Party for the Winners ..................................................................................... 1 Tea Party as Astroturf ............................................................................................. 10 Tea Party as Racial Reaction .................................................................................. 13 Tea Party as Threat to Democracy .......................................................................... 17 Procession of Chapters ............................................................................................ 22 CHAPTER II PEOPLE AGAINST GOVERNMENT IN A TIME FOR CHOOSING...29 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 29 Populists and Progressives……………………………………...……………...….33 The Progressive Moment………………………….………………………………39 Chasing “The People” ............................................................................................. 41 A Time for Choosing .............................................................................................. 64 Conclusion: Nixon and Reagan’s America ............................................................. 73 CHAPTER III FINANCIAL CATACLYSM AND AN ANXIOUS "PEOPLE .. 83 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 83 Too Big, Too Fast .................................................................................................... 85 Liberalism’s Promise ............................................................................................... 90 Elided Non-Moments ............................................................................................... 94 Bailout Nation’s Start .............................................................................................. 98 Wall Street/Main Street .......................................................................................... 100 Bailout II ................................................................................................................ 109 A Rescue Plan for the Middle Class ...................................................................... 115 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 121 CHAPTER IV DEMOCRACY FOUND? CONSTITUTING THE POLITY...123 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 124