Table Of ContentDemocratic Disunity
Lexington Studies in Political
Communication
Series Editor: Robert E. Denton, Jr., Virginia Tech University
This series encourages focused work examining the role and function of
communication in the realm of politics including campaigns and elections, media,
and political institutions.
Recent Titles in This Series
Democratic Disunity: Rhetorical Tribalism in 2020 by Colleen Elizabeth Kelley
Third Parties, Outsiders, and Renegades: Modern Challenges to the Two-Party
System in Presidential Elections by Melissa M. Smith
Studies of Communication in the 2020 Presidential Campaign edited by Robert
E. Denton, Jr.
Horror Framing and the General Election: Ghosts and Ghouls in Twenty-First
Century Presidential Campaign Advertisements by Fielding Montgomery
Political Rhetoric, Social Media, and American Presidential Campaigns:
Presidential Candidates’ Use of New Media by Janet Johnson
The Rhetoric of the American Political Party Conventions, 1948–2016 by
Theodore F. Sheckels
President Trump and the News Media: Moral Foundations, Framing, and the
Nature of Press Bias in America by Jim A. Kuypers
Media Relations and the Modern First Lady: From Jacqueline Kennedy to
Melania Trump edited by Lisa M. Burns
Alternative Media Meets Mainstream Politics: Activist Nation Rising edited by
Joshua D. Atkinson and Linda Kenix
Political Humor in a Changing Media Landscape: A New Generation of
Research edited by Jody C Baumgartner and Amy Becker
Democratic Disunity
Rhetorical Tribalism in 2020
Colleen Elizabeth Kelley
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Kelley, Colleen Elizabeth, author.
Title: Democratic disunity : rhetorical tribalism in 2020 / Colleen
Elizabeth Kelley.
Description: Lanham : Lexington Books, [2022] | Series: Lexington studies
in political communication | Includes bibliographical references and
index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021042673 (print) | LCCN 2021042674 (ebook) | ISBN
9781793639851 (cloth) | ISBN 9781793639868 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Democratic Party (U.S.)--History--21st century. |
Rhetoric--Political aspects--United States--History--21st century. |
Communication in politics--United States--History--21st century. |
Political parties--United States--History--21st century. | United
States--Politics and government--21st century.
Classification: LCC JK2316 .K38 2021 (print) | LCC
JK2316 (ebook) | DDC
324.2736--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021042673
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021042674
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American
National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library
Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.
To my brother and sister-in-law
John Marvin Kelley and Janet Fager Kelley
Contents
Preface xi
Introduction 1
Chapter 1: Democratic Intraparty Tribalism 7
Chapter 2: Rhetorical Tribalism 21
Chapter 3: American Rhetorical Tribes 35
Chapter 4: Congressional Tribalism 51
Chapter 5: Mediated Tribalism 67
Chapter 6: Caucuses, Primaries, and Convention 83
Chapter 7: The Election 105
Chapter 8: The Legacy of Intraparty Tribalism 121
Chapter 9: Tribalism as a Rhetorical Form 137
Conclusion 155
Bibliography 165
Index 217
About the Author 225
vii
Preface
My Dad was a life-long Republican, my Mom a life-long Democrat. Each
stood comfortably within their respective political parties while standing
together through a sixty-year marriage. Perhaps not surprisingly, I knocked
on doors in support of my first presidential candidate at 18, three years before
I could legally vote. By the time I voted in my second presidential election, I
was well into my graduate studies and by the time I voted in my third, I had
begun my academic life in rhetorical theory and criticism. It has been sug-
gested that since certain moral tenets have long been constitutive elements of
the discipline, those imperatives become a rhetorical scholar’s responsibility
as well. Foremost among these is the pragmatic and necessary relationship
between rhetoric, civility, power, and politics. Accordingly, Democratic
Disunity: Rhetorical Tribalism in 2020 emerges from the confluence of my
life as an engaged and curious participant in the longest democratic experi-
ment in the world, as well as a dedicated and curious academic studying one
of the world’s oldest disciplines, upon which the well-being of that experi-
ment depends.
Collaborative support has always been instrumental in my writing and
research, rather pen to paper or hand to keyboard. Such encouragement has
also been essential at all stages of this project, from momentary and occa-
sionally lengthy conversations to perception checking of ideas or constructs
or writing style to spontaneous moments of simple and appreciated words of
encouragement. In particular, I wish to acknowledge four individuals. First,
colleagues Rod Troester and Eric Corty have unconditionally supported this
project from its inception. Dr. Troester, who joined the communication fac-
ulty only a year after I did, has been steadfast in his friendship, exceptional
in his scholarship, and, to my point, championed my research then and now.
Dr. Corty has acted on my behalf as well, as an administrator, when possible,
ix
