What's Your Definition of Pandering? Examples, Please.

[rucky]

Is it changing your message to appeal to a certain group?
Trolling for hookers?

It's never used in a good context. Noboby says "that was some great pandering." And every politician changes their message to appeal to the group they're speaking to.

Doesn't necessarily mean they're being insincere.

Pandering or Not Pandering?

Dukakis riding the tank.
Clinton playing sax on Arsenio.
Dean discussing religion.
Turkeygate.
Speaking Spanish at the New Mexico debate.

Here's a true story: Poppy Bush was the keynote speaker at my college graduation. 1992 was an election year. I went to a VERY conservative school in Texas. Half the auditorium was reserved for the GOP (my parents had to watch on CC tv). Poppy gave a stump speech. Seems like a slam-dunk, but a tried and true applause line of his backfired: He went on his rant about there being "too many lawyers." Occupying the front/center section were 200 Law School graduates. Bad move. The boo's drowned out the applause from the MBA section.

Would editing out that one-liner of his been pandering? If so, is that necessarily a bad thing?

[TexasSissy]

1. "You know, I used to own a pickup truck myself."

Such a statement by someone who MAYBE owned a pickup truck for MAYBE one month previously, because his father gave it to him or something like that. Saying such a statement to a crowd where the speaker perceives there are a number of pickup truck owners is an example of pandering, where the speaker makes the statement in order to gain something (votes, money, etc.) Not an outright lie. But a bending of an experience or skill to fit more closely the mold expected by the audience. I think of it as being condescending, as well, but I don't know if pandering technically must involve condescension.

I didn't look this up in the dictionary, though.

[HFishbine]

3. Or, "You know, I used to be a republican myself" (n/t)

[rucky]

4. Self-mockery is pandering?

[CivilRightsNow]

14. I like that one..

where the speaker makes the statement in order to gain something (votes, money, etc.) Not an outright lie. But a bending of an experience or skill to fit more closely the mold expected by the audience...

I call it morally whoring yourself.

[beyurslf]

2. Gray Davis signing the law

in CA that gave undocumented aliens the right to get a driver's license was pandering. Regardless of you opinion on the legislation, Davis had vetoed the same bill TWICE. He was pandering to the Latino vote in order to save his political hide.

[windansea]

5. very good example

and he got hammered for it

[Kathleen04]

7. Yes, that's definately pandering. n/t

[revcarol]

6. Republicans putting blacks on the platform and having black musicians

at the last convention. SICKO.With 99% delegates being white.

Pandering at its very finest.

[mitchum]

10. That's a perfect example

[OrAnarch]

8. Many types of pandering...

Some involves changing views to each group one presents themselves to, lying etc, for votes...or simply editing out lines as you say. Perhaps edidting out lines isn't always a terrible thing, especially when you have an election to run and the point isn't fundemental. But when it is important, one must always ask if the ends justify the means.


The worst type of pandering I think is cross-party pandering, in which democrats pander to the right-wing on issues that the Republicans lay out, in order to be accepted as not "soft on terrorism", etc. It is of course a terrible thing. At no time does it reach out and teach people the truth. It doesn't pull people left, but rather encouranges such thoughts by validating them. It encourages the proliferation of right-wing ideaology by not speaking out and trying to change mindsets. Such actions go to further create an America that even if a candidate wins, it is hardley worth being there anyway, as it is not the America the party is suppossed to stand for. And this pandering (or compromise some would have it) is what we dub "electability". It is sickening that democrats huddle in fear of Sean Hannity, and try to run candidates clinging to a platform not their own, instead of merely speaking the truth and educating the masses.

[SayitAintSo]

9. Dukakis campaigning in the South to a "Hee Haw" backdrop ...

Bales of hay and the like .... Zell Miller loved that .... still talks about it.

[rucky]

13. And *PPPFT* He Was Gone...

[SayitAintSo]

33. LOL ... that was good

n/t

[SayitAintSo]

11. Clarence "Slappy" Thomas ?

Ol' Mr. "What's that on the top of that coke can ?"

< o.k.... I'll stop now >

[Raya]

12. To make statements that exploit audience weakness: Remind You of Someone?

To Pander: “To cater to the lower tastes and desires of others or exploit their weaknesses”

Like:

1. Giving fiery anti-war speeches to peace movement WHEN you have never before opposed a war.
2. Professing committed Christian faith to campaign in the South WHEN you have not professed it in prior 2 years of campaigning
3. Criticizing NAFT and WTO when talking to Labor groups WHEN you have a record of years of support for NAFTA and free trade.
4. etc.
5. etc.
6. etc
7. etc
8. etc
9. etc.
10. .. . . .

[corporatewhore]

27. Using the confederate flag to promote/symbolize yourself

when you are blue blood from NYC and vermont!!!!!!!

[JVS]

15. Developing an election strategy based purely on a candidate being Southern

and a retired 4 star general is pandering. In fact it is the most extreme form of pandering I've ever seen

[windansea]

16. nope

that's a strategy...which worked for both Carter and Clinton

[JVS]

19. Carter and Clinton were 4 star generals? Oh wait, they were governors,

kind of like Dean. They were politicians. It is also pandering to claim that not being a politician make you somehow more qualified than someone with experience in government.

[windansea]

21. and it's also pandering

to claim you are an outsider when you are an obvious pandering politician running for president

[JVS]

25. An outsider in what sense? Outside of what?

[OrAnarch]

17. I am in total agreement...

And am in awe no one else sees it. IMHO, thats even a weak choice, as we could do far better as democrats by pandering to such demographics further by picking a far more "electable" ticket (see sig line). :)

[Turkw]

34. I heard Clark tell wealthy contributers that he was going to take away

their tax cuts to pay for things the country needed. He then went on to say that he realied that he was in Palm Beach... their reaction to him was positive because he was not pandering.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

18. If a politician wants my vote, they damn well better pander to me

I'd rather them pander to the voters instead of the corporate special interests.

[IndianaGreen]

20. Hillary and Lieberman in Israel: A contrast

Case #1: Hillary went to Israel last year. She sucked up to Sharon and an entire legion of settlers--all of it done to get brownie points back in New York.

Hillary refused to meet with a single Palestinian.

Verdict: Hillary was pandering!

Case #2: Lieberman also went to Israel last year. Joe met with political leaders in and out of the government. Joe met with Israelis from all walks of life.

Joe met with Palestinian representatives.

Verdict: Lieberman acted as a statesman!

[rucky]

22. I didn't know that about Joe

I'm impressed. Maybe he's trying to pander to me.

:-)

[Feanorcurufinwe]

23. Changing your position to suit your audience is the worst kind.

For example:

"We have to stop terrorism before peace negotiations"
http://www.forward.com/issues/2002/02.11.22/news3.html

to a Jewish audience.

said he didn't "believe stopping the terror has to be a prerequisite for talking."
http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/09/10/elec04.prez.dean.mideast/

to a general audience.

[no_hypocrisy]

24. Any candidate implying that he is more religious (and moral) than his

fellow candidates and/or opponent from the other party. Use of religion to really request trust and support from the public is pandering.

[revcarol]

26. Saying,"I'm the only candidate from a farm state" in Iowa?

x

[snyttri]

28. February primary conversion a la Dean

12/25/03 MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Presidential contender Howard B. Dean, who has said little about religion while campaigning except to emphasize the separation of church and state, described himself in an interview with the Globe as a committed believer in Jesus Christ and said he expects to increasingly include references to Jesus and God in his speeches as he stumps in the South.

http://tinyurl.com/3yqgz

[snyttri]

29. Painting opponents as pro-war a la Dean

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Democrat John Kerry accused presidential rival Howard Dean of flip-flopping on his signature anti-war views and suggested Wednesday that former Vice President Al Gore was duped into endorsing "the wrong Howard Dean."

Dean later conceded that he backed an alternative to last fall's resolution that would have allowed President Bush to wage war against Iraq without congressional approval. But he said the measure, which never passed, might have averted war.


http://tinyurl.com/2ogqc

[incapsulated]

30. What it IS and what it isn't

Merriam-Webster

Main Entry: pander
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Form(s): pan·dered; pan·der·ing /-d(&-)ri/
Date: 1602
: to act as a pander; especially : to provide gratification for others' desires (films that pander to the basest emotions)

It's basically telling people what they want to hear, often at the most base level.

Dean saying that he is from "the only farm state" is not pandering. This statement is not what the crowd "wants or desires to hear". Saying that you would support huge farm subsidies to a farming crowd would be. What he said was a "half-truth boast that makes me look good to this crowd" or "self-aggrandizement". ;)

 
 

[REP]

31. Here's Two Definitive Examples:

“I’d nominate any gay to the Supreme Court, or lesbian or bisexual or transgendered person to the Supreme Court as long as they were ready to uphold Roe v. Wade." Dennis Kucinich, addressing the Human Rights Campaign, July 2003

"As a bachelor, I get a chance to fantasize about my first lady. <...> But in any event I would want definitely want someone who would not just be there by my side, but be a working partner because I think we're in a day in age when partnerships are imperative to making anything happening in the world. And I certainly want a dynamic, out-spoken woman who was fearless in her desire for peace in the world and for universal single-payer health care and a full employment economy. Dennis Kucinich, 11/15/03 (emphasis added to point out blatant pandering)

[sandnsea]

32. That's not pandering

That's Dennis' view no matter what group of people he's talking to. That's using the moment to further his clear agenda, not pandering at all.

[SayitAintSo]

35. He was being funny and cute ... that's different...

On the the last item. Don't know about the 1st

[zulchzulu]

36. Hijacking a Wellstone quote for political expediency

Wellstone must be rolling in his grave.