Introduction
This article examines President Barack Obama's rhetorical strategy during his presidency. It explores how he employed implicit racial cues, particularly through strategic silence and subtle language choices, to counter political rumors.
Context & Methods
Drawing on historical analysis of the 2016 election period, we demonstrate this approach by analyzing specific instances where racial narratives were circulating in media outlets. We identify patterns in Obama's public statements during these times.
Counterintuitive Finding
Contrary to the perception that avoidance would lead to 'whitewashing' or ignoring of racial issues, our analysis finds that strategic omission and selective use of implicit cues actually proved effective in deflecting rumors. This nuanced communication approach worked better than overt engagement in certain contexts.
Why It Matters for Political Science
The findings offer new insights into political crisis management during campaigns. They challenge the assumption that direct confrontation with divisive topics is always necessary or most effective. The strategy provides a model for how candidates might navigate politically charged environments without appearing evasive.
| Whitewashing: How Obama Used Implicit Racial Cues as a Defense Against Political Rumors was authored by Vincent Hutchings, Vanessa Cruz Nichols, LaGina Gause and Spencer Piston. It was published by Springer in Pol. Behav. in 2021. |
