political persuasion

And the winner is…The High Road!

November 4, 2008

For anyone who doubted the influence the art of persuasion could play in the Presidential contest, the answer is now in. Barack Obama was the better communicator. He dealt with double standards and mixed messages, smear attacks on his reputation and hyperbolic labeling, and did so with aplomb. He stayed on message. He kept the message short and sweet. He spoke to people’s motivations, needs, interests and values.

Read the full article →

Dr. K Doubles Down With A 2nd Post, Covering 3rd Debate!

October 16, 2008

I’ve said from the beginning that John McCain’s greatest strengths in this campaign were his heroic service to the country, his experience, his association with reform, and his likability. He could have fashioned all of this into one helluva campaign.

Read the full article →

How Do You Deal With Mixed Messages? Pt 2

October 16, 2008

Mixed messages get sent in the way we put words together, too. “Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?” George W. Bush, January 11 2000. And when our words don’t match our bodies, that’s a mixed message too! So is smiling while expressing sympathy, or

Read the full article →

How Does The Tactic Of Guilt By Association Work?

October 5, 2008

The big story over the weekend is that the McCain Palin campaign has decided to go completely negative, and attempt to tar and feather Obama in the public mind using the tried and true political strategy of ‘Guilt By Association.’ In today’s post, I’ll give a brief overview of the power of association in the art of persuasion. Then I’ll examine the tactic itself. In the following post, I’ll show how it does its damage, and how best to counter it.

Read the full article →

Obama’s Powerful Use of Persuasive Speech for Positive Change

March 19, 2008

I’ve been asked repeatedly by my students to comment on the rhetorical skill of Senator Barack Obama. His latest speech on racial healing, triggered by a backlash to comments from his pastor, hit all the right notes, at least in my book.

Read the full article →

Next Entries →