Why the Press Disdains Republican Presidents

James Joyner writes about anti-bush snobbery. Here is another reason why the press can’t stand Bush. Twenty one years ago Harvard education professor posed a theory of multiple intelligence. He suggested that there are seven different intelligences: 1) verbal and logico-mathematical (these get you high SAT scores); 2) spatial; 3) musical; 4) bodily-kinesthetic; 4) interpersonal; 5) intrapersonal; 6) and 7) naturalist. Journalists, being writers, naturally value linguistic and logico-mathematical intelligence. They think that the ability to string words together cleverly and to see the world in shades of gray (called nuance) indicates intelligence. They don’t see the other six intelligences as important.

Journalists thought four out of the last five Republican Presidents were stupid.

They mocked Eisenhower’s garbled syntax, calling it “bafflegab”. Later they learned that this was a deliberate tactic on Ike’s part. They thought Nixon was smart, calling him “tricky Dick”. They made fun of Gerald Ford not being able to “walk and chew gum at the same time”. They hurled charges of simplicity against Ronald Reagan. When their charges did not stick, they labeled him the “Teflon President”.

Reagan’s interpersonal intelligence enabled him to connect with people, saying the right thing at the right time. He was un-nuanced and straightforward. He announced basic truths in simple statements, calling the Soviet Union and “evil empire”. His bodily kinesthetic intelligence – necessary for an actor – enabled him to project an air of confidence and charm.

They make fun of Bush’s verbal gaffes. Bush’s response was right on target: they “misunderestimate me”. His answer to the critics charge that he swaggers – “In Texas we call it walking” – was also right on target. He was saying to the people that he knows who he is. Journalists, depending on their highly developed linguistic intelligence, cant fathom it.

Clinton, on the other hand they loved because his great verbal skills were combined with a deep interpersonal intelligence and enabled him to connect with audiences. Conservatives couldn’t stand it when Clinton said: “I feel your pain”. He really did – and used that feeling to communicate with the voters.

Maybe we should look at this way: as far as the press is concerned the only good Republic President is a stupid Republican president.