Newswise — "Corruption in government appears to be a second-level concern for the typical American voter if you consider what the majority report in the polls," says James McCann, who studies public opinion and perceptions of political corruption. "When asked what people care the most about, they answer the war in Iraq, the domestic economy and the threat of nuclear weapons in North Korea.
"Yes, accusations of corruption can be a problem for candidates on the day of an election, but whether one party can wage a successful national campaign against a culture of corruption is unclear. Those who might agree with such a sweeping charge may be more difficult to energize, and it could be particularly difficult to convince voters in the Republican bloc to believe the worst about their leaders and the institutions they govern."
Political scandals facing the Republican leadership include allegations of inappropriate behavior between a GOP congressman and underage pages, as well as the indictment of the former House majority leader and investigations regarding illegal lobbying efforts, McCann says.
"And if the opposing party is going to campaign on corruption-free politics, that party needs to make sure its own house is in order," McCann says. "The opposing party should emphasize political competency, not morality."
Both parties should be careful about how they define corruption, McCann says. For example, his earlier research shows that some Americans view legal behavior, such as elected officials raising campaign funds while in office and making campaign promises, as corrupt. An attorney defines corruption based on whether a person broke the law, McCann says. Instead, the average American's perceptions are based on their values, religions and social status.
"This viewpoint is deeply rooted in American history because there is this idea that our political system is better and purer than any other system," McCann says. "This public spirituality goes back to the Protestant-Whig era of the 1700s when the American colonies lived under an oppressive church, monarchy and government. America was created to be better, and people still believe that."
Another factor that may take precedence over corruption is the concern about single-party domination in all three branches of government.
"When either party controls all the levers of power, there is going to be suspicion, especially following scandal after scandal, that there is some corruption there," McCann says. "Right now, there is some deep-seated anxiety about the concentration of powers."
McCann's analysis, "As Voters Head to the Polls, Will They Perceive a 'Culture of Corruption?'" is published in this month's PS: Political Science and Politics journal. McCann also is studying how Mexican expatriates participate in the American political process.
Related Web site:College of Liberal Arts: http://www.cla.purdue.edu/
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