ABSTRACT
This chapter employs a split-sample experiment embedded in a national survey in which one random half of respondents were asked about anger toward President Barack Obama and the other half about anger toward the federal government; thus, any differences in the levels and sources of anger would be attributable to the target primed in the question. Also, rather than simply asking the public whether they were angry at the target, respondents were also asked about anger at the actions of the target. Personal anger focuses on one's own emotions about the target, and action-oriented anger focuses on what the target does. The chapter expects that racial resentment should be associated with greater anger toward Obama and his actions, but it should also affect anger toward the federal government's actions, since Obama is the elected leader of the government.
