My new CJR column examines coverage of Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio's birther press conference as a case study in how news reporting can reinforce misperceptions:
Last Tuesday, the New America Foundation released a report (PDF) I co-authored with Georgia State’s Jason Reifler on how to most effectively combat misperceptions (summarized here at CJR). Two days later, some of the nation’s press corps decided to illustrate what not to do instead.
The occasion was the implausible claim by Joe Arpaio, the controversial and high-profile sheriff of Maricopa County in Arizona, that President Obama’s birth certificate is a forgery. The claim was covered by Politico, the Associated Press, the New York Post, The Arizona Republic, and discussed on the cable news networks.
Read the whole thing for more.
For all the attention this guy commands nationally, don't people know he's only a county sheriff?
Besides, I'm pretty sure even IF Obama were born in Kenya, his mother Sarah was an American, thus by extension, he is too.
Posted by: Metrichead | March 05, 2012 at 11:12 PM
Although I agree with Brendan that Arpaio's investigation, and the attendant publicity, will unfortunately worsen birtherism, here are two related thoughts:
1. The investigation hurts the reputation of Joe Arpaio. Arpaio is a hero to the right. He's regarded as someone who resists when the federal government wants to ignore the law on immigration. However, this investigation makes Arpaio look like a crackpot.
2. Birtherism isn't particularly important. It didn't stop Obama from being elected and it doesn't seem likely to be a factor in 2012. By comparison, there are false beliefs that changed the course of history, such as the Gulf of Tonkin incident, Iraq's supposed WMDs, the sinking of the Maine, and the belief that Hitler could be stopped without war.
IMHO the most serious false belief in this country today is the idea that government spending can keep escalating without consequences. I worry that, in a few years, inflation will deplete people's savings, and interest groups will be battling to keep their share of an over-promised government pie. Then, everyone will remember the reckless spending, but nobody will care where Obama was born.
Posted by: David in Cal | March 07, 2012 at 12:58 PM
"However, this investigation makes Arpaio look like a crackpot."
Actually, even outside the context of his ridiculous "investigation," Arpaio is a crackpot. Google "Arpaio doesn't believe in free speech" to read what he had to say about people demonstrating in front of his building and calling him names. He actually believes that such activities were violations of his civil rights!
Posted by: daniel rotter | March 09, 2012 at 02:31 AM