Analysis of Rhetorical Strategies

            “Multiple Choice Romney” by Roger Cohen represented ethos.  In his column he provided statements and statistics from prior leaders of our country.  Although the article did not discuss the author’s creditability, the website provided a columnist page that provided all the accomplishments of Roger Cohen.  He joined the New York Times in 1990.  Cohen has been a foreign correspondent for over a decade.  He is currently a foreign editor: he has worked in this position for about six months.  In 2009, Roger Cohen became a columnist of the New York Times.  He has also written “Hearts Grown Brutal: Sagas of Sarajevo” (Random House, 1998).  Cohen has more than enough creditability that gains the respect of the reader.  “Choices 2.0: Situations for College Writing” by Joe Marshall Hardin asserted that ethos is interpreted for the modern word “ethics.”  In order for the reader to believe and therefore form the same opinion, the reader has to believe the author is an ethical person.  Cohen is a perfect representation of ethos.   

            He also contained a significant amount of pathos.  He captured his readers’ emotional appeal.  Cohen presented a strong concept: everything is situational these days.  People do not expect the consistency of a person’s beliefs.  Currently, the people who are quick on their feet overpower the people that walk in a straight line.  To win the opinions of an audience, the person has to appeal to their beliefs rather than their own.  This type of person is known as a flip-flopper.  A flip- flopper is a person who acts only to please others in order to get their vote.   A flip- flopper was derived from the media and the portrayal media transcends to the world.  A person has to win others by lying rather then standing for what they truly believe in.  Roger Cohen captured the audience emotionally because the world has a significant trust issue.  How can a person believe the presidential campaigns?  The candidates are only after one thing: your vote.       

            A majority of this article contained several logos.  He persuaded his audience by using an abundant amount of statistics.  He proved Romney was a flip- flopper by using quotes from Romney at his debate with Ted Kennedy in 1994 and his current statements in his presidential campaigns.  In his debate with Kennedy, Romney stated, “I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country.”  Currently Romney has become pro- life and he wants the Supreme Court to overturn the Roe v. Wade case.   Romney has changed his views, which makes the audience question his morals and ethics.  Since the majority of the United States is pro- life, Romney wanted to appeal to the voters who believed in pro-life. 

Summary of "Multiple Choice Romney"

            In the opinionative article “Multiple Choice Romney,” Roger Cohen asserts that flip-flopping is a 20^th century issue.  Several politicians begin on one side of an issue, but as the journey of the campaign undergoes; they begin to shift sides of the issue.  Many people neglect this fallacy and fail to hold the politician accountable.  People rely on negative flaws about the opposing party.  Cohen supports his claim by providing various examples and statistics from past world leaders.  For example, George H. W. Bush said “Read my lips: no new taxes.”  He said these famous words at the 1988 Republican Convention after accepting the nomination.  Unfortunately Bush flip- flops and he raises taxes to reduce the deficit.  Consistency is not the core element but that everything is situational.  Roger Cohen states, “What matters is to be quick on your feet, not to walk in a straight line.”  Because of today’s society, politicians are under 24/7 watch and they cannot be expected to avoid inconsistency.  The author’s purpose was to capture the audience and make them aware of the current 20^th century issues of presidential campaigns.  In the current presidential campaign, Romney is an example of a flip- flopper.  In his primary debates he states, “We’re going to cut taxes on everyone across the country by 20 percent, including the top 1 percent.”  Romney switches his views during his debate: he states, “But I’m not going to reduce the share of taxes paid by high income people.”  Romney’s opposing audience states numerous attacking lines such as his wealth.  They say he does not care for the poor and his view of removing entitlements.  The audience fails at revealing the significant issue of a flip-flopper.  The author sent another valuable message towards President Obama.  Cohen states, “Persistence trumps performance.”  Romney has currently gained a 3.6% gain in the polls.  President Obama needs to step up his game in order to triumph in the end.      

Ethos, Pathos, Logos Chart

Ethos- Roger Cohen

• ·      Joined NY Times in 1990
• ·      Foreign correspondent for over a decade
• ·      In 2009 he became a columnist for the NY Times
• ·      Wrote “Hearts Grown Brutal: Sagas of Sarajevo” (Random House, 1998)
•  Accounts of the wars of Yugoslavia’s destruction
• ·      He used several quotes and statistics from past leaders

Pathos

• ·      George H.W. Bush said, “Read my lips: no new taxes”
• ·      John Kerry said “I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it”
• Image as a flip- flopper
• ·      Everything is situational
• ·      Do not expect consistency
• ·      Quick on feet, not walk in a straight line
• ·      Life is recorded 24/7, no one can expect to avoid some form of inconsistency
• ·      Use “whatever” for nothing
• ·      People say Romney is rich and ruthless, he doesn’t care about the poor, and he plans to remove entitlements.  No cares that he is a flip- flopper.
• ·      Ted Kennedy (1994 MA debate) said, “I am pro-choice.” (Before adding of Romney) “My opponent is multiple choice.”

Logos

• ·      George H.W. bush accepted nomination at the 1988 Republican convention
•  As president- he raised taxes to reduce the deficit
• ·      2004- John Kerry (Democratic) declared of an $87 billion supplemental funding bill for the US troops
• ·      In Romney’s primary debates- “We’re going to cut taxes on everyone across the country by 20 percent, including the top 1 percent.”
• ·      In Obama debate, Romney said, “But I’m not going to reduce the share of taxes paid by high income people.”
• ·      Polls: Romney average gain 3.6% after debate
• ·      Nick Clegg- Britain’s Liberal Democratic Leader/Deputy Prime Minister- said sorry for saying he would vote against any increase in the university tuition fees.
• YouTube- 2 million views
•   Viewed as weak, hapless, ridiculous, not particularly untrustworthy
• ·      In debate against Kennedy, Romney stated “I believe abortion should be safe and legal in this country.”
• ·      Currently, Romney is pro- life and he wants the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. 

"Multiple- Choice Romney" by Roger Cohen

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/12/opinion/global/multiple-choice-romney.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Response to "Why Men Fail"

David Brooks presented a valid opinion in the argument of “Why Men Fail.”  Due to basic trends and statistics, men remain stagnate or fall short in their careers while women are rapidly overtaking most of the occupations.  Brooks gave several logos examples and evidence of his statements.  The origin of the problem for men begins with elementary and high school education; boys earn three- quarters of D’s and F’s.  In college, only 40 percent of men receive their Bachelor’s degree.  This affected the work force: women dominate 12 out of 15 occupations.  Women have more skills and men fall short of the skills needed for the job.  This topic represents pathos because it has a significant emotional impact on men because of the social hierarchy in the past generations.  Women no longer fit in the stereotype of a “stay at home” mother.  In current standings, they are classified as working mothers.  The article discusses the success of women: adaptability.  Men are still holding on to the old, traditional ways of society.  They linger for a job to appear while women take the initiative to become educated.  More education provides the acquired skills for a high- paying occupation.  Hanna Rosin, author of “End of Men,” states, “Women see a new social context, and they flexibly adapt to new circumstances.”  Women do not have the enormous pride men possess, which makes it easier for women to change.   This article contained various amounts of sources and statistics, which allowed the reader to believe his statements as valid.  The creditability of the writer was also strong because the article was from the New York Times, which was a solid representation of ethos.   This article was well organized and provided all the elements in order to capture and gain the respect of the reader. 

Political Debate

Both candidates presented their plans with strong examples and evidence of why their plan best suited the American population.  Romney began the debate strong because he listed 5 parts of his plan to create jobs: energy independence, more trade with Latin America, enhance education for the proper training of jobs, balance the budget, and champion small businesses.  He developed logos in a well-organized manner, which gains respect of the audience. In terms of creating jobs, Romney made a clear statement against Obama when he discussed the tax rates on small businesses.  He stated that Obama wanted to raise the tax rate from 35% to 40%, which makes it more difficult for small businesses to thrive and create more jobs.  Obama was also stressing the importance of education.  Romney was in full agreement with Obama as well as providing the evidence to establish strong education.  He established solid school systems in Massachusetts, which made them the number one schools on America.  This establishes ethos because of his experience as Governor of Massachusetts.  Romney’s closing statement was what captured the attention of the audience.   He discussed what he will do and why his plan was more successful than Obama’s plan.  Romney stated, “ There has been chronic unemployment with 43 straight months of unemployment.”  He also said that if he becomes president he would help create 12 million more jobs.  Romney provided action in his closing statement, which overpowered Obama’s statement of working hard.