Rhetorical criticism of Barack Obama



Abstract

Political personalities are bound to praise and criticism from different sections of people. This research paper aims to rhetorically criticize speeches of a specific political figure. The paper will criticize different speeches of Barack Obama during his tenure as the President of the United States. There are certain speeches which became the centre of much criticism by critics. This paper will give an overview of the criticism that is related to Obama's speeches.

Table of Contents

Abstract2

Introduction4

Criticism of Barack Obama presidential campaign of 20084

Religion and Loyalty Criticism5

Background and Citizenship Criticism6

Pledge of Allegiance Criticism6

Obama's name Criticism6

Impact of Jeremiah Wright7

NAFTA controversy7

Passport issues8

Criticism against Speeches made by Obama after becoming President8

Barack Obama left God out of Thanksgiving Speech8

Barack Obama speech to kids8

Barack Obama on Health Care9

Barack Obama on War10

Obama Criticized for Not Living Up to Promises10

Barack Obama on Homo sexuality11

Barack Obama on Abortion11

Conclusion12

References13

Rhetorical criticism of Barack Obama

Introduction

Analyzing someone critically is not a science that can be taught in schools, it is a natural art. Subjective methods are used for making arguments and analysis where no other methods of generating methods can be applied. The purpose of criticizing someone or something is greater understanding and appreciation. The one who criticizes gives new ways of looking a speech or article to the world. Rhetoric criticism is a type of criticism which analyzes facts and figures such as, words, phrases, performances, pictures, images and gestures. This criticism is done to describe how facts and figures persuade the audience. In short, rhetorical criticism aims to find out how symbols affect the audience.

The current president of the United States Barack Obama has been a centre of much criticism in recent years due to his speeches and statements on controversial topics. He talked about the legalization of homo sexuality, abortion and many other such issues which made him figure that is criticized very often. Moreover, during his tenure as president, he made various political statements which the critics find unsatisfying. These statements include; speech to school kids, leaving God out of thanksgiving speech, speech related to jobs, speech related to education and other speeches related to foreign policy and war.

Discussion

Criticism of Barack Obama presidential campaign of 2008

Barack Obama voiced his eligibility for candidacy for the United States' presidency on 10th February, 2007. At that time, he was a junior senator from Illinois. On 3rd June, 2008, he became the nominee for the 2008 presidential elections by achieving delegates that were enough for the eligibility. He was the first one from the African-American in the history that made so far in the political field. Obama then went on to become the 44th President of the country on 4th November, 2008 after succeeding George W. Bush.

Religion and Loyalty Criticism

Throughout the campaign, there was much criticism relating Obama's religion and background. The critics include both the political opponents as well as the members of the media. In the year 2004, a columnist named Andy Martin released an article in which he accused that Obama has misrepresented his background (Martin, ...