Pandering (politics)

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Pandering is the act of expressing one's views in accordance with the likes of a group to which one is attempting to appeal. The term is most notably associated with politics. In pandering, the views one is verbally expressing are merely for the purpose of drawing support up to and including votes and do not necessarily reflect one's personal values.

Pandering is essentially a reaction of panic in elected officials who must either tailor their views to public opinion or risk losing their existing or potential seat.[1]

Politicians running for office are known to pander because their winning depends on the voters. When an election is upcoming, many straw polls are taken, and the results may change by the day or even by the hour. By pandering, a politician attempts to tilt the results in his or her favor.[2] Pandering is often seen as a cowardly and dishonest way of gaining votes and most politicians don't normally admit to it when they're doing it.

See also

  • Demagoguery / Demagogy

References

  1. ↑ Politicians don't pander: political manipulation and the loss of democratic ...; By Lawrence R. Jacobs, Robert Y. Shapiro; page 3
  2. ↑ Our Culture of Pandering; By Paul Simon; page 2; Chapter 1 - "Pandering in Politics"
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