Rhetoric is something that I am very interested in because of its power for change. The presidential debates have been a great display of rhetoric from both sides, with Obama coming off as more well-spoken and polished and McCain coming off as more real due to his concrete language. Obama, although eloquent, seems contrived and well-coached. He sounds so good not saying anything. I am torn between the two candidates right now, don't have any idea who I am voting for. Both have their issues that I do and don't agree with; I am looking for the candidate that can most effectively lead our country out of these historically tough times and carry the torch for America. I am looking for the leader who has the skills and foresight to make the best decisions. Who that is, for me, remains to be seen.
Rhetorically, Obama's eloquence causes me to hesitate, but also encourages me because he displays an ability to be a steward and ambassador of the United States. In an international setting, Obama may present better and facilitate discussion with other world leaders and put them at ease. He has ease in his presentation. McCain is very awkward in his oratory skills and presentation in the public eye. But he doesn't dodge issues the way Obama seems to. I get the feeling he will fight harder for his convictions and the good of the country, but just not look as good doing it.
As potent a tool as rhetoric can be, I'm tired of its prevalence in politics. I think a lot of Americans feel the same way and the politicians know this. They tailor their campaigns to appeal to people's emotions rather than intellect because the average American will not research the issues to exhaustion. They form opinions based on their social groups and sources of media they absorb (tv, internet, etc.) and won't dig much deeper. It seems more like a beauty contest than a true discussion or critical analysis of the issues.
Let me know what you guys think -
Does either candidate display an ability to effectively lead our country?
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2 comments:
I agree with you that while McCain lacks Obama's eloquence, he does seem to answer questions head-on more than Obama in some situations. It's his answers that I don't like--his campaign's whole approach to foreign policy/war is really no different than Bush's, which obviously hasn't been working. While, he clearly has more hands-on experience in combat and war tactics than Obama, I think this is what will cloud his ability to make diplomatic decisions. I agree that Obama needs to be more straightforward because the American people haven't seen very much of that since the Clinton administration, but his eloquence will really pay off when it comes time to make peace (or at least amicable terms) with the rest of the world that Bush has so effectively pissed off.
Besides, Palin scares me (take a look at the second half of her interview with Couric on YouTube
Although you do hear people say, "It's just rhetoric," in disparaging terms, rhetoric makes a lot of stuff happen in our world. It moves people to take action, it starts wars, and it ends them. So take care with dismissing rhetoric--it can be quite powerful. Rhetoric is persuasive communication and in and of itself is neither good nor bad. Speakers, however, vary in their motives. So rhetoric can be used in ways that are ethical and used in ways that are not. Rhetoric can clarify and obfuscate, bring hope or despair. But it's the speaker and audience working together who determine the outcome of a rhetorical message. Keep examining what the candidates have to say. Gather as much information as you can. And make an informed decision on voting day.
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