The Purpose and Significance of Rhetoric Amongst Barack Obama and Mitt Romney
Rhetoric is the art of persuasive speaking and plays a key position in each President Barack Obama's ways of effectively conveying his message to the American people, as well as how Mitt Romney communicates his message.
Amidst the immense pressure and tension between President Obama and opponent, Mitt Romney, Barack Obama was able to eloquently and skillfully express his stance on the issues Jim Lehrer proposed from the American public through the use of negative diction in reference to Romney's propositions, logos to create an image of numbers, rhetorical questions to interact and get the audience at home thinking, pathos to establish an emotional appeal, and motif of arithmetic to further expand on the idea of numbers and math and how it will get the U.S. economy working again.
Diction:
Words used in the contexts of, "...worst financial crisis since the Great Depression," "...auto industry on the brink of collapse," "...financial system had frozen up," "...burdening middle class," "blowing up our deficit is to make drastic cuts...that would be a mistake." Each and every word used by Obama to describe the economic situation the United States had been in result of the Bush Administration has a negative connotation associated along with it. By using these pessimistic words along with others such as, reckless, vulnerable, toughest, risky and destroyed in banter back and forth with Governor Romney, President Obama is able to capture the attention from viewers and further enunciate the value of said hardships.
Logos:
President Obama makes an intelligent move by articulating the accomplishments of his four years of presidency as well as Mitt Romney's drawbacks through the use of hard facts in numbers. The phrases, "Over the last 30 months, we've seen 5 million jobs in the private sector created.", "And so I've put forward a specific $4 trillion deficit reduction plan. It's on a website. You can look at all the numbers, what cuts we make and what revenue we raise.", "We stepped in and had the toughest reforms on Wall Street since the 1930s.", and "...Governor Romney's central economic plan calls for a $5 trillion tax cut -- on top of the extension of the Bush tax cuts -- that's another trillion dollars -- and $2 trillion in additional military spending that the military hasn't asked for. That's $8 trillion." each serve as proof of rationality of Obama's claims and American citizens are more likely to stand with Obama's accusations of Romney as well as Obama's defense on what has been done in his four years through the use of straight facts and statistics.
Rhetorical Questions:
Rhetorical questions are a strategic way to state a point and get people thinking, without the needed expectation of a reply. Barack Obama uses the technique to his advantage at the beginning of the debate in the sentence, "Are we going to double on top-down economic policies that helped to get us into this mess or do we embrace a new economic patriotism that says America does best when the middle class does best?" as well as in the middle of the debate, "Does anybody out there think that the big problem we had is that there was too much oversight and regulation of Wall Street?" By implementing said questions into his answers, Obama is able to criticize Mitt Romney's plan for the economy.
Pathos:
By incorporating emotional appeal into his phrases and answers, President Obama beneficially connects to the United States people by making known that he understands their struggles fully by using his own hardships of people close to him in addition to your average middle class family. "And by giving them those tax cuts, they had a little more money in their pocket, and so maybe they can buy a new car....They can buy a computer for their kid who's going off to college." The average middle class family in this situation is replaced with the pronoun 'they' and by doing this, anyone is able to relate and fill themselves into that slot and adhere to what Obama is indicating. Barack Obama uses the rhetorical technique pathos as well in the point, "My grandmother died three days before I was elected president. And she was fiercely independent. She worked her way up, only had a high school education, started as a secretary, ended up being the vice president of a local bank. And she ended up living alone by choice." By describing his grandmother's situation of only having a high school diploma, but still working her way up to the position of veep at a local bank, President Obama is successful in planting hope and aspiration into many Americans minds, whether young or old, that no matter how desperate their situation may seem, there's always light at the end of the tunnel and rewards for hard work.
Motif:
Arithmetic has been expressed in Bill Clinton's speech at the Democratic Convention and is further established in Barack Obama's answers throughout the first debate. "And the fact is that if you are lowering the rates the way you described, Governor, then it is not possible to come up with enough deductions and loopholes that only affect high-income individuals to avoid either raising the deficit or burdening the middle class. It's -- it's math. It's arithmetic." By continuing the elaboration of the motif arithmetic from Clinton's speech, Obama is effective in exposing the truth of all of Romney's economic plans which may sound well, but he is successful in making aware that all of these propositions have not been thoroughly thought out through the common denominator, arithmetic.
Mitt Romney forcefully expressed his positions on the key issues which arose from the first presidential debate in his first presidential debate in a manner which made him come across as strong and knowledgable. Romney was able to disclose his plan for America as well as combat Barack Obama's allegations of him. Mitt Romney's utilization of the rhetorical devices such as pathos, which declared connections between him and the American people, syntax, which assisted Romney's plans and structures, logos, which served as rationality and facts which backed up his claims, negative diction regarding President Obama's four years of presidency and ethos which give Romney the credentials of speaking on behalf of the United States citizens.
Pathos:
Mitt Romney's play on the audience's emotions by his stories whilst on the campaign trail are used to his advantage of capturing sympathy from the American people. "I've had the occasion over the last couple of years of meeting people across the country. I was in Dayton, Ohio, and a woman grabbed my arm and she said, "I've been out of work since May. Can you help me?" Ann yesterday was at a rally in Denver and a woman came up to her with a baby in her arms and said, "Ann, my husband has had four jobs in three years, part-time jobs. He's lost his most recent job and we've now just lost our home. Can you help us?" By strategically placing these heart wrenching stories of despair into his answers, viewers are more likely to feel a relationship and closer to Romney.
Syntax:
Sentence structure played a major role and worked in Mitt Romney's favor by his excessive use and repetition of numbered lists on how he would restore America. "My plan has five basic parts. One, get us energy independent, North American energy independent. That creates about 4 million jobs.Number two, open up more trade, particularly in Latin America. Crack down on China, if and when they cheat. Number three, make sure our people have the skills they need to succeed and the best schools in the world..." This way of conveying his message is used many other times and helps further establish organization in Romney's idealisms.
Logos:
Like President Obama, Governor Romney firmly believed in using statistics and numbers to rationally express his standings. Romney did so in the phrases, "Middle income Americans have seen their income down by $4,300." and "...healthcare costs have gone up by $2,500." and so on. By affirming these facts to back up his opposition to Barack Obama, U.S. citizens question where exactly their money has been going and become unenthused of what Obama has done, and what Obama will do.
Ethos:
Mitt Romney establishes credibility of leading a nation as well as his feasibility regarding the accusations set off by President Obama on Romney's ever-so-often changing views of how he'll deal with tax cuts. "Look, I've got five boys. I'm used to people saying something that's not always true, but just keep on repeating it and ultimately hoping I'll believe it. But that -- that is not the case. All right? I will not reduce the taxes paid by high-income Americans." Romney's statement of having five boys was supposed to make him seem more knowledgable of the allegations by Obama.
Diction:
Governor Romney's use of negative diction whilst describing Obama's presidency as well as positive diction in his own plans is imminent in the sentences, "This is obviously a very tender topic.", "Now, I'm concerned that the path that we're on has just been unsuccessful.", "That's by far the most effective and efficient way to get this budget balanced.", "...knowing those burdens are going to be passed on to the next generation," and those are just to name a few. By using these words which all have capability to strike a cord with people in either a negative or positive way, Mitt Romney is successful in coming across to the millions of Americans who struggle to
Highs and Lows?
President Barack Obama:
President Obama's best moment in the first presidential debate would have to have been his ability to keep his composure and not get riled up and ruin his calm demeanor. This said, containment of composure and sort of laid back approach if you will, also could be viewed as his negative and worst moment of the debate, referencing Obama's sort of far off and standoffish reaction to Governor Romney's attacks which were flying past him at full force. By not being as aggressive as some Democrats would've hoped he had been, Obama was considered to have lost the first Presidential debate.
Governor Mitt Romney:
Governor Mitt Romney's confrontational attacks and ability to stand his ground by combatting President Obama's accusations of him served as his best moment of the debate. Romney's worst moment of the debate would have to have been his reference to Big Bird and how he'd like to cut spending from PBS, nonetheless, doing away with Big Bird. In addition to his worst moments, Romney's slip up in the statement, "...these are disabled kids or -- or -- or poor kids or -- or lower-income kids, rather, I want them to be able to go to the school of their choice." by referring to "lower income" kids first as "poor kids," Romney came off arrogant by his insensitive word choice to describe less privileged children. Overall, Romney's best moment out weighs his worst moments, awarding him as the winner of the first presidential debate.
Diction:
Words used in the contexts of, "...worst financial crisis since the Great Depression," "...auto industry on the brink of collapse," "...financial system had frozen up," "...burdening middle class," "blowing up our deficit is to make drastic cuts...that would be a mistake." Each and every word used by Obama to describe the economic situation the United States had been in result of the Bush Administration has a negative connotation associated along with it. By using these pessimistic words along with others such as, reckless, vulnerable, toughest, risky and destroyed in banter back and forth with Governor Romney, President Obama is able to capture the attention from viewers and further enunciate the value of said hardships.
Logos:
President Obama makes an intelligent move by articulating the accomplishments of his four years of presidency as well as Mitt Romney's drawbacks through the use of hard facts in numbers. The phrases, "Over the last 30 months, we've seen 5 million jobs in the private sector created.", "And so I've put forward a specific $4 trillion deficit reduction plan. It's on a website. You can look at all the numbers, what cuts we make and what revenue we raise.", "We stepped in and had the toughest reforms on Wall Street since the 1930s.", and "...Governor Romney's central economic plan calls for a $5 trillion tax cut -- on top of the extension of the Bush tax cuts -- that's another trillion dollars -- and $2 trillion in additional military spending that the military hasn't asked for. That's $8 trillion." each serve as proof of rationality of Obama's claims and American citizens are more likely to stand with Obama's accusations of Romney as well as Obama's defense on what has been done in his four years through the use of straight facts and statistics.
Rhetorical Questions:
Rhetorical questions are a strategic way to state a point and get people thinking, without the needed expectation of a reply. Barack Obama uses the technique to his advantage at the beginning of the debate in the sentence, "Are we going to double on top-down economic policies that helped to get us into this mess or do we embrace a new economic patriotism that says America does best when the middle class does best?" as well as in the middle of the debate, "Does anybody out there think that the big problem we had is that there was too much oversight and regulation of Wall Street?" By implementing said questions into his answers, Obama is able to criticize Mitt Romney's plan for the economy.
Pathos:
By incorporating emotional appeal into his phrases and answers, President Obama beneficially connects to the United States people by making known that he understands their struggles fully by using his own hardships of people close to him in addition to your average middle class family. "And by giving them those tax cuts, they had a little more money in their pocket, and so maybe they can buy a new car....They can buy a computer for their kid who's going off to college." The average middle class family in this situation is replaced with the pronoun 'they' and by doing this, anyone is able to relate and fill themselves into that slot and adhere to what Obama is indicating. Barack Obama uses the rhetorical technique pathos as well in the point, "My grandmother died three days before I was elected president. And she was fiercely independent. She worked her way up, only had a high school education, started as a secretary, ended up being the vice president of a local bank. And she ended up living alone by choice." By describing his grandmother's situation of only having a high school diploma, but still working her way up to the position of veep at a local bank, President Obama is successful in planting hope and aspiration into many Americans minds, whether young or old, that no matter how desperate their situation may seem, there's always light at the end of the tunnel and rewards for hard work.
Motif:
Arithmetic has been expressed in Bill Clinton's speech at the Democratic Convention and is further established in Barack Obama's answers throughout the first debate. "And the fact is that if you are lowering the rates the way you described, Governor, then it is not possible to come up with enough deductions and loopholes that only affect high-income individuals to avoid either raising the deficit or burdening the middle class. It's -- it's math. It's arithmetic." By continuing the elaboration of the motif arithmetic from Clinton's speech, Obama is effective in exposing the truth of all of Romney's economic plans which may sound well, but he is successful in making aware that all of these propositions have not been thoroughly thought out through the common denominator, arithmetic.
Mitt Romney forcefully expressed his positions on the key issues which arose from the first presidential debate in his first presidential debate in a manner which made him come across as strong and knowledgable. Romney was able to disclose his plan for America as well as combat Barack Obama's allegations of him. Mitt Romney's utilization of the rhetorical devices such as pathos, which declared connections between him and the American people, syntax, which assisted Romney's plans and structures, logos, which served as rationality and facts which backed up his claims, negative diction regarding President Obama's four years of presidency and ethos which give Romney the credentials of speaking on behalf of the United States citizens.
Pathos:
Mitt Romney's play on the audience's emotions by his stories whilst on the campaign trail are used to his advantage of capturing sympathy from the American people. "I've had the occasion over the last couple of years of meeting people across the country. I was in Dayton, Ohio, and a woman grabbed my arm and she said, "I've been out of work since May. Can you help me?" Ann yesterday was at a rally in Denver and a woman came up to her with a baby in her arms and said, "Ann, my husband has had four jobs in three years, part-time jobs. He's lost his most recent job and we've now just lost our home. Can you help us?" By strategically placing these heart wrenching stories of despair into his answers, viewers are more likely to feel a relationship and closer to Romney.
Syntax:
Sentence structure played a major role and worked in Mitt Romney's favor by his excessive use and repetition of numbered lists on how he would restore America. "My plan has five basic parts. One, get us energy independent, North American energy independent. That creates about 4 million jobs.Number two, open up more trade, particularly in Latin America. Crack down on China, if and when they cheat. Number three, make sure our people have the skills they need to succeed and the best schools in the world..." This way of conveying his message is used many other times and helps further establish organization in Romney's idealisms.
Logos:
Like President Obama, Governor Romney firmly believed in using statistics and numbers to rationally express his standings. Romney did so in the phrases, "Middle income Americans have seen their income down by $4,300." and "...healthcare costs have gone up by $2,500." and so on. By affirming these facts to back up his opposition to Barack Obama, U.S. citizens question where exactly their money has been going and become unenthused of what Obama has done, and what Obama will do.
Ethos:
Mitt Romney establishes credibility of leading a nation as well as his feasibility regarding the accusations set off by President Obama on Romney's ever-so-often changing views of how he'll deal with tax cuts. "Look, I've got five boys. I'm used to people saying something that's not always true, but just keep on repeating it and ultimately hoping I'll believe it. But that -- that is not the case. All right? I will not reduce the taxes paid by high-income Americans." Romney's statement of having five boys was supposed to make him seem more knowledgable of the allegations by Obama.
Diction:
Governor Romney's use of negative diction whilst describing Obama's presidency as well as positive diction in his own plans is imminent in the sentences, "This is obviously a very tender topic.", "Now, I'm concerned that the path that we're on has just been unsuccessful.", "That's by far the most effective and efficient way to get this budget balanced.", "...knowing those burdens are going to be passed on to the next generation," and those are just to name a few. By using these words which all have capability to strike a cord with people in either a negative or positive way, Mitt Romney is successful in coming across to the millions of Americans who struggle to
Highs and Lows?
President Barack Obama:
President Obama's best moment in the first presidential debate would have to have been his ability to keep his composure and not get riled up and ruin his calm demeanor. This said, containment of composure and sort of laid back approach if you will, also could be viewed as his negative and worst moment of the debate, referencing Obama's sort of far off and standoffish reaction to Governor Romney's attacks which were flying past him at full force. By not being as aggressive as some Democrats would've hoped he had been, Obama was considered to have lost the first Presidential debate.
Governor Mitt Romney:
Governor Mitt Romney's confrontational attacks and ability to stand his ground by combatting President Obama's accusations of him served as his best moment of the debate. Romney's worst moment of the debate would have to have been his reference to Big Bird and how he'd like to cut spending from PBS, nonetheless, doing away with Big Bird. In addition to his worst moments, Romney's slip up in the statement, "...these are disabled kids or -- or -- or poor kids or -- or lower-income kids, rather, I want them to be able to go to the school of their choice." by referring to "lower income" kids first as "poor kids," Romney came off arrogant by his insensitive word choice to describe less privileged children. Overall, Romney's best moment out weighs his worst moments, awarding him as the winner of the first presidential debate.
Fifteen minutes into the first and only Vice Presidential Debate, it became evident that Vice President Joe Biden was ready for a fight. Joe Biden effectively persuaded the United States citizens of his and Barack Obama's ideas for the future of the country as well why Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan were not qualified of said responsibility. Biden was able to do just that through the use of negative diction regrading Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan's policies, logos to create a reasonable and sensible source of facts, rhetorical questions to interact with the viewers in regards to whose side they're really on, pathos to invoke an emotional attachment to the audience concerning the fate of America, and analogy which expresses the comparisons and common denominator of which both campaigns want the same outcome of presidency, but each have different ways viewed of getting there.
Diction:
The words affiliated with negative connotation such as, jeopardizing, weakness, devastating, crippling, bluster, stark, inaccurate and even "malarkey" all contribute to Biden's case and point that Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan's guidelines and strategies to govern the nation are simply not thought out enough. Said words influence the United States citizens' opinions of how reliable and credible the Romney/Ryan plan really is.
Logos:
Vice President Joe Biden enters in statistics and orderly facts to back up his claims of what all President Obama has accomplished in his four years of presidency along with what other preposterous ideas the Romney/Ryan campaign has introduced. "What we did is we saved $716 billion and put it back — applied it to Medicare. We cut the cost of Medicare." "Quickly, the bottom line here is that all the studies show that if we went with Social Security proposal made by Mitt Romney, if you're 40 — in your 40s now, you will pay $2,600 a year — you get $2,600 a year less in Social Security. If you're in your 20s now, you get $4,700 a year less." By tactically addressing the solid facts concerning what the Obama Administration has done and for Americans and by shining light on what Mitt Romney wants to do with America by expressing it in numbers, the viewers of the debate can vividly see in clear statistics what their vote will account for.
Rhetorical Question:
As President Obama did in the first debate by implementing rhetorical questions into his answers, Joe Biden follows by example by stating questions for US citizens which he does not anticipate answers to. The questions, "Any senior out there, ask yourself: Do you have more benefits today?" and, "Who you believe, the AMA? Me? A guy who's fought his whole life for this? Or somebody who had actually put in motion a plan that knowingly cut — added $6,400 a year more to the cost of Medicare?" all serve a purpose to beneficially and intentionally plant a clear question in a voter's mind as well as the answers already formally included into the question. Biden's persuasive rhetorical questions each create an apparent solution in the audience's minds.
Pathos:
Regarding the infamous automobile industry bailout, VP Joe Biden expresses his own story on what it feels like to be in complete distress. When I was a little younger than the congressman, my wife was in an accident, killed my daughter and my wife, and my two sons survived. I have sat in the homes of many people who've gone through what I get through because the one thing you can give people solace is to know they know you've been through it, that they can make it. So I don't doubt his personal commitment to individuals." Just by the one phrase, "the one thing you can give people solace is to know they know you've been through it, that they can make it." describes Joe Biden's purpose for such a statement blatantly. This absolutely horrid time in Biden's life now serves as a blessing to further reach out and connect with his fellow Americans by giving them hope for all situations of despair.
Analogy:
Vice President Biden is qualified to talk on the Obama Administration's behalf regarding what policies and roads they shall take for the upcoming four years in all hopes leading to presidency, just as Congressman Ryan is to. Although, each man has contrasting views of how to get there. Biden states, "But I refuse to impose it on equally devout Christians and Muslims and Jews and — I just refuse to impose that on others, unlike my friend here, the congressman.", "And this talk about this — this weakness, I — I don't understand what my friend's talking about here.", and "And let me tell you what my friend said at a press conference announcing his support of the deal. He said — and I'm — we've been looking for this moment for a long time." By each analogy based declaration, Biden differentiates and sets himself apart from Congressman Ryan, a foundation which strengthens the Obama/Biden campaign.
Congressman Paul Ryan intelligently articulated the Romney/Ryan plans for the United States in first Vice Presidential Debate, withstanding and keeping his cool even through Vice President, Joe Biden's attacks. Congressman Ryan sensibly made known of how the Romney/Ryan campaign fell with the issues Martha Raddatz made known of by the use of the rhetorical devices pathos which arouse all compassion and pity amongst subjects, negative diction in assessment of President Obama's four years of being president, logistics which assert coherent and true stats and figures of failing policies, anaphora which further expresses the same idea for added emphasis, and syntax which aided Ryan to clear and blatant statements.
Pathos:
When Raddatz asked for both Paul Ryan and Joe Biden's stance on abortion, Ryan's personal experience of seeing his daughter on the ultrasound generated a passionate and sentimental feel which worked to his advantage to associate other pro-life Americans with his story. "You know, I think about 10 1/2 years ago, my wife Janna and I went to Mercy Hospital in Janesville where I was born for our seven-week ultrasound for our firstborn child, and we saw that heartbeat. Our little baby was in the shape of a bean, and to this day, we have nicknamed our firstborn child, Liza, "Bean." By associating the story with their own personal stories, the US viewers feel as if they're on an intimate level with the Congressman.
Diction:
Paul Ryan's persuasion of the American public is conspicuous in tearing down and demeaning the Obama/Biden campaign. The words tragedy, chaotic, devastating, rejecting, and unraveling (just to name a few) all in mention of what the state of our economy is in due to President Obama prompt many undecided voters as well as decided, Republican voters to thoroughly think of and rehash the dwindling economy.
Logos:
By the effectiveness of logistics, Ryan additionally backs up his claims what he believes is an unsuccessful economy and unsuccessful health care reform. The examples, "The economy is barely limping along. It's growing at 1.3 percent. That's slower than it grew last year, and last year was slower than the year before." and "Look at what — look what "Obamacare" does. "Obamacare" takes $716 billion from Medicare to spend on "Obamacare." These stats comprehensibly follow through with American citizens and are implemented into their brains as a basis and rationale of judgment.
Anaphora:
Paul Ryan's repetition of the word "don't" in the sentence, "Don't raise the deficit, don't raise taxes on the middle class and don't lower the share of income that is borne by the high-income earners." powerfully suggests his stance on the deficit and taxes and how strongly he is against the matter. By added emphasis on this word, US citizens are made known of which topics Congressman Ryan is more passionately focused on.
Syntax:
The way Paul Ryan formulated sentences is much like his running partner, Mitt Romney in the fact that two both talk in lists and have clear cut, to the point answers to back up their claims. Straightforward questions and answers are delivered by Congressman Ryan in the following examples, "Here is the problem. Look at all the various issues out there and that's unraveling before our eyes. The vice president talks about sanctions on Iran." and "So when they see this kind of activity, they are encouraged to continue, and that's the problem." In consideration of said sentence structure and cause and effect type speaking, Paul Ryan articulates well to the people and comes off as a well ordered man.
Highs and Lows?
Vice President Joe Biden:
Vice President Joe Biden's assertive claims and critiques of how Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney are unfit leaders for our nation is considered his best moment of the only VP debate. Vice President Biden's no nonsense tactics aided him to be viewed as a force to be reckoned with and a man who will stick up for the United States people. On a pessimistic note, Biden's worst moment of the debate would honestly have to be the whole debate, where Biden could not refrain from his sudden outbursts of laughter while Congressman Ryan spoke. These random sheer moments of lightheartedness of the situations at hand did not sit well with Republican voters who viewed Biden as disrespectful.
Congressman Paul Ryan:
Congressman Paul Ryan's overall best moment his very first and only vice presidential debate ever would be his ability to stand his ground of his and Romney's views and not fall under Biden's bully-esque ways of obscene laughing episodes. Throughout the whole VP debate, Congressman Ryan continued to drink copious amounts of water, making it evident that he was indeed nervous and needed an easy way to "gulp" and deal with his nervousness without making it too obvious, although to some, it was evident. This small little detail of Ryan's excessive water drinking habits only affect the outcome of the debate to a minor extent, but the vice presidential debate was too close to call, so it was considered a tie by many.
Diction:
The words affiliated with negative connotation such as, jeopardizing, weakness, devastating, crippling, bluster, stark, inaccurate and even "malarkey" all contribute to Biden's case and point that Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan's guidelines and strategies to govern the nation are simply not thought out enough. Said words influence the United States citizens' opinions of how reliable and credible the Romney/Ryan plan really is.
Logos:
Vice President Joe Biden enters in statistics and orderly facts to back up his claims of what all President Obama has accomplished in his four years of presidency along with what other preposterous ideas the Romney/Ryan campaign has introduced. "What we did is we saved $716 billion and put it back — applied it to Medicare. We cut the cost of Medicare." "Quickly, the bottom line here is that all the studies show that if we went with Social Security proposal made by Mitt Romney, if you're 40 — in your 40s now, you will pay $2,600 a year — you get $2,600 a year less in Social Security. If you're in your 20s now, you get $4,700 a year less." By tactically addressing the solid facts concerning what the Obama Administration has done and for Americans and by shining light on what Mitt Romney wants to do with America by expressing it in numbers, the viewers of the debate can vividly see in clear statistics what their vote will account for.
Rhetorical Question:
As President Obama did in the first debate by implementing rhetorical questions into his answers, Joe Biden follows by example by stating questions for US citizens which he does not anticipate answers to. The questions, "Any senior out there, ask yourself: Do you have more benefits today?" and, "Who you believe, the AMA? Me? A guy who's fought his whole life for this? Or somebody who had actually put in motion a plan that knowingly cut — added $6,400 a year more to the cost of Medicare?" all serve a purpose to beneficially and intentionally plant a clear question in a voter's mind as well as the answers already formally included into the question. Biden's persuasive rhetorical questions each create an apparent solution in the audience's minds.
Pathos:
Regarding the infamous automobile industry bailout, VP Joe Biden expresses his own story on what it feels like to be in complete distress. When I was a little younger than the congressman, my wife was in an accident, killed my daughter and my wife, and my two sons survived. I have sat in the homes of many people who've gone through what I get through because the one thing you can give people solace is to know they know you've been through it, that they can make it. So I don't doubt his personal commitment to individuals." Just by the one phrase, "the one thing you can give people solace is to know they know you've been through it, that they can make it." describes Joe Biden's purpose for such a statement blatantly. This absolutely horrid time in Biden's life now serves as a blessing to further reach out and connect with his fellow Americans by giving them hope for all situations of despair.
Analogy:
Vice President Biden is qualified to talk on the Obama Administration's behalf regarding what policies and roads they shall take for the upcoming four years in all hopes leading to presidency, just as Congressman Ryan is to. Although, each man has contrasting views of how to get there. Biden states, "But I refuse to impose it on equally devout Christians and Muslims and Jews and — I just refuse to impose that on others, unlike my friend here, the congressman.", "And this talk about this — this weakness, I — I don't understand what my friend's talking about here.", and "And let me tell you what my friend said at a press conference announcing his support of the deal. He said — and I'm — we've been looking for this moment for a long time." By each analogy based declaration, Biden differentiates and sets himself apart from Congressman Ryan, a foundation which strengthens the Obama/Biden campaign.
Congressman Paul Ryan intelligently articulated the Romney/Ryan plans for the United States in first Vice Presidential Debate, withstanding and keeping his cool even through Vice President, Joe Biden's attacks. Congressman Ryan sensibly made known of how the Romney/Ryan campaign fell with the issues Martha Raddatz made known of by the use of the rhetorical devices pathos which arouse all compassion and pity amongst subjects, negative diction in assessment of President Obama's four years of being president, logistics which assert coherent and true stats and figures of failing policies, anaphora which further expresses the same idea for added emphasis, and syntax which aided Ryan to clear and blatant statements.
Pathos:
When Raddatz asked for both Paul Ryan and Joe Biden's stance on abortion, Ryan's personal experience of seeing his daughter on the ultrasound generated a passionate and sentimental feel which worked to his advantage to associate other pro-life Americans with his story. "You know, I think about 10 1/2 years ago, my wife Janna and I went to Mercy Hospital in Janesville where I was born for our seven-week ultrasound for our firstborn child, and we saw that heartbeat. Our little baby was in the shape of a bean, and to this day, we have nicknamed our firstborn child, Liza, "Bean." By associating the story with their own personal stories, the US viewers feel as if they're on an intimate level with the Congressman.
Diction:
Paul Ryan's persuasion of the American public is conspicuous in tearing down and demeaning the Obama/Biden campaign. The words tragedy, chaotic, devastating, rejecting, and unraveling (just to name a few) all in mention of what the state of our economy is in due to President Obama prompt many undecided voters as well as decided, Republican voters to thoroughly think of and rehash the dwindling economy.
Logos:
By the effectiveness of logistics, Ryan additionally backs up his claims what he believes is an unsuccessful economy and unsuccessful health care reform. The examples, "The economy is barely limping along. It's growing at 1.3 percent. That's slower than it grew last year, and last year was slower than the year before." and "Look at what — look what "Obamacare" does. "Obamacare" takes $716 billion from Medicare to spend on "Obamacare." These stats comprehensibly follow through with American citizens and are implemented into their brains as a basis and rationale of judgment.
Anaphora:
Paul Ryan's repetition of the word "don't" in the sentence, "Don't raise the deficit, don't raise taxes on the middle class and don't lower the share of income that is borne by the high-income earners." powerfully suggests his stance on the deficit and taxes and how strongly he is against the matter. By added emphasis on this word, US citizens are made known of which topics Congressman Ryan is more passionately focused on.
Syntax:
The way Paul Ryan formulated sentences is much like his running partner, Mitt Romney in the fact that two both talk in lists and have clear cut, to the point answers to back up their claims. Straightforward questions and answers are delivered by Congressman Ryan in the following examples, "Here is the problem. Look at all the various issues out there and that's unraveling before our eyes. The vice president talks about sanctions on Iran." and "So when they see this kind of activity, they are encouraged to continue, and that's the problem." In consideration of said sentence structure and cause and effect type speaking, Paul Ryan articulates well to the people and comes off as a well ordered man.
Highs and Lows?
Vice President Joe Biden:
Vice President Joe Biden's assertive claims and critiques of how Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney are unfit leaders for our nation is considered his best moment of the only VP debate. Vice President Biden's no nonsense tactics aided him to be viewed as a force to be reckoned with and a man who will stick up for the United States people. On a pessimistic note, Biden's worst moment of the debate would honestly have to be the whole debate, where Biden could not refrain from his sudden outbursts of laughter while Congressman Ryan spoke. These random sheer moments of lightheartedness of the situations at hand did not sit well with Republican voters who viewed Biden as disrespectful.
Congressman Paul Ryan:
Congressman Paul Ryan's overall best moment his very first and only vice presidential debate ever would be his ability to stand his ground of his and Romney's views and not fall under Biden's bully-esque ways of obscene laughing episodes. Throughout the whole VP debate, Congressman Ryan continued to drink copious amounts of water, making it evident that he was indeed nervous and needed an easy way to "gulp" and deal with his nervousness without making it too obvious, although to some, it was evident. This small little detail of Ryan's excessive water drinking habits only affect the outcome of the debate to a minor extent, but the vice presidential debate was too close to call, so it was considered a tie by many.
After criticism of procedures in the first presidential debate, and much believed loss, President Obama worked diligently to reconstruct his approach in the second presidential debate. Obama achieved this venture with the help of the rhetorical devices anaphora which expresses all prominence on an issue stated by himself, rhyme in a context that is generally pleasing to the ears, use of hyperbole to over exaggerate the effects of Romney's plans, repetition which positively reiterates what is occurring in America, and parallel structure to adhere Mitt Romney to the American people in a negative connotation of what Romney wants, and what the people do not want.
Anaphora:
Obama's use of anaphora to further generate and expand on how America is becoming cleaner as well as energy sufficient is evident in the statement, "...even as we’re producing more coal, we’re producing it cleaner and smarter. Same thing with oil; same thing with natural gas." by utilizing all scenarios regarding coal, oil, and natural gas.
Rhyme:
The rhyme, "So if you want to drill on public lands, you use it or you lose it." puts significance on the value of debated oil and natural gas conservation as well as putting a little ring to the phrase so it stays in the viewers minds' throughout not only the entire debate, but the entire rest of the campaign.
Hyperbole:
The exaggeration referencing Mitt Romney's "pipelines," attack in the affirmation, "And with respect to this pipeline that Governor Romney keeps on talking about, we’ve — we’ve built enough pipeline to wrap around the entire Earth once." serves as a key role in defending Obama's ways of production of oil by amplifying the amount of pipelines in America and overemphasizing his ideas.
Repetition:
Through the use of repetition in the clause, "...Governor Romney says these are imaginary jobs, when you’ve got thousands of people right now in Iowa, right now in Colorado who are working, creating wind power," of the phrase, "right now," prominently states the fact that there are people in both Iowa and Colorado and other states who are aiding in the creation of wind power at this very moment. The repetition of this phrase further emulates the kind of hard work every moment in the US.
Parellel Structure:
President Obama's assertion and accusation of Romney's confusing and vague details of his economic plans becomes evident in the following sentence, "Now, Governor Romney was a very successful investor. If somebody came to you, Governor, with a plan that said, here; I want to spend 7 (trillion dollars) or $8 trillion, and then we’re going to pay for it, but we can’t tell you until maybe after the election how we’re going to do it, you wouldn’t have taken such a sketchy deal. And neither should you, the American people, because the math doesn’t add up." By putting Mitt Romney in the shoes of your everyday, average American and comparing him to your everyday, average American, your everyday, average American is completely capable of comprehending the magnitude of said incomplete economic plan.
Following a strong, affirmative first presidential debate, Mitt Romney stays wide eyed in hopes of recreating the same structure in the second presidential debate. Mitt Romney is effective in doing this with the use of the rhetorical devices, polysyndeton to create lists of what President Obama is not likely of achieving in a second term and what he will do, ethos to create basis for credentials of the subject matter he is discussing, asyndeton to further establish lists which reach out to all Americans, repetition to magnify the gratitude of Romney's plans, and rhetorical question to get the audience at home thinking hard on the issues at hand stated by Governor Romney.
Polysyndeton:
Regarding Mitt Romney's plans for tax cuts amongst Americans, the use of polysyndeton aides Romney in being able to list off many things at once which he will reform. The Governor states, "... but I’m going to limit deductions and exemptions and credits, particularly for people at the high end, because I am not going to have people at the high end pay less than they’re paying now." By creating a mental checklist of all things he would limit, Romney amplifies the vastness of said statement by giving the US citizens a little taste of what he plans to do if elected president.
Ethos:
Governor Mitt Romney has worked hard all of his campaign to be on the same level as his fellow Americans, and by the use of the rhetorical device ethos, Romney is still capable of being a credible source whilst still relating to his common folk. "I don’t think anyone really believes that you’re a person who’s going to be pushing for oil and gas and coal." Mitt Romney's use of the pronoun, "I" gives him the feasibility to express on behalf of how Americans view President Obama's regards to non-renewable resources.
Asyndeton:
The absence of conjunction parts and implementation of an asyndeton amidst the sentence, "And so in terms of bringing down deductions, one way of doing that would be to say everybody gets — I’ll pick a number — $25,000 of deductions and credits. And you can decide which ones to use, your home mortgage interest deduction, charity, child tax credit and so forth." additionally create a small, yet heavy list of different Americans with different issues who would benefit from his policies.
Repetition:
The reiteration of the phrase, "comes down" in the remark from Mitt Romney, "You can use those as part of filling that bucket, if you will, of deductions. But your rate comes down, and the burden also comes down on you for one more reason." emphasizes the underlying fact that "rates will come down" and also aides in advantage to Romney's case of how he plans to assist Americans.
Rhetorical Question:
Like Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Mitt Romney weighs the pros of the use of the rhetorical question in lieu of incorporating the American audience into the debate. "Why am I lowering taxes on the middle class? Because under the last four years, they’ve been buried, and I want to help people in the middle class." Governor Romney's ends up answering his own rhetorical question if the Americans at home do not otherwise know the answer. By blatantly addressing said issue upfront, Romney is successful is diminishing his cloudy and confusing policies in accordance to Barack Obama.
Highs and Lows?
President Barack Obama:
President Obama's best moment of the second presidential debate would be his newly found energetic and audacious behavior in contrast to his submissive behavior in the first debate. A key note, laughed at by the audience in fact was Mitt Romney's failed attempt to call out President Obama on his pension. MR. ROMNEY: "Have you looked at your pension?" PRESIDENT OBAMA: "I’ve got to say — (inaudible) —" MR. ROMNEY: "Mr. President, have you looked at your pension?" PRESIDENT OBAMA: "You know, I don’t look at my pension. It’s not as big as yours, so it — it doesn’t take as long." By not taking hits and blows by Mitt Romney, Barack Obama proved himself to the Americans by defending his policies and being able to say that he won the second presidential debate. I don't believe Obama really had an overly "bad" moment in the debate, although I do not believe he was absolutely perfect, I just cannot think of any key point that stands out in a negative connotation that would jeopardize his reelection.
Governor Mitt Romney:
Mitt Romney's strongest moment in the second presidential debate would have been his clear cut answers to many of the undecided voters. Said clear cut answers profoundly expressed Romney's plan for job creations regarding newly graduated college students as well as his overall direction he plans to steer American if given the wheel. Romney's worst moment among the second debate is his infamous line, "Binders full of women." referencing why men outnumbered women in his cabinet. This ignorant statement proves in a nutshell how Mitt Romney views women. That they are all trapped in binders. Adding onto his worst moments, Romney's failed attempts to call out President Obama on his pension as well as wrongly accusing Obama of not declaring the attacks at Benghazi as acts of terrorism for two weeks, until moderator Candy Crowley set him straight. Unlike the first debate, Mitt Romney's worst moments weigh heavier than his best moments.
Anaphora:
Obama's use of anaphora to further generate and expand on how America is becoming cleaner as well as energy sufficient is evident in the statement, "...even as we’re producing more coal, we’re producing it cleaner and smarter. Same thing with oil; same thing with natural gas." by utilizing all scenarios regarding coal, oil, and natural gas.
Rhyme:
The rhyme, "So if you want to drill on public lands, you use it or you lose it." puts significance on the value of debated oil and natural gas conservation as well as putting a little ring to the phrase so it stays in the viewers minds' throughout not only the entire debate, but the entire rest of the campaign.
Hyperbole:
The exaggeration referencing Mitt Romney's "pipelines," attack in the affirmation, "And with respect to this pipeline that Governor Romney keeps on talking about, we’ve — we’ve built enough pipeline to wrap around the entire Earth once." serves as a key role in defending Obama's ways of production of oil by amplifying the amount of pipelines in America and overemphasizing his ideas.
Repetition:
Through the use of repetition in the clause, "...Governor Romney says these are imaginary jobs, when you’ve got thousands of people right now in Iowa, right now in Colorado who are working, creating wind power," of the phrase, "right now," prominently states the fact that there are people in both Iowa and Colorado and other states who are aiding in the creation of wind power at this very moment. The repetition of this phrase further emulates the kind of hard work every moment in the US.
Parellel Structure:
President Obama's assertion and accusation of Romney's confusing and vague details of his economic plans becomes evident in the following sentence, "Now, Governor Romney was a very successful investor. If somebody came to you, Governor, with a plan that said, here; I want to spend 7 (trillion dollars) or $8 trillion, and then we’re going to pay for it, but we can’t tell you until maybe after the election how we’re going to do it, you wouldn’t have taken such a sketchy deal. And neither should you, the American people, because the math doesn’t add up." By putting Mitt Romney in the shoes of your everyday, average American and comparing him to your everyday, average American, your everyday, average American is completely capable of comprehending the magnitude of said incomplete economic plan.
Following a strong, affirmative first presidential debate, Mitt Romney stays wide eyed in hopes of recreating the same structure in the second presidential debate. Mitt Romney is effective in doing this with the use of the rhetorical devices, polysyndeton to create lists of what President Obama is not likely of achieving in a second term and what he will do, ethos to create basis for credentials of the subject matter he is discussing, asyndeton to further establish lists which reach out to all Americans, repetition to magnify the gratitude of Romney's plans, and rhetorical question to get the audience at home thinking hard on the issues at hand stated by Governor Romney.
Polysyndeton:
Regarding Mitt Romney's plans for tax cuts amongst Americans, the use of polysyndeton aides Romney in being able to list off many things at once which he will reform. The Governor states, "... but I’m going to limit deductions and exemptions and credits, particularly for people at the high end, because I am not going to have people at the high end pay less than they’re paying now." By creating a mental checklist of all things he would limit, Romney amplifies the vastness of said statement by giving the US citizens a little taste of what he plans to do if elected president.
Ethos:
Governor Mitt Romney has worked hard all of his campaign to be on the same level as his fellow Americans, and by the use of the rhetorical device ethos, Romney is still capable of being a credible source whilst still relating to his common folk. "I don’t think anyone really believes that you’re a person who’s going to be pushing for oil and gas and coal." Mitt Romney's use of the pronoun, "I" gives him the feasibility to express on behalf of how Americans view President Obama's regards to non-renewable resources.
Asyndeton:
The absence of conjunction parts and implementation of an asyndeton amidst the sentence, "And so in terms of bringing down deductions, one way of doing that would be to say everybody gets — I’ll pick a number — $25,000 of deductions and credits. And you can decide which ones to use, your home mortgage interest deduction, charity, child tax credit and so forth." additionally create a small, yet heavy list of different Americans with different issues who would benefit from his policies.
Repetition:
The reiteration of the phrase, "comes down" in the remark from Mitt Romney, "You can use those as part of filling that bucket, if you will, of deductions. But your rate comes down, and the burden also comes down on you for one more reason." emphasizes the underlying fact that "rates will come down" and also aides in advantage to Romney's case of how he plans to assist Americans.
Rhetorical Question:
Like Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Mitt Romney weighs the pros of the use of the rhetorical question in lieu of incorporating the American audience into the debate. "Why am I lowering taxes on the middle class? Because under the last four years, they’ve been buried, and I want to help people in the middle class." Governor Romney's ends up answering his own rhetorical question if the Americans at home do not otherwise know the answer. By blatantly addressing said issue upfront, Romney is successful is diminishing his cloudy and confusing policies in accordance to Barack Obama.
Highs and Lows?
President Barack Obama:
President Obama's best moment of the second presidential debate would be his newly found energetic and audacious behavior in contrast to his submissive behavior in the first debate. A key note, laughed at by the audience in fact was Mitt Romney's failed attempt to call out President Obama on his pension. MR. ROMNEY: "Have you looked at your pension?" PRESIDENT OBAMA: "I’ve got to say — (inaudible) —" MR. ROMNEY: "Mr. President, have you looked at your pension?" PRESIDENT OBAMA: "You know, I don’t look at my pension. It’s not as big as yours, so it — it doesn’t take as long." By not taking hits and blows by Mitt Romney, Barack Obama proved himself to the Americans by defending his policies and being able to say that he won the second presidential debate. I don't believe Obama really had an overly "bad" moment in the debate, although I do not believe he was absolutely perfect, I just cannot think of any key point that stands out in a negative connotation that would jeopardize his reelection.
Governor Mitt Romney:
Mitt Romney's strongest moment in the second presidential debate would have been his clear cut answers to many of the undecided voters. Said clear cut answers profoundly expressed Romney's plan for job creations regarding newly graduated college students as well as his overall direction he plans to steer American if given the wheel. Romney's worst moment among the second debate is his infamous line, "Binders full of women." referencing why men outnumbered women in his cabinet. This ignorant statement proves in a nutshell how Mitt Romney views women. That they are all trapped in binders. Adding onto his worst moments, Romney's failed attempts to call out President Obama on his pension as well as wrongly accusing Obama of not declaring the attacks at Benghazi as acts of terrorism for two weeks, until moderator Candy Crowley set him straight. Unlike the first debate, Mitt Romney's worst moments weigh heavier than his best moments.
After talk of a distant Barack Obama who didn't fully bring his A-Game to the first debate, President Obama made sure to come off as aggressive and assertive as possible to diminish any negative comments of the way he presented himself in Presidential Debate Three. Obama was able to accomplish this feat through the use of positive diction in consideration to his plans for America's future and negative diction in contrast to Romney's views for America, satire in regards to Mitt Romney's foreign policy, use of anaphora whilst speaking on behalf of military to circulate stress on a certain word, adage while expressing what President Kennedy would not have wanted from his country, and pathos to trigger tenderhearted emotions referencing our nation's trials and triumphs.
Diction:
The underlined words introduced in the phrases, "...my first job as commander in chief, Bob, is to keep the American people safe." and "...we did everything we could to secure those Americans who were still in harm's way;...and we would bring them to justice." all serve as positive diction supporting how Obama has dealt with unfortunate situations and how he will in the future. Negative diction in context to Mitt Romney's plan for America are evident in the words, destruction, confusing, mixed-messages, and reckless etc., etc. By using said negative words to describe Mitt Romney's foreign policies, Barack Obama is able to disregard Romney in way that is clear to the audience watching at home.
Satire:
When being asked on who would be considered the biggest threat to the United States as of today, Mitt Romney had been on the record to say that it was Russia. Barack Obama's sarcastic comment of, "...what’s the biggest geopolitical threat facing America, you said Russia — not al-Qaida, you said Russia. And the 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because, you know, the Cold War’s been over for 20 years." has been seen as a sort of bully-esque attack by some, but others viewed it as a humorous way of ridiculing Romney's obscene remark.
Anaphora:
Barack Obama's repetition of the word "now" to gain attention from all subjects who wanted to be informed further resulted in an intelligible plan. "Now, you just gave a speech a few weeks ago in which you said we should still have troops in Iraq....Now, it is absolutely true that we cannot just beat these challenges militarily, and so what I’ve done throughout my presidency and will continue to do, is, number one, make sure that these countries are supporting our counterterrorism efforts;" as well as, "We are — we playing the leadership role. We organized the “Friends of Syria.” We are mobilizing humanitarian support and support for the opposition. And we are making sure that that those we help are those who will be friends of ours in the long term and friends of our allies in the region over the long term." The enunciation of "now" and "we are" catches the audiences attention and help create the basis that Barack Obama is a well organized and credible man.
Adage:
The night of the third presidential debate coincidentally was the 50th anniversary of the night President John F. Kennedy announced to the world that the Soviet Union had stationed nuclear missiles in Cuba. In a statement given by President Obama, he says, "No, I don’t because I think that America has to stand with democracy. The notion that we would have tanks run over those young people who were in Tahrir Square, that is not the kind of American leadership that John F. Kennedy talked about 50 years ago." While referencing what feasible, well respected and well mannered President Kennedy talked of 50 years ago, the more mature audience is able to connect President Obama along with Kennedy in forming the belief that they stand for the same propositions.
Pathos:
President Obama's scenario of touchy subject, 9/11 and how it affected a young lady today is addressed in the declaration, "You know, after we killed bin Laden, I was at Ground Zero for a memorial and talked to a — a — a young woman who was 4 years old when 9/11 happened. And the last conversation she had with her father was him calling from the twin towers, saying, Peyton, I love you, and I will always watch over you. And for the next decade she was haunted by that conversation. And she said to me, you know, by finally getting bin Laden, that brought some closure to me. And when we do things like that, when we bring those who have harmed us to justice, that sends a message to the world, and it tells Peyton that we did not forget her father." is an expert notion to really hit home with 9/11 survivors as well as 9/11 family members and so on. This statement of closure from a young woman addresses the type of relief the Obama Administration has implemented in today's youth as well as many American's today by capturing and murdering Osama bin Laden.
Mitt Romney's need to up his ante and come across as the clear front runner in the election became evident in the third and final presidential debate which served as the last closing installment to how to the American public will view each candidate. Governor Romney's utilization of the rhetorical devices such as metaphor which contributes to the purpose for comparing situations among regions to other subjects, negative diction to further express the tone of the American economy, anaphora to highlight key points in his arguments, and repetition to analyze and depict Obama's stances on certain issues.
Metaphor:
Through the use of a metaphor in the sentence, "I see the Middle East with a rising tide of violence, chaos, tumult." Romney effectively compares the Middle East to a rising tide whose whereabouts have not been calculated. This use of figurative language evident to the American people and they are now more qualified to understand the immense destruction the Middle East faces.
Diction:
Two examples of diction by Governor Romney are imminent in the phrases, "...terrible tragedy" as well as "...humanitarian disaster." Through the use of the words terrible, tragedy, and disaster which all carry a negative connotation, Mitt Romney hopes to achieve this thought with US citizens regarding his thought of the failing economic and foreign policies enacted by Barack Obama.
Anaphora:
In the sentence, "Syria is Iran’s only ally in the Arab world. It’s their route to the sea. It’s the route for them to arm Hezbollah in Lebanon, which threatens, of course, our ally Israel." The reiteration of the phrase "their route" emphasizes the importance said route have and how this affects us personally, by affecting our ally Israel.
Repetition:
Mitt Romney's restatement in the phrase, "By the way, number one I get rid of is “Obamacare.” There are a number of things that sound good but, frankly, we just can’t afford them. And that one doesn’t sound good, and it’s not affordable, so I get rid of that one from day one." re-words his stance and reason for wanting to repeal the highly controversial ObamaCare.
Highs and Lows?
President Barack Obama:
Barack Obama's best moment of the third and final presidential debate would be his resilience and authoritative, determined will to impede any attacks Mitt Romney imposed. Regarding Obama's worst moment, the satire and sarcasm of Mitt Romney's statement that Russia poses at the biggest threat to the United States and the imposition that the 1980s were calling and they needed their foreign policy back as well as Obama's sarcastic attitude to the lessened amount ships, horses and bayonets all serve against Obama and were viewed as a little too aggressive and rude by his critics.
Governor Mitt Romney:
Governor Mitt Romney most prized moment of the third presidential debate would have to be his demeanor and ability to accept President Obama's attacks on his viewpoints. This matter worked in Romney's favor by making him seem more presidential and professional. Mitt Romney's poorest moment in the third debate would have to be his submissiveness and agreement to most foreign policy issues enacted by the President, giving Obama the satisfaction that he taking matters into account accordingly and doing every thing he should be. These key factors all played into the final element which proved Mitt Romney to be an average, nothing too over the top leader.
Diction:
The underlined words introduced in the phrases, "...my first job as commander in chief, Bob, is to keep the American people safe." and "...we did everything we could to secure those Americans who were still in harm's way;...and we would bring them to justice." all serve as positive diction supporting how Obama has dealt with unfortunate situations and how he will in the future. Negative diction in context to Mitt Romney's plan for America are evident in the words, destruction, confusing, mixed-messages, and reckless etc., etc. By using said negative words to describe Mitt Romney's foreign policies, Barack Obama is able to disregard Romney in way that is clear to the audience watching at home.
Satire:
When being asked on who would be considered the biggest threat to the United States as of today, Mitt Romney had been on the record to say that it was Russia. Barack Obama's sarcastic comment of, "...what’s the biggest geopolitical threat facing America, you said Russia — not al-Qaida, you said Russia. And the 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because, you know, the Cold War’s been over for 20 years." has been seen as a sort of bully-esque attack by some, but others viewed it as a humorous way of ridiculing Romney's obscene remark.
Anaphora:
Barack Obama's repetition of the word "now" to gain attention from all subjects who wanted to be informed further resulted in an intelligible plan. "Now, you just gave a speech a few weeks ago in which you said we should still have troops in Iraq....Now, it is absolutely true that we cannot just beat these challenges militarily, and so what I’ve done throughout my presidency and will continue to do, is, number one, make sure that these countries are supporting our counterterrorism efforts;" as well as, "We are — we playing the leadership role. We organized the “Friends of Syria.” We are mobilizing humanitarian support and support for the opposition. And we are making sure that that those we help are those who will be friends of ours in the long term and friends of our allies in the region over the long term." The enunciation of "now" and "we are" catches the audiences attention and help create the basis that Barack Obama is a well organized and credible man.
Adage:
The night of the third presidential debate coincidentally was the 50th anniversary of the night President John F. Kennedy announced to the world that the Soviet Union had stationed nuclear missiles in Cuba. In a statement given by President Obama, he says, "No, I don’t because I think that America has to stand with democracy. The notion that we would have tanks run over those young people who were in Tahrir Square, that is not the kind of American leadership that John F. Kennedy talked about 50 years ago." While referencing what feasible, well respected and well mannered President Kennedy talked of 50 years ago, the more mature audience is able to connect President Obama along with Kennedy in forming the belief that they stand for the same propositions.
Pathos:
President Obama's scenario of touchy subject, 9/11 and how it affected a young lady today is addressed in the declaration, "You know, after we killed bin Laden, I was at Ground Zero for a memorial and talked to a — a — a young woman who was 4 years old when 9/11 happened. And the last conversation she had with her father was him calling from the twin towers, saying, Peyton, I love you, and I will always watch over you. And for the next decade she was haunted by that conversation. And she said to me, you know, by finally getting bin Laden, that brought some closure to me. And when we do things like that, when we bring those who have harmed us to justice, that sends a message to the world, and it tells Peyton that we did not forget her father." is an expert notion to really hit home with 9/11 survivors as well as 9/11 family members and so on. This statement of closure from a young woman addresses the type of relief the Obama Administration has implemented in today's youth as well as many American's today by capturing and murdering Osama bin Laden.
Mitt Romney's need to up his ante and come across as the clear front runner in the election became evident in the third and final presidential debate which served as the last closing installment to how to the American public will view each candidate. Governor Romney's utilization of the rhetorical devices such as metaphor which contributes to the purpose for comparing situations among regions to other subjects, negative diction to further express the tone of the American economy, anaphora to highlight key points in his arguments, and repetition to analyze and depict Obama's stances on certain issues.
Metaphor:
Through the use of a metaphor in the sentence, "I see the Middle East with a rising tide of violence, chaos, tumult." Romney effectively compares the Middle East to a rising tide whose whereabouts have not been calculated. This use of figurative language evident to the American people and they are now more qualified to understand the immense destruction the Middle East faces.
Diction:
Two examples of diction by Governor Romney are imminent in the phrases, "...terrible tragedy" as well as "...humanitarian disaster." Through the use of the words terrible, tragedy, and disaster which all carry a negative connotation, Mitt Romney hopes to achieve this thought with US citizens regarding his thought of the failing economic and foreign policies enacted by Barack Obama.
Anaphora:
In the sentence, "Syria is Iran’s only ally in the Arab world. It’s their route to the sea. It’s the route for them to arm Hezbollah in Lebanon, which threatens, of course, our ally Israel." The reiteration of the phrase "their route" emphasizes the importance said route have and how this affects us personally, by affecting our ally Israel.
Repetition:
Mitt Romney's restatement in the phrase, "By the way, number one I get rid of is “Obamacare.” There are a number of things that sound good but, frankly, we just can’t afford them. And that one doesn’t sound good, and it’s not affordable, so I get rid of that one from day one." re-words his stance and reason for wanting to repeal the highly controversial ObamaCare.
Highs and Lows?
President Barack Obama:
Barack Obama's best moment of the third and final presidential debate would be his resilience and authoritative, determined will to impede any attacks Mitt Romney imposed. Regarding Obama's worst moment, the satire and sarcasm of Mitt Romney's statement that Russia poses at the biggest threat to the United States and the imposition that the 1980s were calling and they needed their foreign policy back as well as Obama's sarcastic attitude to the lessened amount ships, horses and bayonets all serve against Obama and were viewed as a little too aggressive and rude by his critics.
Governor Mitt Romney:
Governor Mitt Romney most prized moment of the third presidential debate would have to be his demeanor and ability to accept President Obama's attacks on his viewpoints. This matter worked in Romney's favor by making him seem more presidential and professional. Mitt Romney's poorest moment in the third debate would have to be his submissiveness and agreement to most foreign policy issues enacted by the President, giving Obama the satisfaction that he taking matters into account accordingly and doing every thing he should be. These key factors all played into the final element which proved Mitt Romney to be an average, nothing too over the top leader.