Study: Lawmakers Now Spend Most Of Their Time Just Taunting One Another

So, what do your beloved Congresscritters spend the bulk of their time in Washington, DC doing? Mostly they have cuddle parties with lobbyists, or, if you've got the exquisite sense of timing of Rep. Corrine Brown (D-Fla.), you're taking a "boutique shopping trip" to the brutalist wonderland of Crystal City, Virginia. But outside of that, they basically spend their days and nights straight up "doin' the dozens" on one another, in press releases. This is according to new research from Harvard, an important university.

Now, a Harvard University professor has analyzed [Congress members'] behavior, using computers to look for trends in members' writings. And he's learned something that might help explain why Congress is having such trouble working out a deal this week.

He learned, to his amazement, that modern members of Congress spend about 27 percent of the time just taunting each other.

"It's jarring and surprising," said Prof. Gary King, an expert in using computers to find patterns in large amounts of data. And, King said, probably counterproductive if we want Congress's members to trust one another enough to make deals.

Just 27 percent of the time? That is jarring and surprising, actually.

Apparently, over the years, King and his students had developed a "Grand Unified Theory of Congressmen" that found that legislators basically express themselves in three ways: "credit-claiming," "position-taking" and "advertising." But over time, a new category of communication has emerged:

"They're a different thing. To say that the only thing members of Congress do is advertising, credit-claiming or position-taking, that's not right," King said. "Because sometimes, they just stand up there and taunt the other side."

Of course, it's not like your lawmakers are proving themselves to be the second coming of Dorothy Parker or anything. Apparently, when Senate Speaker Harry Reid (D-Nev.) says something like, "Republicans have shown they couldn't care less about those who have the least," or House Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) says, "Democrats have not displayed the same interest in listening to the American people," these qualify as taunts. So, if you're of the opinion that only people like Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) are actually intermittently good at taunting, you're still basically right.

Here's another hilarious finding: "[King] found taunting was most common in members whose districts were 'safe.'" So, yeah, it's not like the rise of taunting has come about because of some sudden spike in political courage.

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Comments

[dollbaby]

11:42 AM on 04/08/2011

Please change the headline.....27% is a just a little more than one-fourth of their time. either up the percentage or re-do the leadin for the article.

[ArjenBoatsma]

11:04 AM on 04/08/2011

Here's a way to cut government spending: replace the Capitol with a one-acre sandbox.

[14tavoliberal]

10:50 AM on 04/08/2011

Who doesn't love the congressman from new York. Anthony Weiner, Nancy Pelosi, and Bernie Sanders are the only ones willing to fight for what they want. Just look at Anthony he goes to CNN, Msnbc, and FOX, plus he kicks republican a**.

[LHoney]

10:00 AM on 04/08/2011

Well... it's not like they have legislation to write. That's what lobbyists are for. These guys are like the worst rock stars, except they don't produce any music. Pampered like little princes and princesses, never work a day in their lives. Wonder why they are out of touch and not producing anything of value for their constituents...

[anotherwomanfromva]

09:58 AM on 04/08/2011

I don't think there has been a time when so many ridiculous bills have been proposed in the house. The bill that means if legislation gets passed in the house it automatically becomes law deserved to be mocked by all. And Anthony Weiner did it best.

[Jack Davies]

09:51 AM on 04/08/2011

Ah, that Wiener scene was priceless.

[Zack B]

09:49 AM on 04/08/2011

Taunting one another? What would expect from a group of the professionally clueless?

[earto44]

09:09 AM on 04/08/2011

GOP = Government On Pause
Do everything possible to hault progress. Shut down the federal government if you have to. The GOP has one goal. Take down president Obama, even if you have to take down the whole country with him.

[Kazzim Zongo]

09:22 AM on 04/08/2011

Great example of what Linkins is talking about.

[Blueneck]

09:30 AM on 04/08/2011

So, which district does earto44 represent?

I think the point you are making is the breakdown in political discourse - totally valid, but slightly off topic.

[Mickey B]

08:03 AM on 04/08/2011

While our politicians are amusing themselves with themselves and the working people are fighting for the crumbs the rich people are robbing the country blind. America is the land of opportunity if you happen to be a low achieving politician or a low achieving trust fund baby.

[shockedNawed]

10:37 AM on 04/08/2011

Very well put.

[gutteringdawn]

08:01 AM on 04/08/2011

Jason, when are you going to join your awesome amusing political media criticism with the awesome amusing political media criticism of On The Media to make an unstoppable amusing political media criticism GoBot?

[1differentdrummer]

07:44 AM on 04/08/2011

Little kids in a clown circus.

[Sock De Jour]

07:39 AM on 04/08/2011

The American plutocracy is on show for the world to see.

Only the voters remain blind to it.

[Jack Davies]

09:52 AM on 04/08/2011

Not all of us lol...

[LHoney]

10:01 AM on 04/08/2011

But too many.

[Imzadi]

07:26 AM on 04/08/2011

Anthony is the KING when it comes to snappy taunts.

[Not That Far Left]

08:37 AM on 04/08/2011

Can we clone him so he can be my representative too?

[Jack Davies]

09:53 AM on 04/08/2011

No kidding! After losing Feingold, WI needs a guy like this!

[Mmul1626]

07:00 AM on 04/08/2011

totally turned off by everything going on in Washington right now. It seems that If lawmakers and gov't reps aren't busy having wads of cash shoved in their pockets by lobbyists and corporate bigwigs, they spend the remainder of their time bickering back an forth at the EXPENSE of the American people. Must be nice...

[mootown]

08:06 AM on 04/08/2011

I believe at this time, we should be getting involved LOCALLY. Our local GOP are working from within like monstrous termites- you may not see the damage until the whole city, village or state falls down around you. Think Wisconsin. There is a huge lesson there.

I researched every single person running for the trustee board of our local community college. I made informed choices in an area I didn't know much about. When one fellow's profile said he was a member of a public policy think tank I emailed him to ask which one. When he did not respond, he was off my list. Community colleges are very important resources and I know how even local school boards elect folks with agendas that have nothing to do with education.

The DC congresscritters are not listening nor even have any idea what people really live with.

[kevinbr38]

05:53 AM on 04/08/2011

From both sides of the aisle, they only seem to be able to rouse themselves from their torpor, and give the appearance of accomplishing anything of substance when it's time to start fleecing their constituents for campaign donations.