Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel quotes Brewer in article on politics, social media
The Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel quoted Mark Brewer, a professor of political science at the University of Maine, in an article on today’s political climate and the influence of social media. The article, while focusing on a recall vote for Waterville Mayor Nick Isgro following a controversial tweet he posted about Florida school shooting survivor David Hogg, also mentioned several other recent incidents in which behavior by public figures on social media had resulted in their loss of status. “I don’t think there’s any doubt nationwide that Donald Trump’s behavior, particularly on social media, but really everywhere, has had an impact on the political discourse. We saw this in the way he spoke as a candidate. Now, as president, he seems willing and eager to say things in such a way previous presidents just didn’t do … it’s inevitably going to roll down the ladder,” Brewer said. In regard to Isgro’s tweet, Brewer thinks the backlash could have arisen from the target’s circumstances. “Certainly racist or homophobic tweets also cross a line, but directing an attack at a child, most Americans strongly feel that line shouldn’t be crossed,” said Brewer. The Portland Press Herald also carried the article.