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Back to To the Point

To the Point

The Politics of Fear in an Election Year

National security used to be a Republican issue, but this year, both parties are using it--in different ways.  Democrats want to talk about the war in Iraq.  Republicans have escalated their rhetoric from "terrorism" to what they call "Islamo-fascism."  We talk with some of the pollsters and strategists who advise candidates about the language…

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By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

National security used to be a Republican issue, but this year, both parties are using it--in different ways. Democrats want to talk about the war in Iraq. Republicans have escalated their rhetoric from "terrorism" to what they call "Islamo-fascism." We talk with some of the pollsters and strategists who advise candidates about the language they use to mobilize voters. How does a single word or phrase reduce a complex set of facts to a simple fable? Is this year's election all about fear?

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

  • KCRW placeholder

    Frank Luntz

    Luntz Research Companies

  • KCRW placeholder

    Jeremy Rosner

    Democratic pollster and strategist

  • KCRW placeholder

    Geoffrey Nunberg

    Senior Researcher at Stanford University's Center for the Study of Language and Information

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Back to To the Point