Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

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Messaging matters. Since being elected president, and perhaps well before, Donald Trump has a documented record of unethical behavior, racist discourse, and disregard for the truth. Many Americans and much of the mainstream media remain perplexed that he gets away with this and wonder why the Republican-controlled Congress refuses to rebuke him. For those of us who study communication, the answer is obvious and more rhetorical than ideological.

Aristotle, in his treatise “Rhetoric,” wrote about “the available means of persuasion.” Say what you will about Trump’s incompetence and his despicable words and deeds. None of that may matter when we have a chief executive, arguably more than any other in history, who understands that survival and success often are linked to controlling the language infiltrating the public sphere.

Not only is Trump astute about the power of language, but he has mastered the art of utilizing that power. His employment of phrases like “witch hunt” and “spygate,” and their dissemination by Trump surrogates, have had an impact, being internalized and repeated by others and, as a result, undermining confidence in the eventual outcome of the Russia investigation. Until Trump’s critics understand this rhetorical source of his influence, he may continue to escape accountability.

Richard Cherwitz

Austin, Texas

The writer is a professor at the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin.

Note from KBJ: Shorter Cherwitz: "Trump is running circles around us!"

Great night for Republicans! Congratulations to John Cox on a really big number in California. He can win. Even Fake News CNN said the Trump impact was really big, much bigger than they ever thought possible. So much for the big Blue Wave, it may be a big Red Wave. Working hard!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 6, 2018

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Leaders, politicians and academics are dumbfounded as Americans, en masse, adopt a false norm.

President Donald Trump made more than 3,000 untrue or misleading statements in 466 days, according to The Washington Post’s Fact-Checker blog.

Generations of Americans have endured the attack on truth. Haven’t we learned that “Do as I say and not as I do” reverses the intended effect? How can one not be affected witnessing another’s contradictory behavior? Especially when the other is a parent or authority figure.

Children are naive but not fools. They learn to reap rewards via distortion of truth:

• I didn’t lie. I offered a partial truth that most benefits me.

• I didn’t cheat. I took advantage of the opportunity as presented.

• I didn’t steal. I borrowed with the intention of returning.

We model behavior to maximize benefit. We learn to “talk the talk.” Skills required to succeed. This is insidious as it becomes collective conscience by adulthood.

Consider one rite of passage: the job interview. What is required to accomplish a successful job interview? Is an interview an honest assessment of a candidates’ qualifications? Or just a fine-tuned, well-rehearsed, fabricated presentation of exaggerated strength and mitigated weakness? Preferred candidates tend to be “fastest on their feet.” We reward those most flexible with facts. Is it any wonder lying is so rampant?

There is consensus that approximately 100 percent of all lies occur whilst one is speaking.

The truth is in the Gospel of Matthew 5:37: “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” There is no other interpretation, these words do not permit; “Yes or No, But, Please, let me explain. Here come’s [sic] the lie.”

DAVID S. POSKIN

Harrison

The Russian Witch Hunt Hoax continues, all because Jeff Sessions didn’t tell me he was going to recuse himself…I would have quickly picked someone else. So much time and money wasted, so many lives ruined…and Sessions knew better than most that there was No Collusion!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2018

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Here is Kurt Schlichter's latest column.

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