![Sample our Communication Studies journals, sign in here to start your access, 2013 & 2014 volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5927/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Communication-Studies.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
In the context of the 2016 U.S. Republican primary election debates, the qualitative method of Conversation Analysis is used to describe a discourse/rhetorical strategy candidates use to control the agenda when answering questions. By prefacing answers with First of all, First, or First off, candidates claim that the immediately next talk will constitute something other than a relevant response to the question, but that one will be forthcoming after first matters are resolved. Findings contribute to agenda setting generally, and specifically to candidates’ strategies for controlling the agenda by variously evading questions’ agendas in order to make space for other political actions (e.g., policy support, acclaim, attack, rebuttal), and doing so in a way that manages public accountability associated with evasion.
Acknowledgement
The authors thank Steve Clayman, John Hellermann, David Ritchie, Tanya Romaniuk, Lee Shaker, and three anonymous reviewers for comments on earlier drafts.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes on contributors
Kristella Montiegel (BA Department of Communication, Media and Culture at Coastal Carolina University; MA, Department of Communication at Portland State University) is a PhD student in the Department of Sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Jeffrey D. Robinson (MA Communication, USC; Ph.D. Sociology, UCLA) is professor and chair of the Department of Communication at Portland State University.