Letters to the Editor
-
Social Consensus Heuristic
The reason protestors are not allowed is so that they don't get on camera.
The Bush rallies have relied on use of what social psychologists call the social consensus heuristic -- a signal that, hey, everybody else thinks this is just great; I should too!
It is what is at work in the late night infomercials, where a crowd of "chefs" ooh and ahhh over some new kitchen weasel.
At home, we think, wow, all those chefs love it -- it must be great. What's the number?
Bush's rallies are just the same. In 2004, a crowd of 500 at a Bush rally sounded, on the radio, like the crowd at the Led Zeppelin reunion concert on the verge of the Stairway to Heaven encore (a more gracious comparison than Berlin 1936).
At the same time, Kerry's rallies, which were open and had Bruce Springsteen and crowds in the thousands, sounded sedate -- and hecklers were allowed.
On the radio, the Bush people were really, really excited.
And the Kerry rally sounded really comparatively sedate and uninspired.
And that has a psychological effect on those listening (or watching) at home.
Hecklers sort of spoil the effect. Which is why pre-screened audience members were instructed to chant USA! USA!, tear signs out of little old ladys' hands, deny entry to Americans who merely look like they might disagree.
And it worked.
Like here: http://www.wsbtv.com/news/9161291/detail.html
Of course, the folks in the crowd looked like brownshirts -- and tht's exactly how they were being used.