In an effort to better control the twenty-four-hour news cycle, political candidates, parties, and public officials have resorted to circulating their issue positions, arguments, and narratives to news organizations and political colleagues in an attempt to control how political events are framed. As a consequence, it is not uncommon to hear arguments, and even phrases, repeated by numerous political actors and news organizations throughout the course of a news day, giving the appearance that such remarks have been carefully orchestrated—which is in fact the case. Talking points are carefully constructed public relations devices designed to appeal to public opinion, to succinctly offer a persuasive comment regarding a larger issue, to symbolically represent a more involved position with regard to the issues, to avoid the appearance of blame when challenged on a position or question of character, to challenge another candidate through a shorthand phrase or single word, and to divert the media’s focus in a way that benefits the candidate or political official.
For example, when Standard and Poor’s rating organization downgraded the credit of the United States from a AAA to a AA+ rating in August 2011, many Democrats and liberal media outlets referred to the downgrade as “the Tea Party downgrade,” whereas many Republicans and conservative media outlets referred to it as the “Obama downgrade.” Whether the focus of the coverage was on Republicans in Congress or on President Obama influenced whom the public blamed for the downgrade. If prospective voters viewed Obama as primarily responsible for the downgrade, they would be more receptive to the economic proposals being made by his Republican rivals in the Campaign of 2012. If, on the other hand, most voters assigned blame to the Tea Party faction in the Republican Party in the House, then Obama would be better positioned to survive his reelection bid.
During the early days of the 2015–2016 presidential campaign season, the issue of immigration suddenly emerged as a prominent talking point, owing to the rhetoric of candidate Donald Trump. In response to Mr. Trump’s provocative, even inflammatory statements, candidates across the GOP field weighed in on the immigration issue, and while the Democrats were less inclined to address immigration, Vermont’s Sen. Bernie Sanders used this talking point opportunity to criticize the Trump campaign. Immigration continued to be a principal talking point even into the second GOP debate, but it was also clear that Mr. Trump himself—his qualifications and credentials—had become a prominent talking point.
See also Tea Party Movement
Hopkinson, Jenny. “GOP Debate, Part 2: Immigration Dominates Again.” Politico. http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-agriculture/2015/09/gop-debate-part-2-immigration-dominates-again-210258. Accessed September 18, 2015.
TARP. See Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP)