Rhetorical Analysis: Obama Speech

On February 10, 2007, Barack Obama made known his presidential announcement, “Our Past, Future, and Vision for America”.  Obama is claiming to the people of the United States that he has the knowledge, audacity, and experience to be the president of the United States.  He argues that even though it may seem impossible to do, he can lead America through the many changes that need to take place in order to transform America into a better America. Obama’s speech may be somewhat confusing, but it still draws on many forms of pathos, ethos, and logos and has just enough detail to let the world know what makes him such a good choice for the next President of the United States ("Obama Speech…”).

Barack Obama, the author of the speech, came from a hard background when he was young, his parents split up and eventually divorced when he was only two.  His parents both died when he was fairly young.  Barack was raised through from fifth grade until he graduated by his maternal grandparents in Hawaii.  It was during Obama’s college years when he really got interested in politics.  In 1985, after getting a degree in political science, Obama moved to Chicago, and it is here where he got elected to be the Illinois state senate as a democrat.  During these years he helped organize Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign as well as delivered John Kerry’s keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston.  Which then brings us to his presidential announcement speech in 2007 ("Barack Obama").

Throughout Obama’s speech, he influences many of the Americans through pathos.  One of the examples of pathos in his speech, which could also be referred to as a narrative style of rhetoric, is at the beginning when he was explaining the background of how he ended up in Illinois.  He was explaining to the people that when he came to Illinois he knew no one, he was young, and had no money or family.  He was trying to strike the emotions of the people to make them feel sorry for him.  Obama also sparked people’s emotions and feeling when he went on to say that it was when he was in these poor neighborhoods’ of Chicago, he received the best education he’d ever had, and learned the true meaning of his Christian faith.  Anytime anyone talks about poor people, people who are less than fortunate, or any the beginning of one’s religious life, most people tend to view it as an emotional subject.  This way, even if the people thought his argument was weak, they could fall back on their strong feelings for how hard he worked on his own to get to where he is at today.

 Obama also uses pathos throughout his speech every time he includes the American people in the changes that need to take place in America, for the good of America. For example, when Obama refers to changes like ending poverty, and freeing America from the tyranny of oil, he ends that particular subject with “Let’s do this”, or “Let’s be the generation that makes future generations proud of what we did here”.  When he says “let’s” he is essentially saying “let us”, and that “us” is referring to Barak Obama himself as well as the entire American people as a whole. Toward the end of his speech Obama also reemphasizes his point that he can’t change all these issues alone; it has to be us (America together).  Also, Obama makes it very clear by saying things like, “…they think they own this government, but we’re here today to take it back”, and “…I might play a small part in building a better America” that he believes the past leaders did a not so good job in leading America.  In ending his speech he leaves his audience with hope for the future stating, “Together, starting today, let us finish the work that needs to be done, and usher in a new birth of freedom on this Earth.” When someone is being involved in the outcome of the changes will affect them (like how Americans react to the changes happening in the United States), the person tends to be more emotional to the subject.  This emotion most often causes them to be more optimistic toward the person (in this case Obama) who is allowing them to take part in the changes that will affect their life. 

Another type of appeal that I noticed Obama use in his speech is ethos.  A couple different times Obama refers to former president Abraham Lincoln, and how Obama agrees with how Lincoln went about running the country during his presidency.  Abraham Lincoln was one of the most favored Presidents in the history of U.S. Presidents.  This type of rhetoric helps in persuading people onto Obama’s side because since people liked how Lincoln ran the country when he was in office, they will like how Obama will run the country if he ends up in office.  This could strengthen many of the American citizen’s view on Obama because they might think that since Obama is educated on Lincoln’s beliefs toward America and believes the same, that he will be just as good a President. 

The last appeal that Obama used was that of logos.  Toward the end of his speech, Obama made note that every four years a new campaign is raised and again both parties will make similar promises to the American people.   However, when he says that after the election is over, many times those promises are never kept.  He addresses his audience with logic and reason when he states that it won’t be any different when he is elected unless the people don’t stick with him in carrying these promises out.  He was very real when addressing the American people with this statement; I think it was because of this honesty that Obama really gained many people’s trust in him ("Obama Speech…”).

In conclusion, I think that Barack Obama gave a well thought out, credible speech to the people of America.  He obviously has the hard work ethic and trustworthiness to be President; he just has to prove that to the rest of the United States. He makes many statements that could have only been made by someone who really knew what was going on, and had a true love for the future the America as well as the American people. Obama gave just the right amount of information that allowed the people to really get a good idea on what Obama’s plans for the future could be without and confusion.  Overall, I think it was a very successful speech that appealed to many American views.

"Barack Obama." bio. True Story. 3 Oct. 2008 .

"Obama Speech - Presidental Annoucement - February 10 2007 - Complete Text." Obama Speeches - Full Text of Over 100 Speeches. 29 Sep. 2008 .