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Media Images of (Youthful) Offenders

Media Images of (Youthful) Offenders. Mechthild Nagel SUNY Cortland. Lessons of electoral campaigns for penal abolitionists. Comparison of moral panic discourse (2008) Germany (“monster kids”) vs USA (“homeland security”) Racism and Xenophobia as (silent) signifiers. Election Results.

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Media Images of (Youthful) Offenders

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  1. Media Images of (Youthful) Offenders Mechthild Nagel SUNY Cortland

  2. Lessons of electoral campaigns for penal abolitionists Comparison of moral panic discourse (2008) Germany (“monster kids”) vs USA (“homeland security”) Racism and Xenophobia as (silent) signifiers

  3. Election Results • Germany: in Hessen, ruling party lost • USA: in Texas, Clinton won among white voters by a large margin • How does moral panic work? • membership categorization device: “The baby cried. The mommy picked it up.”

  4. Hillary Clinton Famous New Ad: They're Gonna Get Your Kids “Red Phone” controversial ad “The message: our loved ones are in grave danger and only Mrs. Clinton can save them. An Obama presidency would be dangerous -- and not just because of his lack of experience. In my reading, the ad, in the insidious language of symbolism, says that Mr. Obama is himself the danger, the outsider within.” (Orlando Patterson)

  5. Racism in Clinton’s ad • Depiction of white babies to be rescued by a “tough mother” (Hillary Clinton) • The absent predator: • in the USA, the abundance of the myth of the Black male rapist (cf. analysis by Angela Y Davis) • After 9/11/2001, homeland security and the Arab/Muslim male as new Other • Identification of the Other with Obama?

  6. Result of Texas Ad Campaign • Before ad: 47 to 44% whites in favor of Obama • After ad: 12 point swing, 56 % white voters favor Clinton • Obama continues to be labeled a Muslim

  7. History of racism in US media • Willie Horton Ad, by George Bush, Sr. mugshot used for Bush, Sr election campaign 1988

  8. “Willie Horton” in 1988 and 2008 • William becomes “Willie” • Massachusetts’s Governor Dukakis labeled “Soft on crime” in defending furlough program for convicts without possibility of parole • After ad campaign, Dukakis forced to end furlough program and loses presidency to Bush • Group Launches Obama 'Willie Horton' Ad • In 2002, Obama voted "NO" on HB 1812, a bill designed to toughen penalties for crimes committed in furtherance of gang activities. (exposeObama.com)

  9. Germany and its ‘get tough’ social policies • “When a youth commits a crime and we let him go, then the probability that he will do another crime is actually lower than if we’d punish him.” Franz von Liszt (ca 1900) • History of reforms in the youthful offenders acts • Moral panic during electoral campaigns

  10. Roland Koch and Munich subway station beating • Gov Koch uses case to argue for: • Stiffer penalties for young offenders • Now: max sentence for youth (14 to 21 years old: 10 years • Lower age of criminal responsibility from 14 to 12 (had to retract after nationwide protest) • Swift deportations for immigrants, even those born on German soil (ius sanguines)

  11. Result of Koch’s campaign • “Politics of Repression” backfired among voters who switched to opposition party • Koch’s party (CDU) won by less than 1 % and cannot form majority government in Hessen • Voter fatigue of false promises • Nationwide CDU use of anti-immigration platform for 2009 federal elections • Harsh verdict by Munich judge

  12. Abolitionist Strategies • Build coalitions of anti-racist groups and be vigilant about xenophobia • Letters to editor • Diffuse moral panic through education and offering alternatives (e.g. polling questions, workshops, etc.) • Others?

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