Through the mass media the public is able to ascertain the true nature of a politician in American society. To some this statement may seem absurd but it is intricate.
By his very nature a politician would be altruistic and work at accomplishing the best for his constituents and the nation. As an elected official, his beginning in Congress would be marked by a contract to be a public representative to the best of his ability. This is why as a Congressman he takes an oath on entering his office.
The Congressman would understand that as a public servant he would be scrutinized and his family goings and comings would become part of the public's discourse. Being from a political family, journalists would question his every move and if there are skeletons in his closet they would not hesitate to report them.
Protocol
A politician has to be savvy. He would make remarks and comments. Journalists would engage him to determine if his comments were on-the-record, attributed to a source; off-the-record, information he wishes to be passed on confidentially; on-background, where his source cannot be identified; or on-deep-background, where the source's attribution could not be used.
This is especially so at White House press conferences but apply to most politicians, as they report on their conferences and caucuses. There could be press embargoes whereby news could not be reported before a specific time. At times the press corps may be subject to a news blackout like when the United States invaded Grenada. Or, they might be inundated with overwhelming information with text, videos and sound bites that were used during the Persian Gulf buildup in 1990.
Through it all, the politician should be composed, demonstrate clarity of thought and give the impression of being open to the public. After all he is the public's representative and servant.
Transparency
The ideal politician would be transparent. Gone are the days of the Penny Press (1833) by the New York Sun, Yellow Journalism (1898) and Jazz Journalism (1920) known for their preponderance of sensationalism, large headlines, pictures, blobs of color and manipulation to support questionable causes.
Edward L. Bernays in Cyrstallizing Public Opinion (1917) has introduced us to public relations. Daniel Boorstein did the same with his Image: A Guide to Pseudo-Events in America (1992) and polls that have become a way of life.
Many politicians are busy kissing babies, cutting ribbons at opening ceremonies, attending state fairs, participating in parades, visiting hospitals, nursing homes and little league sports. They are looking for photo ops and know they have to be in the public's eye. This is especially so with the present field of presidential candidates whether they are on the campaign trail in Iowa, Indiana or New Hampshire.
Polls bring this horseracing aspect to the present presidential race before our eyes. On the nightly news listeners hear findings from the New York Times, CNN and, or Gallup polls. A representative of the Pew Research Center appears ever so often on The News Hour with Jim Lehr to analyze and dissect the results of their nationwide independent opinion polls.
Politicians tend to hear and not hear the information that is provided. Some quote them when they support their position. Others question their validity. Polls from the Pew Research Center predicted during the last elections that the Republicans would lose Congressional seats that would put Democrats in control of the House. American voters gave the Democrats majorities in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Television especially the 30-second ads and their message about the unpopular Iraq war played a part in the victory of the Democratic Party. Some of TV's analytical programs like 60 minutes, 20/20 and PBS Washington Week In Review were praised by some for their timeliness and special commentaries.
National Public Radio (NPR)'s “All Things Considered” was prominent in its part with its concise and expertly reported pieces on every aspect of the American society, be it war, health care, social security, abortion, stem cell research, gay rights, climate change and international affairs.
Extraordinary Measures
Politicians are always called to account for their actions. This was the case during the Civil War, the Depression, WWII, Vietnam and the Iraq wars where presidents assumed extraordinary authority.
Abraham Lincoln's administration was known to suspend habeas corpus. George W. Bush did the same to the Guantanamo Bay enemy combatants. These prisoners were held and interrogated by U.S. government officials without having any access to their attorneys.
How does national security concerns impact American democratic processes? Some bemoan the fact that their First Amendment rights are infringed. Such rights, it is argued reflect the state of a democracy. They allow for an open examination of issues, discussion and debate. Such openness, many agree, would lead to an informed citizenry that would exercise their franchise fairly in voting into office those politicians they wish to represent them at local, state and national levels.
