Political Communication Research in the 1980s

On the campaign trail during the primary season in 1984, Walter Mondale seemed to turn back the challenge of Senator Gary Hart with a single line--"Where's the beef?" In asking this question, Mondale wanted to know the basis of Hart's criticisms and complaints about Mondale and simultaneously called on Hart to put forth a solid platform instead of campaign platitudes. In reading the eight books reviewed here [see following page], I found myself turning to the same phrase. Where is the beef of political communication research? Where is the...