DOCSLIB.ORG

The Role of Coherence in the Development of Ideologies: a Case Study of Conservative Thought on Immigration from 1995 to 2000 Di

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Role of Coherence in the Development of Ideologies: a Case Study of Conservative Thought on Immigration from 1995 to 2000 Di The Role of Coherence in the Development of Ideologies: A Case Study of Conservative Thought on Immigration from 1995 to 2000 Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Sergio Pablo D´ıaz Sierra, B.A. Graduate Program in Political Science The Ohio State University 2017 Dissertation Committee: William Minozzi, Advisor and Co-chair Jack R. Wright, Co-chair Gregory A. Caldeira Michael Neblo Copyright by Sergio Pablo D´ıaz Sierra 2017 Abstract How are ideologies created and how do they develop? Noel points to ideological elites and public intellectuals as responsible for the development of ideologies. Through deliberation and debate with each other, they help define, clarify, and explain what their ideological allies should believe and why. However, what precisely happens as they engage in this process remains a mystery. In this dissertation, I propose a resolution to this mystery by suggesting that the development of ideologies is one of a persistent drive to improve coherence. Coherence is a cognitive property; it is the degree to which elements in belief systems make sense together (Thagard, 2000). Through coherence, we make sense of competing explanations of the world. In saying that ideologies develop as their coherence improves, I place ideology at the center of how individuals interact with the political world. Contrary to the claims of those who suggest ideological language serves as little more than marketing or rationalization for power coalitions of elite interests (e.g., Aldrich, 1995; Converse, 2006; Bawn et al., 2012; Zaller, 1992), I argue that ideology is central to how we as people perceive and interact with politics. Ideological beliefs cannot be easily abandoned or revised without changes to the underlying belief systems of their adopters. These beliefs are sincerely held, and their presence helps people navigate the why’s and how’s of politics. Using data from conservative political magazines published between 1995 and 2000, I provide evidence that conservative thought on immigration developed through a process of coherence improvement. Conservatives adopted a threat narrative that ii portrayed immigrants as dangerous to themselves and American culture and as undeserving burdens to the welfare state. These feelings, combined with preexisting positions against welfare spending and policies designed to promote racial diversity, lead conservatives, and consequently the Republican Party, to adopt increasingly restrictive positions on immigration. These restrictionist positions and the arguments that underlie them became more coherent over time, overcoming objections from libertarians and business conservatives who had more positive views about the benefits of immigration. The findings in this dissertation are a step forward for the study of ideology. First, this dissertation provides a test of the theory that ideological constraint arises out of the elite discourse. While Noel (2014) proposes this idea he never tests it directly. Instead, he limits himself to providing evidence that constraint arises in the media before it arises in Congress. While such evidence is consistent with the ideology-as-constraint, it also leaves open other possibilities, including that parties try out arguments in the media before importing them to Congress. This dissertation tests the primary mechanism: creative synthesis. I show that deliberation and discussion lead to ideological constraint by pushing public intellectuals to improve the coherence of their beliefs. Second, in examining ideology as sincerely-held belief systems, I challenge theorists like Aldrich (1995), who view ideology as a tool to market and manipulate a political coalition. Contrary to these theorists, I argue that ideologies reflect the worldviews of elites and, as such, they constrain elites’ actions. Evidence of such constraint has implications for our understanding of politics. If belief systems constrain elites, their ability to deviate from previously stated positions should be less than expected under other theories (Bawn et al., 2012). Ideological change, I argue, should reflect not just a shift in strategic considerations (a way to get more votes, for example), but a change in underlying beliefs. If a change in iii ideology requires belief revision, this means that coherent ideologies are sticky and likely to persist even after they become a political liability. iv Dedico esta tesis doctoral a mis padres, abuelos, hermana y amigos. Sin ustedes esto no hubiera sido posible. Cantar nos gusta unidos. v Acknowledgements I wish to acknowledge some of the people who have helped so much in my graduate career and dissertation. Without their support, this project would not exist. First, I want to thank my dissertation committee. I thank my advisor, William Minozzi. His feedback, advice, and guidance have been invaluable. His encouragement gave me the confidence to explore methods and theory outside the Political Science mainstream, and with his help, I was able to distinguish between useful diversions and never-ending rabbit holes. My exploration of coherence, Thagard’s work, and other concepts in this project owe a lot to his patience, understanding, and guiding hand. I also want to thank him for his personal support. Above and beyond his responsibilities as a program advisor, Minozzi took care to make sure I was well. He helped me lead a healthy life within and outside academia. He helped me, period. I thank Professor Jack Wright for his mentorship. Without his focus and helpful hand, I doubt this project would exist. When I was lost or confused he gave me advice on how to best approach problems and solve them. When it appeared that this project was heading to the waste-bin his experience and expertise helped me organize and execute the ideas I had. I consider myself blessed and lucky to have had him in my corner, and I don’t doubt that his influence will shape my future successes. I thank Professor Gregory Caldeira. His persistence that I explain things in “bone-headed English” was indispensable. It kept me honest, and it helped my writing make sense. I also want to thank him for his help in refining the words in this project. vi I look forward to applying his lessons in my future endeavors. I thank Professor Michael Neblo. His enthusiastic support for this project motivated me to work through the numerous challenges I faced in pursuing it. His help in understanding concepts and ideas alien to me was invaluable, and his introduction to the literature on inferentialism as a concept was illuminating. Most importantly, however, his unexpected but always welcome, praise was invaluable when I felt like I was falling behind. Second, I want to thank my friends in the department. In particular, I want to thank Jakob Miller. When we first met during recruitment, you reminded me of the picture of a “Man / Hombre” in my first grade English class book: a blond, farm boy in a plaid shirt. I hope you forgive me, but I didn’t think people like that existed. After a few words, and Johnny Cash lyrics, I knew I had to be your friend. Your support, your advice, your spell-checking and revisions, your questions and suggestions, and your willingness to always be there when I needed help ... I would say I don’t have the words to thank you, but that’s not true. You are what back home I would call buena gente (good people), and I hope I was buena gente to you as well. I thank Kailash Srinivasan. I appreciated having another second-generation immigrant as a roommate, particularly one who was fluent in left-wing romanticism. I just wish that you were less of a traitor. For all your talk of solidarity and brotherhood, you always managed to turn the room against me during our board game weekends. Cardboard betrayals aside, you understood me and you were a pillar of strength I could lean on. Thanks for being there, thanks for not telling me to stop texting you. I thank Carolyn Morgan. You were my neighbor, you baked me cookies and gave me pickled hot peppers, your home was open for the holidays I spent away from vii home. I thank you for jumping the train tracks with me to watch f´utbol when we lived next to the stadium. I thank you for being the calm voice of reason and the grown-up in the room. I also want to thank Gaby Lloyd, Rune “Tire Iron” Docking, Matt Washer, Lauren Ratliff, and Peter Tunkis (I’m sure we’ll meet for war games someday). You are all great people and I’m glad to have known you all as friends and colleagues. Third, I want to thank the people in the Department of Political Science at the Ohio State University. Charles Smith and Courtney Sanders in the office, thanks for helping me make sense of all the academic arcana. Professor McGraw, Lauren Elliot, Will Massengill, Brianna Mack, and Allison Craig, thank you for your feedback during the APDW series. Finally, I want to thank my family. Mom and Dad, Noem´ıandJes´us, thanks for trying to instill a sense of responsibility and discipline in me. I think it worked somewhat. Thanks for the value you placed on my education, for tolerating my weirdness, for supporting my decision to change majors. Thanks Mom for being so caring, even if sometimes it annoyed me. Thank you Dad, the last couple of years your support has been incredible and I wouldn’t have made it without you. Edna Cristina, my sister, you will always be the older sibling. Thanks for taking care of your little brother. By the way, since I’m also a doctor now, we still have to figure out who’s smarter. To Abuela Eva, I’ll always give you a hug.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Pat Buchanan Has Appeal to Racial Fear and the Been One of the Loudest Voices in This Regard, Writing in May ‘Brown’ Threat to ‘White’ America 2007
    IN FOCUS (P)REVIEWING THE Right Wing ON IMMIGRATION REFORM 1: Appeal to 2: Portray Latino Racial Fears Leaders as Racists 3: Portray Immigrants 4: Portray Immigrants 5: Portray Immigrants as Invaders as Criminals as Disease Carriers 6: Stop Reform by 7: Denigrate Reform 8: ‘Anti-Immigrant= 9: Push Divisive Shouting ‘Amnesty’ Efforts as Vote-Buying Pro-Worker’ Black-Brown Wedge A joint project of People For the American Way and People For the American Way Foundation WWW.pfaw.ORG WWW.RIGHTWINGwaTCH.ORG (P)REVIEWING THE RIGHT-WING PLAYBOOK ON IMMIGRATION REFORM Opponents of Comprehensive Immigration Reform Will Exploit U.S. Economic Woes As Addition to Arsenal of Anti-Latino, Anti-Immigrant Strategies Vicious rhetoric in previous debates was accompanied by rise in anti-Latino hate crimes Introduction against Latinos in the U.S., fair-minded Americans should be prepared to challenge and hold accountable media figures here is near-universal agreement that America’s and public officials who use the debate over immigration immigration system is not working well. Several policy to foment dangerous and destructive racial and ethnic Tyears ago, broad bipartisan agreement was reached on resentments. a comprehensive approach to reform that would uphold the rule of law, serve America’s MICHEllE MalKIN BlaMed economic needs, and honor our values and history as a nation of immigrants. Among ‘illeGal IMMIGraNts’ FOR the elements of principled and workable comprehensive immigration reform are THE MOrtGAGE crisis. improved enforcement of immigration regulations, revised guest worker policies, and some process for undocumented immigrants now in the country to earn their way toward citizenship.
    [Show full text]
  • ("DSCC") Files This Complaint Seeking an Immediate Investigation by the 7
    COMPLAINT BEFORE THE FEDERAL ELECTION CBHMISSIOAl INTRODUCTXON - 1 The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee ("DSCC") 7-_. J _j. c files this complaint seeking an immediate investigation by the 7 c; a > Federal Election Commission into the illegal spending A* practices of the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee (WRSCIt). As the public record shows, and an investigation will confirm, the NRSC and a series of ostensibly nonprofit, nonpartisan groups have undertaken a significant and sustained effort to funnel "soft money101 into federal elections in violation of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended or "the Act"), 2 U.S.C. 5s 431 et seq., and the Federal Election Commission (peFECt)Regulations, 11 C.F.R. 85 100.1 & sea. 'The term "aoft money" as ueed in this Complaint means funds,that would not be lawful for use in connection with any federal election (e.g., corporate or labor organization treasury funds, contributions in excess of the relevant contribution limit for federal elections). THE FACTS IN TBIS CABE On November 24, 1992, the state of Georgia held a unique runoff election for the office of United States Senator. Georgia law provided for a runoff if no candidate in the regularly scheduled November 3 general election received in excess of 50 percent of the vote. The 1992 runoff in Georg a was a hotly contested race between the Democratic incumbent Wyche Fowler, and his Republican opponent, Paul Coverdell. The Republicans presented this election as a %ust-win81 election. Exhibit 1. The Republicans were so intent on victory that Senator Dole announced he was willing to give up his seat on the Senate Agriculture Committee for Coverdell, if necessary.
    [Show full text]
  • Exposed:The World Congress of Families
    EXPOSED: THE WORLD CONGRESS OF FAMILIES AN AMERICAN ORGANIZATION EXPORTING HATE AUGUST 2014 2 THE WORLD CONGRESS OF FAMILIES (WCF) • WWW.HRC.ORG/WORLDCONGRESS • AUGUST 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7 ORIGINS OF THE WORLD CONGRESS OF FAMILIES 9 WHO IS THE WORLD CONGRESS OF FAMILIES? 12 RUSSIA 16 EASTERN EUROPE 17 AUSTRALIA 18 AFRICA 19 WCF AT HOME 4 THE WORLD CONGRESS OF FAMILIES (WCF) • WWW.HRC.ORG/WORLDCONGRESS • AUGUST 2014 THE WORLD CONGRESS OF FAMILIES (WCF) • WWW.HRC.ORG/WORLDCONGRESS • AUGUST 2014 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY he World Congress of Families (WCF) is one of the most influential American organizations involved in the export of hate. Since 1997, WCF Thas held conferences and events around the world that foster homophobia and transphobia under the guise of protecting the “natural family.” It is connected to some mainstream conservative organizations and to the very highest levels of government in the countries where it operates. Thanks to WCF’s connections, its rhetoric and its willingness to associate with and encourage radically homophobic and transphobic activists, the group has had an outsized influence on anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) sentiment and legislation in many places. This report explores WCF’s influence in more depth, focusing on Russia — where the organization had its genesis — as well as Eastern Europe, Australia and Africa. WCF is an organization with strong ties to American religious and conservative groups — including Focus on the Family, Alliance Defending Freedom, American Family Association and Family Research Council — and religious groups — such as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Knights of Columbus.
    [Show full text]
  • Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 105 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
    E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 105 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 144 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1998 No. 49 House of Representatives The House met at 12:30 p.m. voted consistently and unanimously Automated Intelligent Systems, al- f for immunity.' In fact, even during ready immunized by the Department of Iran-Contra the Congressional inves- Justice, testified before a grand jury. MORNING HOUR DEBATES tigative committees voted unani- Instrumental in better understanding The SPEAKER. Pursuant to the mously to grant a limited form of im- Chung's relationships with foreign na- order of the House of January 21, 1997 munity to Oliver North, John tionals with whom he attended politi- the Chair will now recognize Members Poindexter and Albert Hakim. There is cal fund-raising events, formed cor- from lists submitted by the majority no logical reason for the Democrats' porations, and from whom he received and minority leaders for morning hour stonewalling and sharply partisan ac- money. debates. The Chair will alternate rec- tions. Again, even the Department of Nancy Lee, an engineer at Auto- ognition between the parties, with each Justice has clearly stated in writing mated Intelligent Systems, Inc. Wit- party limited to not to exceed 30 min- that they have `no opposition to the nesses say Lee solicited contributions utes, and each Member except the ma- committee granting immunity.' to Clinton/Gore '96 from her colleagues jority and minority leaders and minor- ``The Democrats' efforts to block im- and then reimbursed them.
    [Show full text]
  • THIRD BRANCH CONFERENCE______Washington, D.C
    THIRD BRANCH CONFERENCE_____________ Washington, D.C. June 2, 2009 The Honorable Mitch McConnell The Honorable Jon Kyl The Honorable Jeff Sessions The Honorable John Cornyn The Honorable John Thune and copied to all Minority Senators. United States Senate Washington, DC Re: Debating the Supreme Court Nomination Dear Senators: Senator Sessions recently published a fine column offering his advice to the President on the qualities that should define a Supreme Court nominee. Senator Sessions respectfully explained what he expected of the President. Now that the President has made his nomination, it is up to the Senate to give the President “advice and consent.” With like respect, and as the petitioners for millions of Americans, we write to express what we expect of you as leaders of the Senate Minority on a matter of the greatest concern to us – the confirmation process of the President’s nominee to the Supreme Court. In fact, we expect the same of the Majority in mirrored fashion. We assume that Senators and staffs of the Committee on the Judiciary will do all that they can to illuminate the issues that under-gird a Supreme Court nomination. We hope that the time between nomination and hearings, and between hearings and a confirmation debate will be ample enough to alert the American people to the impact of the matter at hand, and comparable to previous nominations reviewed during times that Democrats controlled the Senate. We say this to point out that the effort from you that we request is not at all limited to the walls of the Senate Judiciary Committee or its work, or to issues of procedure and timing.
    [Show full text]
  • A Short History of Boston's Puerto Rican Community
    Matos-Rodriguez AFT -- Do Not Quote w / out the Author's Written Permission. ~ '.j ,) ~ ~~ 1 ~ ' ~~ ~ It was, according to several participants, the largest public protest by the <5 ~ ~ Puerto Rican community in almost thirty years. On a chilly December . :i ~ ~ ~ afternoon a crowd estimated at 500 people stood outside the offices of the ~ ~ ~:"t Boston Herald to protest an incendiary column written by Don Feder who ~ r { ~ "un-assimilable, welfare-driven, crime-prone aliens".2 In a rare moment, Puerto Ricans from different social classes, generations, and political and JJ4~ religious beliefs, were joined by the anger and disbelief that after more than a century of Puerto Rican presence in Boston such incidents could occur. After l ' ~ . ~ ~ the newspaper remained unresponsive to the protestors' requests, several ~ ~ 1- . ~ Puerto Rican "bodega" owners refused to sell the Boston Herald in their stores. ~...'l ""2 f ~ h i ~ The protest itself was also a testimony to both the community's capacity to 3 ~ ~ ~ come together during a crisis and to its historical fragmentation. The f ~ ~ :f J 1 Thanks to Carmen Whalen, Ruth Glasser, and Aviva Chomsky for commentaries on an ~ "~~ t earlier draft. Thanks also to my 'Bostonian teachers' -- Miren Urirate, Angel Amy Moreno, ~~ ~ Jose Masso, Jovita Fontanez, Jeffrey Sanchez, Edwin Melendez, Andy Torres, Mayari Sanchez, ~ -; Melissa Colon, Sandra Quifiones, Felita Oyola, Nancy Richards, Luis Aponte-Pares, Efram ~ ~ ~ Barradas, David Cortiella, Jose de Jesus, Willie Rodriguez, and Sonia Andujar -- for sharing ~ i ·1" ,-:i!.. (j with me their impressions on the current status and historical trajectory of the Puerto Rican '-..- ~ ) community in Boston.
    [Show full text]
  • Demjanjuk Sues U.S. for $5 M in Damages IMF Says Kyiv Supplied
    INSIDE:• Developments in Belarus — page 3. • PACE threatens to suspend Ukraine — page 4. • Ukrainian Canadian’s design selected for new coin — page 9. Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association Vol. LXVIII HE KRAINIANNo. 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 2000 EEKLY$1.25/$2 in Ukraine DemjanjukT sues U.S.U81 killed in coal mine explosionW near Krasnodon by Roman Woronowycz for $5 M in damages Kyiv Press Bureau by Roma Hadzewycz KYIV – In the largest calamity to hit Ukraine since independence, 81 miners PARSIPPANY, N.J. – John Demjanjuk – were killed on March 11 after a methane who once faced the death sentence on explosion tore through the Barakova charges of being the notorious Nazi death mine in the eastern Ukrainian city of camp guard known as “Ivan the Terrible” Krasnodon, again underscoring the dire but was cleared by the Supreme Court of situation of Ukraine’s coal mining indus- Israel – filed a lawsuit on March 3, claim- try. ing the U.S. government’s investigation of Preliminary reports suggest that the him dating back to 1977 amounts to torture. blast in the Luhansk Oblast was a result The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, of gross violations of safety requirements seeks at least $5 million in damages from and may be directly tied to welding oper- the U.S. government and asks that a new ations that were taking place as the min- case filed against Mr. Demjanjuk last year by the Justice Department and its Nazi- ers worked. hunting Office of Special Investigations be At the time of the explosion, 91 min- dismissed.
    [Show full text]
  • American Extremists in Russia
    American Extremists in Russia AMERICAN CONSERVATIVES SEE THE RUSSIAN CRACKDOWN ON THE LGBT COMMUNITY AS A MODEL HEADLINE: “Russia Anti-Gay Bill Admired By Some U.S. Conservatives” [Associated Press, 7/1/13] HEADLINE: “How America’s Right Wing Helped Russia Craft Its Anti-Gay Laws” [Salon, 10/4/13] HEADLINE: “Developments In Russia And Other Nations Should Inspire U.S. Conservatives, Say Activists” [Buzzfeed, 11/15/13] HEADLINE: “Why American Social Conservatives Love Anti-Gay Putin” [Daily Beast, 8/1/13] HEADLINE: “6 American Conservative Groups Publicly Support Russia's Anti-Gay 'Propaganda' Law” [Huffington Post, 9/5/13] HEADLINE: “How US Evangelicals Fueled the Rise of Russia’s ‘Pro-Family’ Right” [The Nation, 1/27/14] The Language Of Russia’s Anti-Gay Movement Borrows Heavily From The Evangelical Movement In The US. “The language of Russia’s anti-gay and anti-abortion movement seems to borrow most heavily from mainstream evangelicals and conservative politicians in the United States and Europe. Referring to the anti-abortion bill passed in 2011, Lyubov Erofeeva, executive director of the Russian Association for Population and Development, a women’s advocacy group, said: ‘It was 100 percent clear that everything was copied from the experience of American fundamentalists and conservative circles of several European countries where abortion is forbidden or restricted severely.’” [The Nation, 1/27/14] AMERICAN CONSERVATIVES HAVE BEEN COURTING RUSSIA FOR YEARS American Conservatives Have Been Working In Russia For At Least 15 Years. “After passing through a long hall filled with dozens of Dr. Dobson’s awards from Christian broadcast associations, we stop to examine a map of the world that is peppered with colored pins showing the reaches of Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Hollywood Counterterrorism: Violence, Protest and the Middle East in U.S
    Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2009 Hollywood Counterterrorism: Violence, Protest and the Middle East in U.S. Action Feature Films Jason Grant McKahan Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES HOLLYWOOD COUNTERTERRORISM: VIOLENCE, PROTEST AND THE MIDDLE EAST IN U.S. ACTION FEATURE FILMS By JASON GRANT MCKAHAN A Dissertation submitted to the College of Communication and Information in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Degree Awarded: Fall Semester, 2009 The members of the committee approve the dissertation of Jason Grant McKahan defended on October 30, 2009. ____________________________________ Andrew Opel Professor Directing Dissertation ____________________________________ Cecil Greek University Representative ____________________________________ Donna Nudd Committee Member ____________________________________ Stephen McDowell Committee Member Approved: ____________________________________________ Stephen McDowell, Director, School of Communication ____________________________________________ Lawrence Dennis, Dean, College of Communication and Information The Graduate School has verified and approved the above-named committee members. ii I dedicate this to my mother and father, who supported me with love and encouragement. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express thanks to Dr. Andy Opel, my committee chair. Since I first stepped into his office in 2003, Andy inspired me with his rebellious free thinking and encouraged me to see the deeper connections between things too often taken in isolation. Together, Andy and I daily observed an absurd world with deteriorating human rights and environmental catastrophe and sought to expose injustice and counter arrogance with resistant voices and compassionate values.
    [Show full text]
  • Sotomayor Letter
    July 23, 2009 To the Members of the United States Senate: We, the undersigned 156 conservative and constitutional cause leaders, activists and other concerned citizens, respectfully submit a statement in opposition to the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court. Even President Obama’s Supreme Court Nominee Rejects His Views on the Constitution But Confirmation Conversions Are Not Acceptable for Lifetime Appointments It is historic, as far as we know, that a nominee to the Supreme Court has gone on record at her confirmation hearing to reject the underlying judicial philosophy of the President who made the nomination. • President Obama said his judicial nominee would be someone with “empathy” and “who understands that justice isn't about some abstract legal theory or footnote in a casebook.’’ “That's the criteria by which I'm going to be selecting my judges," he said. • Top presidential advisor David Axelrod said in a May 26, 2009 interview that President Obama nominated Judge Sotomayor because “he wanted someone whose philosophy of judging was his,” which as applied to the law and constitutional principles was to “be ready to adapt them to a modern context.” • In his opening statement at the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings, Sen. Jeff Sessions said, "I will not vote for and no senator should vote for an individual nominated by any president who believes it is acceptable for a judge to allow their personal background, gender, prejudices or sympathies to sway their decision in favor of or against the parties before the court. In my view, such a philosophy is disqualifying." • In response to questioning from Sen.
    [Show full text]
  • The Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) Or “Welfare
    Decades of Distortion: The Right's 30-year Assault on Welfare by Lucy A. Williams December, 1997 A Report from Political Research Associates Copyright 1997, Political Research Associates and Lucy Williams Decades of Distortion: The Right's 30-year Assault on Welfare by Lucy A. Williams In 1996, the Republican-controlled Congress passed This article will track the ideological evolution and and President Clinton signed the Temporary policy developments that have led us to this point. It Assistance for Needy Families Block Grant of the situates the Right’s attack on welfare within the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity broader framework of the agendas of the Reconciliation Act of 19961 the “welfare reform” submovements of the Right, analyzes the confluence bill which ended Aid to Families with Dependent of the themes targeting welfare recipients as Children (AFDC), a sixty-year old federal entitlement responsible for societal problems, and discusses how program. Often it seems that this attack on welfare these various submovements have over 30 years (euphemistically called “reform”) is a new political transformed their discourse into mainstream discourse phenomenon. Because it was so closely associated culminating in President Clinton’s signing of the with the Newt Gingrich Congress, it is easy to see it “welfare reform” bill. Underlying this transformation as the brainchild of the New Right and the "new is the powerful coincidence of two events: the growth Republicans" who dominated the 104th Congress. of the Right’s attack on welfare, and the arrival of African Americans and other people of color on the However, the targeting of welfare dates to the “Old” welfare rolls.
    [Show full text]
  • 1/2" News List
    1) Influence on TV: 2-1-82 2) Today Show: J.Egan: 11-16-82 3) Panorama: J.Falwell: 7-29-82 4) Donahue: A.Moran, P.P., M.Meckleburg 5) CBS Morning Break: 5-27-82 6) Nightbeat: 1-28-82 7) Donahue: P.Schlafly 8) Donahue: LaHayes: 3-15-82 9) Eye on the Beholder: H.Carter: 12-17-81 10) American Forum: Dolan, J.Falwell: 9-22-81 11) CBS Evening News: 1982 elections: J.Falwell 12) MacNeil/Lehrer: PACs: 11-9-82 13) Donahue: Holy Terror: 7-27-82 Phyllis Schlafly: 8-9-82 14) Crisis to Crisis: B.Jordan: 7-3-82 15) Life and Liberty for All Who Believe 16) Close-up news conference: T.Podesta: 4-7-82 17) Life and Liberty (without promos) 18) Inside the Cup Books Under Fire 19) The Radical Right 20) Who Will Protect the Family?: 4-15-82 21) Donahue: school prayer: J.Falwell: 7-2-82 22) KPBS San Diego: creationism: 7-7-82 23) NBC Magazine: Arkansas creationism law 24) CBS Morning News: T.Podesta: 10-23-82 25) Donahue: J.Falwell, D.Bradley, V.Apuzzo: 10-22-82 26) CBS Morning News: T.Podesta, Gablers: 9-7-82 27) Nightline: H.Carter: 1-18-84 28) MacNeil/Lehrer: M.Hudson, Gablers: 11-10 29) Jerry Falwell: School Prayer Special: 5-14-82 30) PFAW: nuclear freeze spot 31) CBS Evening News: J.Greenfield 32) CBN: "Dividing Line": 9-3-82 33) Panorama: Central America: T.Podesta, J.Falwell: 9-21-83 34) Panorama: T.Podesta, C.Thomas: 7-19-83 35) Today Show: T.Podesta: 10-15-82 36) 60 Minutes: NCC and JRD: 1-23-85 37) Jerrry Falwell's first prime time special 38) Reagan's State of the Union Address Donahue: J.Falwell, Lasky, Irvine 39) Nuclear War and the Saved Coming
    [Show full text]