Political Parties, Interest Groups,
& the Media
American Government Content
Statement #2:
Political parties, interest groups and the media
provide opportunities for civic involvement
through various means.
What is a political party?
Organization whose members hold
similar views on public issues
 Seek to determine public policy through
winning of elections & having members
hold public office

What do political parties do?
Nominate candidates
 Rally supporters
 Participate in government
 Make sure officeholders/members are
successful
 Watchdog over “the other party”

Two-Party System

Dominant political system in the United States
 Republicans & Democrats
Characteristics of the Republican
Party (GOP)
Favor private market forces in the economy
(laissez faire)
 Believe Federal Government should be less
involved in social welfare programs
 Small government
 Conservative social views

Grand Old Party
[They define] themselves as the party
of first principles, that is, the original
American values and models —
individualism, pioneering spirit, free
enterprise, anti-centralism and antibureaucracy, family values and neighborly
spirit etc.
 Model their views after Abraham Lincoln

Famous Republicans
Newt Gingrich
 Rush Limbaugh
 John Boehner
 Ronald Reagan
 Arnold
Schwarzenegger
 Rudolph Giuliani
 Ted Nugent

Characteristics of the Democratic Party
Support social welfare programs
 Favor government regulation of business
practices
 Support efforts to improve status of
minorities
 Big government
 Liberal social & political views

Democratic Party

They define themselves:
◦ For over 200 years, Democrats have stood for the idea that
wealth and status should not be an entitlement to rule.
Democrats recognize that our country and our economy are
strongest when they provide opportunity for all Americans—
when we grow our country from the bottom up.
◦ Democrats stand for an abiding faith in the judgment of
hardworking American families, and a commitment to helping the
excluded, the disenfranchised and the poor strengthen our nation
by earning themselves a piece of the American Dream. We
remember that our country was sculpted by immigrants and
slaves, their children and grandchildren. Even today, it is our
diversity above all else that provides us with our enduring
strength.

Model their views after Andrew Jackson
Famous Democrats
Bruce
Springsteen
 Barack Obama
 Hillary Clinton
 Ted Kennedy
 Al Gore
 John Stewart
 F.D.R.

Differences between the Parties
The following video clips are intended as a
comical view on both political parties and
should not, in any way be taken seriously or
literally.
 Additionally, these clips do not in any way
represent the beliefs of any Mayfield High
School staff member or Mayfield High School as
a whole.
 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/27/thedaily-show-explains-republicansdemocrats_n_939020.html

What is a Radical?


Seen as being on the far left of the
political spectrum, radicals call for widesweeping rapid change in the basic
structure of the political, social, or
economic system.
They may be willing to resort to
extreme methods to bring about change,
including the use of violence and
revolution.
What is a Liberal?
Liberals believe that the government
should be actively involved in the
promotion of social welfare of a nation’s
citizens.
 They usually call for peaceful, gradual
change within the existing political system.
 They reject violent revolution as a way of
changing the way things are, often called
the status quo.

What is a Moderate?
Moderates may share viewpoints with
both liberals and conservatives.
 They are seen as tolerant of other
people’s views, and they do not hold
extreme views of their own.
 They advocate a “go-slow” or “wait-andsee” approach to social or political
change.

What is a Conservative?
People who hold conservative ideals favor
keeping things the way they are or
maintaining the status quo if it is what they
desire.
 Conservatives are usually hesitant or
cautious about adopting new policies,
especially if they involve government
activism in some way.
 They feel that the less government there is,
the better.
 They agree with Jefferson’s view that “the
best government governs least.”

What is a Reactionary?


Sitting on the far right of the ideological
spectrum, reactionaries want to go back to
the way things were—the “good ol’ days.”
Often reactionaries are willing to use
extreme methods, such as repressive use of
government power, to achieve their goals.
The term “reactionary is generally negative.
A positive way to say the same thing is
“arch-conservative.”
Comparison Chart
Roles of Third Parties
Keep major parties in check
 Call attention to controversial issues that
major parties may not
 May also rally around a specific issue
 Acts as a ‘spoiler’ during elections

Third Party Candidates
George Wallace
–
Presidential candidate 1968
Ross
Perot –
Presidential candidate in 1992 and 1996
Ralph
Nader –
Presidential candidate 2004
Ken
Lanci – Cuyahoga Council
(newly created office) candidate in 2010
The Tea Party
Grassroots movement to “give the power
of the government back to the people”
 NOT a political party…rather extreme
conservatives hoping to secure
Republican candidate nomination
 Michele Bachmann is
front-runner candidate
 http://theteaparty.net/inner.asp?z=40

Third Parties
Libertarian
Party - total individual liberty (pro-drug
legalization, pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, pro-home schooling,
pro-gun rights, etc.) and total economic freedom (antiwelfare, anti-government regulation of business, anti-minimum
wage, anti-income tax, pro-free trade)
Green Party of the United States - Committed
to environmentalism, non-violence, social justice and
grassroots organizing
Constitution Party - strongly pro-life, anti-gun control,
anti-tax, anti-immigration, trade protectionist, "anti-New
World Order," anti-United Nations, anti-gay rights, antiwelfare, and pro-school prayer.
http://politics1.com/parties.htm
What is an Interest Group?
An organization whose members hold
similar views on public issues
 Seek to influence the making & execution
of public policy

 Through engaging in political and public policy
processes
How Do They Differ From Political
Parties?

Interest Groups DON’T
◦ nominate candidates
◦ Focus on winning elections
◦ Concern themselves with a broad range of
issues
Benefits of Interest Groups
Stimulate interest in public affairs
 Serve as a vehicle for participation in the
political process

Health Care Advocacy Group Leads Protest Over
Governor's Proposed Cuts
Criticisms of Interest Groups
Having influence disproportionate to their
size
 Occasionally use unethical tactics

Types of Interest Groups
Most people belong to several organizations
defined as an interest group
 Most represent economic interests

 Business, labor, agriculture, certain professions
Some are devoted to social and political
causes, religious interests, or the welfare of a
certain segment of the population
 Public-interest groups work for some aspect
of the public good

List of interest groups by type: http://faculty.ucc.edu/egh-damerow/interest_groups1.htm
What do Interest Groups do?
Supply the public with
information favorable to
the group’s cause
 Work to build a positive
image for the group
 Promote the group’s
policies
 Frequently use
propaganda to achieve
their goals

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)
Political spending is a form of protected
speech under the First Amendment
 The government may not keep
corporations or unions from spending
money to support or denounce individual
candidates in elections.

Impact of Citizens United
Super PAC’s can be
created
 They may raise unlimited
funds
 They do not need to
disclose where they got
their money from
 They can spend their
money supporting or
opposing any candidate
they wish as long as their
money isn’t directly given

to the candidate
Lobbyists – Who they are…


Lobbying is the process of persuading public
officials to take actions favorable to a given
organized group.
Lobbyists are usually paid employees or
hired hands for an interest group. They
have access to public officials and present
the concerns, agenda, and needs of the
interest group.
Lobbyists – What they do…
Access is the most
important advantage
which lobbyists have
over ordinary people.
 Lobbyists build up
rapport with public
officials over years, often
decades.
 Having the elected
official as a college
buddy, former business
associate, or family
member certainly helps.

Fortune Power 25 – Most Influential
Interest Groups in Washington

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National Rifle Association of America- Gun Ownership
AARP- Senior Citizens
National Federation of Independent Business- Small and Independent
Businesses
American Israel Public Affairs Committee- Pro-Israel Policy
American Association for Justice- Lawyers
AFL-CIO- Union Leadership
Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America- Big Business
National Beer Wholesalers Association- Alcohol
National Association of Realtors- Real Estate
National Association of Manufacturers- Industrial Business
National Association of Home Builders of the United States- Home
Construction
American Medical Association- Doctors
American Hospital Association- Hospitals
Fortune Power 25 (continued)
National Education Association of the United StatesEducation
 American Farm Bureau Federation- Agriculture
 Motion Picture Association of America- Movies
 National Association of Broadcasters- TV and Radio
Broadcasters
 National Right to Life Committee- Pro-Life Policy
 Health Insurance Association of America- Health Insurance
 National Restaurant Association- Restaurant
 National Governors' Association- Governors
 Recording Industry Association of America- Musicians
 American Bankers Association- Banking and Lending
 Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of AmericaPharmaceuticals
 International Brotherhood of Teamsters- Blue-Collar Labor

People/
Employees
Companies
/ Industries
Social
Organization
Special
Interest
Groups
Lobbyists /
Lobbying
Firms
Political
Action
Committees
Politicians
Media in Politics

Use of various means of mass
communication with different audiences
◦ print (books, magazines, and newspapers)
 Even a sign someone is holding during a rally or
demonstration
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
Recordings
Cinema
Radio
Television
Internet
Mobile (Smartphones, IPads, Tablet PCs)
Media in Politics (cont.)

Used heavily by political parties & interest
groups
◦ influence the political and public policy
process
◦ Help to set public agenda
 Societal problems political leaders & citizens agree
need government attention
◦ Plays a central role in electoral politics
Media Influence

Limited
 Many people use mass media for entertainment &
not information
 Few people follow international, national, or local
politics closely
 Those who do are selective
 Pay attention to sources that generally agree with their
viewpoints (liberal vs. conservative)
Newspapers and Television
Conservative
Liberal
The Washington Times Politics, US and World News
LA Times
The Washington Examiner Washington DC Political News
Washington Post
The New York Post - Gossip,
Sports, Entertainment and More
New York Times
The Wall Street Journal Business and Financial News
USA Today
FOX News
MSNBC
Examples of Media Bias

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxAO
7cH-xrE
◦ Palin-Couric Interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km5tae
fMCRE
◦ Couric explains interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvF0slE
XuS0
 Bill O’Reilly Interviews Sarah Palin
How Parties and Interest Groups
Influence the Public
Using the media to enforce
or introduce ideas or
various perspectives
 Can come from newspapers,
magazines, radio and TV
commercials, internet sites
and advertisements, and
other print sources, i.e. sides
of buses

Card Stacking
Deliberate action is taken to bias an
argument
 Opposing evidence being buried or
discredited
 The case for one's own position
is exaggerated at every opportunity

Plain Folk

Make the leaders look just like
mom'n'pop-style 'plain folks‘ through
dress, speech and action
◦ i.e. video footage of politicians going grocery
shopping or jogging
◦ When politicians go campaigning they tend to
dress like the people they are trying to win
the votes of
Testimonial

If your words might lack credibility in some
way, borrow the credibility of others by
getting the testimony of trusted others.
◦ Pop culture celebrities endorsing a political
candidate or issue
◦ Professionals or experts in their field speaking
out on behalf of an issue or candidate
What Types of Messages are Sent
Logical argument - sensible point of view
supporting an idea
 Ad hominem attack - attacks a person
rather than answer arguments about an
issue
 Positive Image - focusing solely on the
positive aspects of person or issue

Examples

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8ZD9RcC8P0 –Star Wars Immunization

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B74xrOEzn0 -LA Department of Public Health
Vaccinations

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wIRajc8JQY -OH Right to Life's anti-Obama ad

http://vegetarianstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/paul_mccartney_veg_ad.jpg Paul McCartney

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io9KMSSEZ0Y -Willie Horton 1988 Attack Ad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOrmOvHysdU -John McCain Celebrity Ad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBghTL4CPoE –Anti-McCain ad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq41LgVeMSo -Anti Sarah Palin Campaign

http://www.methproject.org/ads/print/15bucks.html -Montana Meth Project

http://www.methproject.org/ads/tv/tracy.html -Montana Meth Project video