An initial reaction to the appearance of Barack Obama on the American political stage has been one oscillating between reluctant approval, enthusiastic appreciation and mistrusting rejection. The chance of the first African-American president brought about much support for Obama, as well as critique claiming that he would just be a tool of liberal forces to put forth a politically correct agenda. The problem of race, very early on in the presidential
primaries and later in the general election, was oddly
unspoken of, yet permanently present.
[...]
Two speeches of Barack Obama will serve as a foundation for
analysis. One is "A More Perfect Union", given in March 2008
in the height of the Democratic primary campaign. It deals
with the race problematic in America. The other one is his
Inaugural Address from January 2009 which of course has a
much more celebratory tone. Both speeches center around the
question of how the American society does deal and should
deal with times of economical distress though their topical
focus is an entirely different one. However, the effect both
aim for, and to a large degree surely achieve, is a uniting
one. Uniting different racial groups, uniting political
opponents, uniting most of the divisive tendencies of
society to reclaim the American Dream.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Framing the Progressive Thought
- Creation of a presidential myth
- The Audacity of Hope
- Analyzing "A More Perfect Union"
- Inaugural Address
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper analyzes how Barack Obama employed rhetoric to shape his political persona and agenda in public perception. It focuses on two key speeches: "A More Perfect Union" and his Inaugural Address. The analysis investigates how these speeches aimed to unite diverse racial groups, political opponents, and societal divisions to rekindle the American Dream.- The role of rhetoric in shaping public perception of political figures.
- The impact of Obama's speeches on the American society and its challenges.
- The concept of "framing" in political discourse and its influence on public opinion.
- The importance of uniting diverse groups and promoting bipartisanship in American politics.
- The use of shared values as a foundation for political compromise and progress.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the study's focus on analyzing Barack Obama's rhetoric and its influence on public perception. It highlights the public's mixed reactions to Obama's emergence as the first African-American president, both in terms of support and skepticism. The chapter underscores the importance of examining Obama's political persona and agenda as formed through his rhetoric.
- Framing the Progressive Thought: This chapter delves into the ideological landscape of American politics, contrasting the conservative and progressive perspectives. It explores Obama's critique of ideological absolutism, particularly in the era of the Bush regime, and his emphasis on a values-based approach to political decision-making. The chapter highlights Obama's commitment to bipartisanship and his strategy of seeking common ground based on shared values rather than engaging in direct debates on specific issues.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper examines the use of rhetoric in shaping public perception of political figures, focusing on Barack Obama's speeches. The analysis explores the concepts of "framing" and bipartisanship in political discourse, emphasizing the importance of shared values in bridging ideological divides. Key terms include: rhetoric, framing, progressive thought, bipartisanship, shared values, American Dream, political persona, public perception, Inaugural Address, "A More Perfect Union".- Quote paper
- Annegret Märten (Author), 2009, Obama's Rhetoric and the Myth of Virtuous Power, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/138091
