Taegan Goddard's Political Wire

June 24, 2005

Masters of Dog Whistle Politics

A must-read piece by Craig Crawford notes that "one reason Republicans keep Democrats on the defensive is how effectively they speak to their partisan ideologues and still manage to avoid a backlash from moderates. Speaking in words that the faithful understand -- while sounding innocuous to the uninitiated -- is how the modern game of niche politics is played."

"This is just how a code-speaking politician wants it. The below-the-radar niche press runs wild with your true meaning, while the conventional media remains clueless, leaving few scars on those who would otherwise take offense."

As we noted earlier this year, this technique is called "dog whistle politics."

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Taegan D. Goddard is the creator of Political Wire, a political column updated around the clock with the most interesting news, buzz and commentary.

Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country, including the Washington Post, USA Today, Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer and Christian Science Monitor.

This is a personal site and does not necessarily reflect the views of any company, political campaign or advocacy group.

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