From Biden’s ‘garbage’ to Trump’s ‘losers.’
Lee Carter
10.30.24
Making sense of political insults in 2024
Political rhetoric is more charged than ever in this election cycle with some getting a pass while others face backlash
The reactions to political rhetoric in today’s climate often seem baffling. Take former President Donald Trump, for example. When he unleashes insults—branding opponents and their supporters as “radical,” “losers,” “spoiled children” or even “the enemy from within”—it’s almost anticipated. Many Americans see him as a fighter, a bulldog taking on the political establishment and these remarks are viewed as part of his tough persona. Supporters love his directness and his willingness to “drain the swamp.”
Now, contrast that with the fallout when former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Trump supporters a “basket of deplorables” or when President Joe Biden labeled them as “garbage” the way he did on Tuesday night.
In this piece for Fox News, m+p President Lee Carter explores how political rhetoric is more charged than ever, with some getting a pass while others face backlash. She looks at how language carries significant weight, and how we interpret that language fundamentally shapes our perceptions of candidates. One thing is certain: authenticity is essential to trust.
Carter is president of maslansky + partners, the leader and creator of Language Strategy, the singular discipline of finding exactly the right words to make audiences listen, care, and act. Her primary focus is driving behavior change through the effective use of language, and her work makes a big impact on how winning organizations communicate, from Fortune 500 companies to trade associations to nonprofits around the world. The author of “Persuasion: Convincing Others When Facts Don’t Seem to Matter,” she is a regular contributor on Fox, Yahoo Finance, CNN, and other outlets, providing unique insights into business news and U.S. politics. Rather than traditional polling, she analyzes voters’ emotional responses to understand voter engagement and sentiment. Carter’s work is built on the premise that it’s not what you say that matters, it’s what they hear — and she ensures clients are heard exactly as they intend. That is how you win.
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Lee Carter
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