Abstract:
The objective of this study was to analyze the political debate preceding the general election on April 2, 2006 about whether Pol.Lt.Col. Taksin Shinnawattra should or should not resign as Prime Minister. This analysis is based on the speeches of 4 persons divided into 2 groups: The opposition, Maj.Gen. Chamlong Srimuang, Abhisit Vejjajiva, and Teerayut Boonmee, and for the government Pol.Lt.Col. Taksin Shinnawattra. The speeches were printed in 237 newspapers belonging to Matichon, Thai Post, and Thai Rath from January 14 to 2 April 2, 2006. The results show that the opposition used 5 persuasive reasons for Taksins resignation: 1) Pol.Lt.Col. Taksin Shinnawattras qualifications and personality were unsuitable for the prime minister position. 2) The government administration was not competent. 3) Many and various people demanded his resignation. 4) He was the cause of civil disharmony. 5) Thailand would have many future problems if he did not resign. The government offered 7 reasons why he shouldnt resign: 1) Pol.Lt.Col. Taksin Shinnawattra was suitably qualified to serve as prime minister. 2) The government administration was efficient. 3) The governments work was effective. 4) Most people needed him as Prime Minister. 5) All persons in opposition were unreliable. 6) Some anti-government activities of the opposition were illegal and undemocratic. 7) Thailand would have many problems if he resigned. The opposition used 5 kinds of persuasive evidence: 1) example, 2) analogy, 3) testimony, 4) statistics, and 5) description. The government used 7 kinds of persuasive evidence: 1) example, 2) comparison, 3) testimony, 4) statistics, 5) description, 6) details, and 7) narration. The opposition used persuasive language with 2 characteristics: 1) complement with emphatic words/phrases, and 2) figures of speech. The government used persuasive language with 5 characteristics: 1) complement with emphatic words/phrases, 2) figures of speech 3) slang, 4) exclaimations, and 5) Nothern-Thai dialect. The factors that affected persuasive political communication were political targeting, social context, senders background and persuasive competence, and mass media reporting. From the study, it is recommended that newspaper readers should realize that speeches in the news are the speakers attempt to use persuasive communication and selection of mass media to convince the audience, and therefore readers should receive news from more than one source to obtain a balanced view. Mass media should report news objectively and impartially.