In Defense of Negativity: Attacks Ads in Presidential Campaigns
(University of Chicago Press, 2006)
BOOK FORUM
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
12:00 PM (Luncheon to Follow)
Featuring the author, John G. Geer, professor of political science and public policy, Vanderbilt University with comments by John Samples, Director, Center for Representative Government, the Cato Institute. Americans think negative campaign ads undermine elections and even democratic government itself. But John G. Geer argues that when political candidates attack each other, raising doubts about each other’s views and qualifications, voters-and the democratic process-benefit. In Defense of Negativity, Geer’s study of negative advertising in presidential campaigns from 1960 to 2004, asserts that proliferating attack ads are far more likely than positive ads to focus on salient political issues, rather than politicians’ personal characteristics. Accordingly, the ads enrich the democratic process, providing voters with relevant and substantial information before they head to the polls. Geer concludes that if we want campaigns to grapple with relevant issues and address real problems, negative ads just might be the solution.
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