The consensus in today’s political spectrum is that Americans are extremely polarized and can’t agree on anything. To the contrary, however, in reality real liberals and real conservatives are found in impressive numbers only among those who are deeply engaged in political life. In “Neither Liberal nor Conservative: Ideological Innocence in the American Public,” Donald Kinder and Nathan Kalmoe argue that American public opinion is in a state of ideological innocence. If this is the case, how do Americans make election and policy decisions? What are the implications for campaign and issue strategists? The panel will explore these questions.

The program is focused around a book co-written by Manship School assistant professor Nathan Kalmoe. Political strategists and Dr. Kalmoe will discuss how knowledge of ideological adherence affects the shape of voter messaging. Practitioner panelists include Terri Broussard Williams, vice president of government affairs at the American Heart Association-SouthWest and Manship School alum; Trey Ourso, senior political strategist at Ourso Beychok; and Bill Skelly, partner and co-founder of Causeway Solutions. The Manship School of Mass Communication’s Martin Johnson, associate dean for graduate studies and research, will moderate the panel.

All of the panelists have extensive background in political strategy or research. Manship School assistant professor Nathan Kalmoe researches mass political behavior through communication[MC1] , psychology, and history. Williams leads a team of in-house and contract lobbyists, grassroots organizers, and volunteer advocates to advance public policy for the American Heart Association. Ourso is the former director of the Louisiana Democratic Party and former national president of the Association of State Democratic Executives. Skelly spent over a decade at the Republican National Committee leading a team that revolutionized how political data is used and generated in campaigns. Learn more about them here!

We hope you will join us for this exciting foray into the political ideology of America!