Electoral Connection: Advertising, Position Taking, and Credit Claiming

Mayhew Concepts

When trying to understand the concepts of advertising, position-taking, and credit claiming, all of them can be found in Mayhew: The Electoral Connection. 

    - Advertising is when members of Congress try to make a favorable image of themselves. 

    - Position-taking is known when a member of Congress makes a public announcement stating that he or she is for or against something that deals with politics, like war. 

    - Credit claiming is when a member of Congress claims that they are the reason for the government doing something, like passing a bill. 

Social Media 

When analyzing this one tweet, all three concepts can be seen. 

    - Advertising can be seen with the wording. By using the word "champion," it depicts the image that she is a fighter when it comes to helping the climate and the environment. A very good look to have when campaigning. 

    - Position-taking is seen when looking at the cause. This post lets her followers know that she is for the environment and is trying to cut back on pollution in low-income communities. 

    - Credit claiming is evident in the post because it claims that she started the first Environmental Justice Caucus in the Senate, showing that she is making accomplishments within the government. 

Similarities can be seen with this tweet.

    - Position-taking is clearly seen because she posted on Twitter that she will be voting yes to advance the Women's Health Protection Act

    - Credit claiming can also be tied to this post because by letting the world know that she is voting yes, she is telling them that she is a part of the change. 

Sponsored Legislation

One of the current legislations that Duckworth is working on is a bill that will make it easier for mothers to find the proper equipment in order to breastfeed after a disaster. This would be accomplished by having the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provide breastfeeding mothers with financial support after these disasters. Another way FEMA would help is by producing their own breastfeeding devices so that there would not be a shortage for them after a disaster. 

    - Advertising can be seen here because Duckworth is proposing a bill that would mothers, making her come off as family-oriented. It also makes the bill mean more because Duckworth is also a mother. 

    - Position-taking can be applied because she is letting people know that she wants to better the lives of mothers, especially when times are hard. 

Press Release 

Duckworth came out with a press release, sharing her thoughts on the current Russia-Ukraine crisis. In this release, she gives recognition to the hard work that the Biden administration has done and gives support to other countries that have been cutting ties with Russia. She finishes the statement by saying, "I will continue to do everything in my power to help protect Americans here at home and abroad."

    - Duckworth can be seen advertising that she is for the people by saying that she will protect all Americans. 

    - Duckworth is also letting the public know her position on this current crisis and that she whole-heartedly is backing the Biden administration through this tough time. 

Sources

    - Congress: The Electoral Connection

    - https://twitter.com/NRDC_Action/status/1496200136279707654/photo/1

    - https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/proposed-bill-seeks-to-offer-breastfeeding-resources-after-disasters

    - https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-putins-ukraine-invasion-threatening-innocent-lives-and-global-stability-