I'm being completely honest when I say that this is the first campaign video I have watched so far. I really have fallen out of politics recently. Still, I found the first line in this video interesting. Who shares your values? Well, from what I've heard about Mit Romney, I don't think we share the same values...but I know he's aiming for a video that speaks to as many votors as possible. To people who are following politics, let me know what you think about this video...personally, I get the sense that Obama isn't threatening religious freedom, but since I don't follow politics I don't have much to back that statement on...
http://bcove.me/mkhyv931
Romney used the pope to appeal to a Catholic audience. Using pathos he creates emotion with the images of pope john paul II and his accomplishment of ending communism in poland. Threats of religious freedom and memories of communism in europe might spark fears and make people uncomfortable if obama wins office again. I also don't think obama is threatening religious freedom so perhaps there is more behind this then I understand.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sam here. What I think is hilarious is that he says "be not afraid," yet he is using fear (Obama does this too by the way) to convince you to vote for him. The enthymeme goes like this: "If Obama gets elected he will take away your religion (and your guns) so vote for me instead. I like Catholics, even though I'm a Mormon. In some ways, Catholics have suffered the same kind of persecution as Mormons, so I can identify with you. Obama is trying to take away your freedom of religion. He's a communist. 'Ol Johnny Pope 2 would have voted for me (if he weren't dead or living in Italy). Obama tramples on religious freedoms. I won't. Vote for me."
ReplyDeleteThis is great! I laughed a little at your descriptions. I'm sure there's some logos involved in politics, some clever person feeding the politicians numbers and statistics, but so much of it is pathos designed to appeal to our lowest senses as readers and consumers of media and inspire a base fear of the "offending" candidate. Very nice, Matt!
DeleteThanks for the comments guys. Matt, yours made me laugh! So as I'm making my way through Aristotle I'd say I can tie the Epideictic section to campaign videos a lot. Artistotle says, hey, whatever you say, make this person look good. So even if his action was rash...call it "courageous!" So Obama's health care actions (which I had explained to me by I believe...Matt...in class the other day: he required organizations of a certain kind (can't remember...) to provide birth control...even to catholics that don't believe in birth control) can be called acts of war according to the deep voiced gentleman praising Romney. I guess here, Aristotle would consider Obama an enemy to Romney and therefore the speaker can use negative or "blameing" words...and Romney's actions/words are considered courageous and honorable (kalon). Seems like a bunch of bull shnizzle to me...
ReplyDeleteI think part of the spin, er, enthymeme is: Obama finds religion useless (I draw in the religious types because I know that you know I'm religious). But see, a religious leader created peace. "Be not afraid." Thus, because I'm a religious leader, I can do the same thing. Being religious isn't useless.
ReplyDeleteYeah. I think the religious angle is fascinating! As Jesse says, Romney knows that (most) people know he is religious, even though most people also don't understand what Mormonism is. But they believe he believes in the Christian version of God, which is good enough for them. But what's funny is that most of the people who will vote for Romney based on religious principles will be voting against someone they think is a Muslim (18% of Republicans incorrectly think that Obama is a Muslim). But Obama's version of Christianity is probably closer to most Christians than Romney's. Not that I care either way. Mormon, Muslim, Jewish or agnostic - as long as you don't try to force your views on me I'm ok with it.
ReplyDeleteBut the rhetoric clearly shows that Romney is aligning himself with the religious right, associating himself with the Pope and calling for an end to Obama's "war" as you say.
It's got that great black and white scary music/ happy music color divide, Obama standing at a podium looking scary and severe and the Romney clan bringing flowers and honoring anti-Communist fighters. They are trying to exploit an odd dynamic through the anti-religious claims, and their charges of a "war on religion" are countered by Democratic charges of a "war on women," because the Republicans are supporting the right of religious institutions to deny including birth control as part of their health benefits - for most Americans (most Catholics too) birth control doesn't count as a controversial issue anymore, and it does put the Republicans at risk of looking like they are engaged in social debates that have been resolved for a long time in the US.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite moment is "Endorsed by Lech Walesa." He was an international name in, say, 1980. Very important historical figure, to be sure. But his endorsement has never really been touted as important. It struck me as very silly.