Whispering campaign: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Method of persuasion}} |
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A '''whispering campaign''' or '''whisper campaign''' is a method of [[persuasion]] in which damaging [[ |
A '''whispering campaign''' or '''whisper campaign''' is a method of [[persuasion]] in which damaging [[rumor]]s or [[innuendo]] are spread about the target, while the source of the rumors seeks to avoid being detected while they are spread. For example, a [[political campaign]] might distribute anonymous flyers attacking the other candidate. The tactic is generally considered [[ethics|unethical]]{{By whom|date=April 2023}} in [[open society|open societies]], particularly in matters of public policy. The speed and the anonymity of communication made possible by modern technologies like the [[Internet]] have increased public awareness of whisper campaigns and their ability to succeed. The phenomenon has also led to the failure of whisper campaigns, as those seeking to prevent them can publicize their existence much more readily than in the past. Whisper campaigns are defended in some circles as an efficient mechanism for [[underdog (competition)|underdog]]s who lack other resources to [[whistleblower|disclose]] wrongdoings of the powerful without repercussions. |
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==Marketing== |
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==Use in marketing== |
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Other tactics include "buying" drinks and giving away cigarettes to patrons without making known that the benefactor is a representative of the company. More recently, companies are also paying bloggers to mention products or causes. As a form of [[astroturfing]], companies hire employees to post comments on blogs, forums, online encyclopedias such as ([[conflict-of-interest editing on Wikipedia|on Wikipedia]]), etc. to steer online conversations in their desired direction. |
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==Politics== |
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{{undue|section|date=April 2013}} |
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Whisper campaigns in the [[United States]] began with the conflict between [[John Adams]] and [[Thomas Jefferson]] as |
Whisper campaigns in the [[United States]] began with the conflict between [[John Adams]] and [[Thomas Jefferson]] as both were vying for the [[1800 United States presidential election|1800 presidential election]]. The [[Federalist Party|Federalists]], which supported Adams, accused Jefferson of having robbed a widow and her children of a [[trust fund]] and of having fathered numerous [[mulatto]] children by his own [[female slavery|slave women]]. |
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Whisper campaigns are frequently used in [[electoral politics]] as a method of shaping the discussion without being seen to do so. |
Whisper campaigns are frequently used in [[electoral politics]] as a method of shaping the discussion without being seen to do so. [[US President]] [[Grover Cleveland]] was the target of a whisper campaign in 1884, when [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] claimed that he had fathered an illegitimate child while he was still [[Governor of New York]]. US President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] was frequently a topic of whisper campaigns resulting from his support of the [[New Deal]] and his poor health. |
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During the [[Republican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2000|2000 Republican presidential primary]], Senator [[John McCain]] was the target of a whisper campaign |
During the [[Republican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2000|2000 Republican presidential primary]], Senator [[John McCain]], whose adopted daughter is a dark-skinned child from [[Bangladesh]], was the target of a whisper campaign, which implied that he had fathered a [[black people|black child]] out of wedlock. Voters in [[South Carolina]] were reportedly asked in a [[push poll]], "Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for John McCain if you knew that he fathered an illegitimate black child?".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thenation.com/article/dirty-tricks-south-carolina-and-john-mccain/|title=Dirty Tricks, South Carolina and John McCain|newspaper=The Nation|issn=0027-8378|access-date=2016-05-10}}</ref> In addition, on the week of the nomination vote, dozens of radio stations were inundated with calls on this topic, and [[talk show]] hosts were asked what they thought of McCain's fathering of a black child out of wedlock. |
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In 2018, when the question of what the United States should do about the [[disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi]] was an open question, a whispering campaign was mounted that attacked the character of Khashoggi.<ref name="WP101818">{{cite news |author1=Robert Costa |author2=Karoun Demirjian |title=Conservatives mount a whisper campaign smearing Khashoggi in defense of Trump |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/conservatives-mount-a-whisper-campaign-smearing-khashoggi-in-defense-of-trump/2018/10/18/feb92bd0-d306-11e8-b2d2-f397227b43f0_story.html |access-date=October 19, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 18, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Forward101918">{{cite news |author1=Ron Kampeas |title=Pro-Israel Voices Join Smear Campaign Against Jamal Khashoggi |url=https://forward.com/news/breaking-news/412347/pro-israel-voices-join-smear-campaign-against-jamal-khashoggi/ |access-date=October 20, 2018 |work=The Forward |date=October 19, 2018}}</ref> |
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In addition, on the week of the nomination vote, dozens of radio stations were called on the same day asking talk show hosts what they thought of McCain's fathering of a [[black people|black child]] out of wedlock. McCain later said of the incidents:<ref>[http://www.dadmag.com/archive/060400jmccain.php Senator John McCain Talks About the Challenges of Fatherhood, from DadMag.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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<blockquote>"There were some pretty vile and hurtful things said during the South Carolina primary. It's a really nasty side of politics. We tried to ignore it and I think we shielded [our daughter] from it. It's just unfortunate that that sort of thing still exists. As you know she's [[Bengali people|Bengali]], and very dark skinned. A lot of phone calls were made by people who said we should be very ashamed about her, about the color of her skin. Thousands and thousands of calls from people to voters saying, 'You know, the McCains have a black baby.' I believe that there is a special place in hell for people like those."</blockquote> |
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==Use in warfare and international relations== |
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{{main|Psychological warfare}} |
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The whisper campaign is an effective and inexpensive method of exercising the national will without actually engaging armed forces. |
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==Use in economics== |
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[[stock market|Stock]] or other [[commodity market]]s are susceptible to manipulation through whisper campaigns, including attempts to both inflate and deflate prices. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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{{div col|colwidth=30em}} |
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* [[Black propaganda]] |
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* [[Call-out culture]] |
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* [[Chinese whispers]] |
* [[Chinese whispers]] |
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* [[Defamation]] |
* [[Defamation]] |
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* [[Dirty tricks]] |
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* [[Fraser Committee]] |
* [[Fraser Committee]] |
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* [[Fear, uncertainty and doubt |
* [[Fear, uncertainty, and doubt]] |
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* [[Psychological manipulation]] |
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* [[Smear campaign]] |
* [[Smear campaign]] |
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* [[Swiftboating]] |
* [[Swiftboating]] |
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* [[Whisper network]] |
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{{div col end}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/08/25/opinion/meyer/main638571.shtml CBSnews.com] |
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*[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dirty-tricks-patrician-style/ "Dirty Tricks, Patrician Style"] by [[Dick Meyer]] |
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{{Psychological manipulation}} |
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{{Abuse}} |
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{{Bullying}} |
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[[Category:abuse]] |
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[[Category:Bullying]] |
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[[Category:Communication of falsehoods]] |
[[Category:Communication of falsehoods]] |
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[[Category:Political campaign techniques]] |
[[Category:Political campaign techniques]] |
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Latest revision as of 20:39, 29 August 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2011) |
A whispering campaign or whisper campaign is a method of persuasion in which damaging rumors or innuendo are spread about the target, while the source of the rumors seeks to avoid being detected while they are spread. For example, a political campaign might distribute anonymous flyers attacking the other candidate. The tactic is generally considered unethical[by whom?] in open societies, particularly in matters of public policy. The speed and the anonymity of communication made possible by modern technologies like the Internet have increased public awareness of whisper campaigns and their ability to succeed. The phenomenon has also led to the failure of whisper campaigns, as those seeking to prevent them can publicize their existence much more readily than in the past. Whisper campaigns are defended in some circles as an efficient mechanism for underdogs who lack other resources to disclose wrongdoings of the powerful without repercussions.
Marketing
[edit]Other tactics include "buying" drinks and giving away cigarettes to patrons without making known that the benefactor is a representative of the company. More recently, companies are also paying bloggers to mention products or causes. As a form of astroturfing, companies hire employees to post comments on blogs, forums, online encyclopedias such as (on Wikipedia), etc. to steer online conversations in their desired direction.
Politics
[edit] | This section may lend undue weight to certain ideas, incidents, or controversies. (April 2013) |
Whisper campaigns in the United States began with the conflict between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson as both were vying for the 1800 presidential election. The Federalists, which supported Adams, accused Jefferson of having robbed a widow and her children of a trust fund and of having fathered numerous mulatto children by his own slave women.
Whisper campaigns are frequently used in electoral politics as a method of shaping the discussion without being seen to do so. US President Grover Cleveland was the target of a whisper campaign in 1884, when Republicans claimed that he had fathered an illegitimate child while he was still Governor of New York. US President Franklin D. Roosevelt was frequently a topic of whisper campaigns resulting from his support of the New Deal and his poor health.
During the 2000 Republican presidential primary, Senator John McCain, whose adopted daughter is a dark-skinned child from Bangladesh, was the target of a whisper campaign, which implied that he had fathered a black child out of wedlock. Voters in South Carolina were reportedly asked in a push poll, "Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for John McCain if you knew that he fathered an illegitimate black child?".[1] In addition, on the week of the nomination vote, dozens of radio stations were inundated with calls on this topic, and talk show hosts were asked what they thought of McCain's fathering of a black child out of wedlock.
In 2018, when the question of what the United States should do about the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi was an open question, a whispering campaign was mounted that attacked the character of Khashoggi.[2][3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Dirty Tricks, South Carolina and John McCain". The Nation. ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved 2016-05-10.
- ^ Robert Costa; Karoun Demirjian (October 18, 2018). "Conservatives mount a whisper campaign smearing Khashoggi in defense of Trump". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
- ^ Ron Kampeas (October 19, 2018). "Pro-Israel Voices Join Smear Campaign Against Jamal Khashoggi". The Forward. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
External links
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