Framing of Elite Corruption and Rhetorical Containment of Reform in the Air Force-Boeing Tanker Meltdown

• In Event: Rhetorical Models of Democracy

Abstract

The public meltdown of a proposed deal between the Air Force and Boeing Company for the lease of one hundred 767 tanker aircraft stands as the most significant scandal to hit the Pentagon in recent history. Controversy surrounding the $23 billion dollar agreement led to the imprisonment of several officials. Through rhetorical frame analysis of mainstream media coverage from 2003-2008, this study traces Burke's notion of scapegoating as a device for containing reform in military contracting.

Author

• Ross Singer, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale