tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14960326.post2082947944577249028..comments2023-06-11T07:50:12.533-08:00Comments on Starmaster's Guide...: just to be clear...jonstonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361651067542465145noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14960326.post-46467251499301713662008-02-14T11:45:00.000-08:002008-02-14T11:45:00.000-08:00Thanks, anonymous! Insightful, um.., insights! ...Thanks, anonymous! Insightful, um.., insights! (Sorry. What a lame response to a great comment!)jonstonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15361651067542465145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14960326.post-65768347226701585472008-02-13T13:46:00.000-08:002008-02-13T13:46:00.000-08:00I actually think Obama's strongest rhetorical appe...I actually think Obama's strongest rhetorical appeal may be ethos. A lot of people seem to be supporting him on the basis of "I just like him." And I don't know of anyone who hates him in the way many people feel towards Clinton or McCain.<BR/><BR/>In fact, Clinton's campaign has been doing all they can to try to make the campaign a logical discussion about experience, record, etc. They keep pointing out that in many ways Obama's record is an unknown and his platform is pretty general ("vague" in their words). But voters don't seem to be picking up on these ideas.<BR/><BR/>Actually, the Obama campaign's use of ethos as a main appeal is not a bad strategy. Remember, Aristotle said ethos was the strongest of the rhetorical appeals. (If we don't believe someone is credible/likeable/full of good will, it doesn't matter how much logical evidence they have for their position or how many emotional appeals they try to use. If fact, we will tend to discount both their logic and their passion because of its source.)<BR/><BR/>A good example of this that contrasts quite starkly with the Obama campaign is the campaign of John Edwards. His campaign centered around passionate appeals about issues that Democrats FEEL strongly about, but he didn't have the persona to match his position. He talked about the "two Americas" and the working poor, but he himself got $400 haircuts. By contrast, people perceive Obama as "the real deal."<BR/><BR/>If Obama wins in November, we will be able to use it as a textbook case of the powerful role ethos plays in persuasion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14960326.post-37388045637311349462008-02-11T20:15:00.000-08:002008-02-11T20:15:00.000-08:00I've been following your political metamorphosis.....I've been following your political metamorphosis... Here in Texas we haven't yet had our primary (March 4th). Since the GOP race now looks pretty well solidified, I may vote in the Democratic primary just to have say about which of the Democrats gets the nomination. <BR/><BR/>I did agree with much of Obama's <A HREF="http://www.barackobama.com/2006/06/28/call_to_renewal_keynote_address.php" REL="nofollow">speech about faith and politics</A>.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18330905259391716760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14960326.post-67946790762807835992008-02-08T18:41:00.000-08:002008-02-08T18:41:00.000-08:00I wish I were one of your students.I wish I were one of your students.walt or jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15512574552947005094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14960326.post-65983898173742560702008-02-08T16:21:00.000-08:002008-02-08T16:21:00.000-08:00This is your fence-sitting brother-in-law, Brandon...This is your fence-sitting brother-in-law, Brandon. <BR/><BR/>Yesterday I listened to a radio program in which the expert guest said that for most people, "pathos" trumps their voting decision almost every time. I think that I agree...hmmmmm. Sad but true?<BR/><BR/>Four years ago I really got tired of all the e-mail forwards with pictures of a hard-at-work George W. Bush set against pictures of a windsurfing John Kerry. I felt insulted by the appeal to emotion. I think that the “yes we can” video is more of the same. Sadly, I bet the pictures, and the video, persuade many people.<BR/><BR/>Yet, think of the good impact for a President who uses pathos to achieve positive results. But what are positive results?...an exercise in logos.<BR/><BR/>Great post Jon. I still like you.<BR/><BR/>Religious Democrat seems easy. Try being a Mormon environmentalist (especially difficult in Idaho).L-D Sushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00845905845446101759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14960326.post-41082301531642954192008-02-08T11:13:00.000-08:002008-02-08T11:13:00.000-08:00Glad you clarified. :) I had just had a politica...Glad you clarified. :) I had just had a political discussion with several friends when I saw your blog, and the discussion was about how they had voted for Obama because "he seemed presidential" and "he seemed nice." I asked them if they had any idea what his political stances were, and they didn't. I asked them what they wanted a President to do once elected, and, well, it was quite the opposite of what Obama proposes.<BR/><BR/>It was just an eye opener for me that so many people vote on "pathos," as you say, instead of really researching both the candidates and the issues. I mean, I probably would vote for Obama too, if I only based it on how he comes across.<BR/><BR/>I have no problem with people voting for Obama or Clinton if they have done their research and really believe in the things these candidates are offering. Really, I don't. :) I do have a problem with people basing their vote on if the candidate seems nice or fake or is Mormon or a former Muslim, and not really paying attention to the things that really matter.Lara Neveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08351324888724799014noreply@blogger.com