Toward a Theory of Simulated Atonement: A Case Study of President George W. Bush's Response to the Abu Ghraib Torture Scandal |
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| Authors: | Ryan Shepard |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Communication Studies , The University of Kansas , rshepard@ku.edu |
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| Abstract: | In response to the Abu Ghraib torture scandal, President Bush delivered an apology that was widely criticized by domestic and international audiences. Nevertheless, the apology succeeded in allowing the President to stop the momentum of negative public opinion following news of the crimes, and to avoid accountability for his role in the crisis. In this essay, I argue that Bush's success stemmed partly from his use of a special subgenre of apologia, simulated atonement. After explaining the strategy in detail, I describe some of the conditions in which it will likely be effective and apply the theory to Bush's statements. |
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| Keywords: | Abu Ghraib Apologia Atonement Bush Image Repair |
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