Blog 1

In Obama's speech he begins by addressing the audience by establishing his appeal to character letting the audience know that he is well read in all of the policies and issues that have been set before him. The audience has established that he is a credible source due to the fact that he is the president of the United States and that he is not just telling his listen a bunch of lies the entire time. The President then makes a transition stating that he would like to discuss the "connection between religion and politics in America." By establishing this, Obama draws in the listeners with an appeal to emotion: pathos. Religion and politics is a shaky subject among many people and is a very appealing discussion so listeners are drawn in by his statement. Obama inserts another appeal to ethos or character by making his statement about how the Bible affirms the issues of poverty and the general disagreement among secularists and Christians. He then discusses with his audience his displeasure with statements made by Senator Alan Keyes making unjust accusations about Obama's state with his religious practices and how they make him un-credible since he is a "bad Christian." Keyes negatively uses an appeal to emotion to draw American against Senator Obama stating, "Jesus Christ would not vote for Obama." Obama then uses this statement by Keyes to aid his argument as an appeal to character and emotion. Obama then goes on to further establish himself discussing him upbringing with his family who were not particularly religious and how later on in his life while working with churches he discovered his convictions which ultimately brought him to discovering his faith and accepting Jesus Christ in his life. Through discussion, Obama establishes his credibility and understanding among the Christian community since he can relate. From here Obama discusses that hos conviction to God is something that should not be ignored as it is something that defines him and his values. He uses this statement to explain that due to the fact that his religion is something that defines him and is not just some hobby of his, he is perfectly allowed to discuss his beliefs, but in making decisions in a pluralistic society he is required to respect all people's point of views. Not everybody should believe the same thing is basically what he is saying. He goes on to further establish his character by showing that despite his beliefs, he is working for the improvement of the peoples' lives. After that it is up to them to make decisions that cater to their own beliefs. He does this by listing different issues such as poverty, gun control, education, contraception, and other issues to show his concern over them and how he wishes to solve them. But also establishes how other people need to do things for themselves. Obama uses these appeals to draw in the reader and respectfully discuss an issue that is prominent in America.