Abstract

In this shrewd and amusing series of observations, Stephen Hess provides a political etiquette for campaign behavior on the part of both politicians and journalists. Organized alphabetically under such headings as Advertising, Bias, Cyberpolitics, Disclosure, Families, Lying, Money, Sex Scandals, and Talk Radio, forty-three brief essays examine common practices and places where the system breaks down, then recommend preventive or reparative action through a few clear rules. With its broad coverage of campaign-related topics and its sensible suggestions, this book provides a useful corrective for practices that are dishonest, downright illegal, or sometimes just endlessly irksome. The book features illustrations by some of America's foremost political cartoonists, including Pulitzer Prize winners Herblock, Paul Conrad, Jeff MacNelly, Don Wright, Garry Trudeau, Jim Borgman, Mike Peters, Tom Toles, Mike Luckovich, Steve Benson, and Walt Handelsman.