Barack Obama Speech Rhetoric

Unity, Behind Cause, Through Rhetoric
The presidential reign of Barack Obama was as improbable as it was successful. At the end of Bush’s initial tenure as president, the American people were in need of change. In the aftermath of all the controversy surrounding George Bush and his questionable political decisions, American open-mindedness was at an all-time high. A black president? Unheard of no longer. An opportunistic Barack Obama set his sights on the unachievable – to become the first black president in American history. In his first address to the Democratic National Convention, Obama turns himself from a political prospect with potential to a political celebrity overnight. In this speech, he pleads to the American people for change. …show more content…
At the time of his address, Obama was an unrecognizable politician for the majority of Americans. Viewed as a young man with tremendous potential in political circles, his name was not yet widespread across the nation. “A skinny kid with a funny name” is how he aptly described his American perception. Thus, it was timely that Obama delivered a speech that would not only convey a message but establish his own credibility, thereby creating Ethos. Obama begins by acknowledging that “his presence on the stage is pretty unlikely”, as the idea of an African-American as the face of the country was not common across the minds of the majority of Americans. In his open admittance of what the majority of the audience is thinking, he is able to establish a personal connection between audience and speaker. Obama’s upbringing resonated well with his audience because of how relatable the actions of his family were in aiding his eventual success. He conveys a brief summative of the story of his life, his father “a foreign student, born and raised in …show more content…
Obama aptly establishes the motif of hope throughout his speech to effectively further his purpose. “The audacity of hope”. The boldness of an American to think that they can hope for something, and that it will come true. This hopeful motif is effective in rallying American morale behind the message that Obama is now motivationally delivering. Obama proclaims America to be a country unique, like his story, that “in no other country on earth, is [his story] even possible” – a place where any dream is possible. Along these lines, he announces his commitment to “the child on the south side of Chicago…the senior citizen…the Arab American… I am my brother’s keeper, I am my sister’s keeper”, there is hope for any human, regardless of who you are, in the Democratic America. The idea of “the United States” of America unites the American people towards a common hope of countrywide improvement. By allying himself beside President Lincoln, the issuer of the Emancipation proclamation, he subconsciously continues the fight for an ideal American, free from persecution and governmental hate. Obama aims to break down the barriers that exist for so many American people, “where all Americans can afford the same health coverage as [the politicians], never sacrificing our basic liberties nor use faith as a wedge to divide us”. In a time where the government has lost the trust of the people, Obama became the