"Don't you dare!" A look at a politician's use of the media

Politicians understand the crucial role that media plays in a citizen’s everyday life. This is precisely why politicians use the media in ways that advance their own political agendas. Democratic Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy understands that he has the power to persuade in his influential position, and using this to condemn and oppose the broadcasting of NASCAR’s NRA 500 in the midst of the Senate’s consideration of legislation to reduce gun violence. As a single senator urging broadcasters to pull the NRA sponsored race from the schedule, Murphy gives the media an easy narrative for the press and public to follow, therefore enhancing his spotlight in coverage.

"I write today to urge you to not broadcast NASCAR's NRA 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 13th," Murphy stated. As the serving Senator of Connecticut in the wake of the Newtown school shootings, Murphy’s case is all the more influential and substantive. Having been devastated in his first term by this tragedy, Senator Murphy pleaded to News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch to prevent the airing of the NRA race on Fox News.

Lucy Madison of CBS News quotes Murphy as having called the airing of this race "the celebration of guns, inappropriate in the wake of the shootings and argued that broadcasting this race, which will highlight the NRA and its radical agenda during this time, sending a harmful signal to the families affected by gun violence, as well as the millions of Americans who support sensible gun control measures and enjoy your sports programming."

Photo Courtesy of DallasNews.com

CBS News also mentions that Senator Murphy is urging for the pulling of this race because it also features the live shooting of guns at the end of the race with the winners of races at the Texas Motor Speedway usually given two revolvers and a cowboy hat as prizes. As Murphy rests center stage during this high profile topic, one could question whether his motive is to spare viewers of the emotional ties to guns, or simply to take advantage of an obviously sensitive issue in order to advance in the media spotlight. Murphy even pointed out the irony of the situation by playing off of Murdoch’s own support of stricter gun control laws and asking, “why would Fox now essentially endorse the NRA’s extreme position against such laws.”

 Senator Murphy went as far as writing directly to NASCAR, according the CBS News, and urged the company to change the name of the race if they insisted on broadcasting it. NASCAR responded that, “as a sport, we are in the business of bringing people together for entertainment, not political debate.” There is no sign that Fox Sports will break their contract with NASCAR, even considering Senator Murphy’s pleas.

Since Murphy was Senator of Connecticut during such national news coverage as the Newton school shootings, Murphy can be categorized as a high profile political member. As a first-time serving Senator, Murphy is also mindful of his media coverage in terms of affecting his chances for re-election, possibly a great motivator in his pleas with Fox News and NASCAR. By shining his own spotlight to attract the media, in the face of such a hot topic as gun control legislation, Murphy gains prominence in the media with each action on his part. By fighting on behalf of constituents in strong support of gun control legislation in light of the Newtown shootings, Murphy is certainly paving his way for re- election. Though the argument can be made that Murphy is simply acting as a show horse politician here, he still felt he had the power to use the media in this way because of his position, as countless politicians before him.

Sources:
Madion, Lucy. "Conn. senator to Murdoch: Don't air NASCAR NRA race." CBSNews.com, sec. Politics, April 12, 2013. Web.