Lecture 12/10 & 12/12 (Obama's DNC and "Yes, We Can" Speeches) Flashcards
Obama’s election as a reflection on America: The (unrealized) promise of a post-racial U.S.
a. Leaving approval rating higher than many notable presidents from the past
b. When he was elected, there was a giddiness amongst people, many who were democrats, who had hope certain barriers would have been broken on race.
i. A world where a person would be judged on character, and not on skin color
ii. His victory was a matter of great pride
iii. First time in human history were a predominately white skinned nation has elected a person of color as their predominate leader
iv. In neither election did he win a majority of the white vote: 43% white both times
1. Won popular vote with many votes from P.O.C. groups
Obama’s election as a reflection of his rhetorical skills: The audacity of oratory
a. His success was fundamentally based on his rhetorical success
b. Reach the most basic people with some of the most complex topics
c. His oratory was the single most powerful tool in his success
i. Obama has been one of the greatest orator in current presidential history
d. Audacity because of his unknown status leading up to 2004
i. Faced steep political odds
ii. No money, no coverage, and had an odd name
iii. Beat a number of experienced democratic leaders, like Hillary
iv. Had to beat John McCain
v. Odds of African-American winning the general election
vi. Race was with him every step of the way
1. Not the most important factor
2. The most important factor was the way people perceived his race
a. Way he dealt with that issue
i. Through his oratory
vii. Attracted a lot of attention through the use of social media and the internet
Democratic National Convention Keynote Address: July 27, 2004: The keynote as a rhetorical genre
i. Purpose is to provide an overview or intro to the convention or meeting taking place
ii. Summarize the core message of the campaign
iii. Usually given by a well-known figure
1. But sometimes they will choose an up and coming speaker… like Obama
Democratic National Convention Keynote Address: July 27, 2004: Impact of Obama’s speech
i. When he was announced as the keynote speaker, nobody outside of Illinois and most of the Democratic people didn’t know of him
ii. Very tedious and prepared for the speech
iii. Made him a national figure overnight
1. Like BTW with the AEA
iv. He was cheered wildly, media wrote of him with praise
1. Obama phenomenon: speech showed a leader for the next generation
2. No one thought the speech would give him a launch pad for a presidential run so early
v. Very well-delivered
1. First time he gave a speech with a teleprompter, which is very difficult
2. Looked “ready for primetime”
Democratic National Convention Keynote Address: July 27, 2004: Major themes: Makes the case for John Kerry
- Kerry was the democratic presidential nominee
- Keynote speaker has to make a case for them
a. An obligation
Democratic National Convention Keynote Address: July 27, 2004: Major themes: Calls for national unity & civility
- Resonated strongly with people in attendance and at home
- War in Iraq
a. Political divide was very large - Spoke in a personal tone
- “There is not a liberal and conservative America, there is a United States of America”
Democratic National Convention Keynote Address: July 27, 2004: Major themes: Obama’s personal narrative: race, patriotism, and the American Dream
- Story of who he was and where he came from
- Obama’s personal narrative is different
a. Foregrounds his race
b. It had to do because it was so unusual for an African-American to be giving this speech
c. Mother was white from Kansas, Father was black from Kenya - Obama doesn’t but a racial label on himself
a. He talks about as a human being with a family from a very complex background - Member of his family
a. Mother’s side grew up in Kansas
b. Talks about his grandfather who fought in WW2
c. His grandmother who worked in bomb building assembly line - His name is no barrier to success, so his parents gave him an African name
a. Don’t need to come from a rich family, as he can still obtain success - Transforms his race and “strange name” and turn turns them into positive narratives of the American Dream
- Provides success and foundation for the other parts of the speech
- His story is your story too
a. To the value, history, aspirations of all Americans and the American Dream
“Yes, We Can,” Jan. 8, 2008 (Nassau, N.H.): Background
i. Ran for senate in 2004 and won
ii. By 2006, he considered running for president
iii. By 2007, he announced his candidacy
“Yes, We Can,” Jan. 8, 2008 (Nassau, N.H.): Occasion
i. Bush left office with an approval rating of 22%
ii. War in Iraq was in full swing
iii. Plenty of democratic candidates
1. Like Hillary Clinton, who was a senator of NY at the time
2. Went across the country going back and forth in rhetorical battle
3. Obama caught the attention of the nation
4. Venues were packed to hear both of them
5. Obama gained “rock-star” status
“Yes, We Can,” Jan. 8, 2008 (Nassau, N.H.): Structure & content: Concedes to Clinton
- Clinton won the NH primary
- Polls projected that Obama would’ve won
- Didn’t have a prepared conceded speech, so he had speech writers add a paragraph to his victory speech
- This paragraph is the only once of concession
“Yes, We Can,” Jan. 8, 2008 (Nassau, N.H.): Structure & content: “There is something happening in America”
- Optimistic booster message Obama had prepared to give
- No one expected we would make it here
a. Change is happening
“Yes, We Can,” Jan. 8, 2008 (Nassau, N.H.): Structure & content: “The new American majority”
- Young people and other voters are joining this new majority
- Talks about the issues of the day, like the war and others.
- Night belongs to you, the people, who have supported and worked for this platform of change
“Yes, We Can,” Jan. 8, 2008 (Nassau, N.H.): Structure & content: “Yes, We Can”
- Provided the mantra for the rest of Obama’s campaign
- “We have been told no. We’ve been told to pause for a reality check.”
a. “Nothing false about hope,” Obama responds
b. When we are told we cannot, the people respond “Yes, we can”
i. Creed that declared the destiny of the nation
ii. Preached by the abolitionists
iii. Sung by immigrants who pushed through harsh conditions
iv. “A King that climbed the mountain top and pointed us towards the promised land”
