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The Third Voice of American Politics
Author(s) -
Hart Roderick P.,
Curry Alexander L.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
presidential studies quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.337
H-Index - 5
eISSN - 1741-5705
pISSN - 0360-4918
DOI - 10.1111/psq.12252
Subject(s) - politics , white (mutation) , rhetorical question , political science , media studies , situated , public administration , sociology , law , linguistics , biochemistry , chemistry , philosophy , artificial intelligence , computer science , gene
This article describes the people's voice in American politics by contrasting it to those of the nation's leaders and the working press. Based on a content analysis of all three actors (with letters to the editor serving as a stand‐in for the citizenry), we find the people situated midway between politicians and the press. Citizen‐writers show greater rhetorical optimism than media operatives but not as much as White House aspirants. Citizens also complain about politics, but it is the management of their buoyancy that makes them special. By understanding the people's voice, the roles of politicians and the press become eminently clearer.