Political Response To Terrorism Essay

The American people have a very clear idea of what terrorism looks like. What we also have a clear idea of is what reactions to terrorism typically look like. Terrorism is not a new phenomenon, and it has repeatedly led to the same end: politicians and policy makers using the public’s fear for its safety to push their own agendas. The recent terror attacks in Paris provide the American people with a chance to spark a new conversation about terrorism, and hopeful presidential candidates with an opportunity to twist this conversation to their benefit. It is becoming clear that reactions to terrorism are becoming a partisan issue, and one that politicians are using to their advantage. We are beginning to see an increasing trend of politicians, …show more content…
Firstly, stances on a single issue, as important as said issue may be to voters and as predictive as the people’s reaction to an issue can be of their positions on other issues and therefore other candidates, cannot predict an entire election. Additionally, there is still a chance for the Democrats when the general election rolls around. As primary season comes to a close, the candidate left standing on either side will have to begin to appeal to a more moderate voter base. This is where Bernie Sanders’ condolences or Hillary Clinton’s politically shrewd, placating tweet about the “harrowing reports” from Paris (US Political Reaction) might play into their favor. Whichever one of them becomes the Democratic party’s nominee, the fact that they didn’t immediately take a strong stance on the Paris attacks will do them favors in the general elections. Despite this, the Republicans still hold an advantage because of the loyalty they will have built over the course of the primaries, and the fact that the median voter will have, by that point, shifted much more to the right because the right is what made them feel safer in the midst of the post-Paris attack fear. So while general election season will be kinder to candidates who didn’t have an immediate harsh response to terrorism, there will have been irreversible damage done to their chances from the