William L. Benoit
Abstract During the 2008 presidential campaign Senator Barack Obama’s values were attacked using guilt by association. An ABC News story reported incendiary remarks made by Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Senator Barack Obama’s pastor. Obama gave a speech to repair his image. Obama attempted to repair his image using denial and differentiation; however, Obama did not repudiate Wright entirely. Instead, Obama also engaged in engaged in third party image repair, using attack accuser, bolstering, and differentiation to repair Wright’s reputation.