No Shades of Gray: The Binary Discourse of George W. Bush and an Echoing Press

Abstract

Binary communications represent the world as a place of polar opposites. Such conceptions of reality, although not uncommon in Western thought, take on a heightened importance when political leaders employ them in a concerted, strategic discourse in a mass media environment. With this in mind, this research offers a conception of binary discourse and uses this as a foundation to examine (a) the use of binaries by U.S. President George W. Bush in 15 national addresses, from his inauguration in January 2001 to commencement of the Iraq War in March 2003, and (b) the responses of editorials in 20 leading U.S. newspapers to the president's communications.

Characterizing “the Enemy”: Zionism and Islamism in the Iranian and Israeli Press

“…Although Zionists were pitted as the perpetrators of an illegal conspiracy, the IRNA then used terms like “heroic resistance,”“innocent,”“divine,” and “faithful” to describe the players in the “Islamic revolution.” Thus, we revealed a second, more suggestive frame of binary discourse where Zionism is being presented as the oppressor and Islam the oppressed. This form of journalism can be perceived as intentionally provocative when it injects what was earlier referred to as “dichotomized absolutes” that, in this case, suggest one faith or ideology is a threat to the other (Coe et al, 2004). Under one article headlined “Zionism is enemy of mankind,” the Interior Minister of Iran declared, “Zionism, especially the occupying regime of Qods, is enemy of mankind and humanity, and people worldwide should stand [up to] its inhumane crimes” (“Minister,” 2007).…”

“…These dialectic frames allow the journalist to construct their news stories with a heightened sense of importance and, of course, conflict. However, binary discourse also gives a news story the ability to “represent the world as dichotomized absolutes” where one side is usually given a “moral power” over the other—a sustaining value with which the reader can associate (Coe, Domke, Graham, John, & Pickard, 2004, p. 235). When this is done in the vein of religion, or on the brink of war, the media wields an extremely dangerous power.…”

Some Dared Call It Torture: Cultural Resonance, Abu Ghraib, and a Selectively Echoing Press

“…These frames were designed to protect and restore America's self-image in light of the potential shame, humiliation, and angst felt by many Americans in the wake of the scandal. Notably, emphasis on these frames was particularly pronounced during the first 2 weeks after the photographs were released, which Coe, Domke, Graham, John, and Pickard (2004) have referred to as the ''establishment phase'' of crisis response, allowing the administration to set the initial parameters of debate regarding the character, causes, and consequences of the scandal.…”

Binary Discourse in U.S. Presidential Speeches from FDR to Bush II

“…In a bipolar world struggle, the characterization of the Soviet Union as Evil automatically applied the opposite identity of Goodness to the United States, thereby creating a palpable Manichaean paradigm. 3 In this same vein, President George W. Bush 4 Actually, Bush's World View is a paragon of Manichaeism. George II's belief that America had embarked upon a binary struggle of Good vs.…”