We discussed in class last week the various ways in which politicians utilize the media environment by way of stages events, photo ops, etc. I found an article online entitled, "White House Officials Respond to Criticism that President's Visit to Dover Air Force Base was a Photo-Op", and I felt that it would definitely fit within the topic of discussion.
The article talked about President Obama's recent visit to the Dover Air Force Base in Delaware in order to witness the return of caskets of fallen military personnel. However, just as with any other move made by the President, the visit was met with both praise and negative reaction. According to the article, "this was the first time a President has visited Dover in recent memory". However, the main focus of the criticisms dealt with the media's presence at Dover, thereby allowing cameras to tape and photograph the flag-draped caskets return, known as a "dignified transfer", if the family of the fallen agreed to allow it. Of the eighteen transfers that took place that day, only one family had allowed photographs to be taken. According to White House Senior Adviser, Valerie Jarrett, "the visit had to do with openness and it was a way for him as the President to convey to those families on behalf of the American people how much we appreciate that enormous sacrifice they've made”. The media's presence was a way for Americans to realize just exactly what was at stake.
Conservative talk show host, Rush Limbaugh, had a very different opinion on President Obama's visit. According to Limbaugh, “It was a photo op. It was a photo op precisely because he's having big-time trouble on this whole Afghanistan dithering situation. He found one family that would allow photos to be taken. None of the others did ”. Limbaugh also went on to slam the media by stating “and of course, when you have a sycophantic media following you around, able to promote and amplify whatever you want, then he can create the impression that he has all this great concern…”. I feel that Limbaugh's statement concerning the media fits perfectly within our class discussion of the media-politics connection and the ways in which politicians will utilize the media in order to persuade the public.
As the decision on U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan becomes more and more a concern for American citizens, President Obama said that the sobering experience at the Dover Air Force Base will have an impact on his final decision. In my opinion, the media's presence at the base will have an impact on many Americans' opinions as well.
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I totally agree with what you are saying. I think that a lot of thought goes into not only the President's speech, but the venue as well. Bennett talks a lot about this in the book. He says that politicians use validity to make their message get through to their viewers. They try to give their speeches at recognizable places such as the oval office or in this case Dover Air Force Base. Good tactic, but as Bennett tells us, it's been around for a while.
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