This
past September Deval Patrick, governor of Massachusetts, delivered a speech at
the Democratic National convention titled “Election of a Lifetime.” His speech centered around three main topics: current democratic ideals, the
potentially disastrous or prosperous future awaiting Americans, and the
qualifications of both presidential candidates.
Governor Patrick was Mitt Romney’s successor as governor and pulled on his
experience under a Romney Regime frequently to detail his shortcomings as a
leader and what his ineptitudes would mean for America’s future. During the portion of Patrick's speech where he
discussed democratic and American goals he began each of his sentences with “we
believe.” This repetition allowed for a
connection from one idea to the next and a sense of patriotism and community. He continued to draw on this patriotism
through pathos, reminding people that the election wasn’t supposed to be about
which party you support but who would make America a better country. By sayings like “government has a role to
play…in helping people help themselves to the American dream” he caused his
audience, democrats, republicans, and the undecided alike, to feel unified and safe in the knowledge that their government was
not merely looking out for itself. On
the other hand, he also used pathos to generate fear. In an election, people will not vote for a
president who they feel will leave the country worse off than when they entered
office. By listing Romney’s failures as
governor of Massachusetts (education cuts, deterioration of commercial
buildings, high taxes, failure of small businesses, etc.) he forced his audience
to face the harsh realities of a Romney America. I believe that Patrick’s speech was
well-worded, moving, and effective in getting people to not only believe in Obama,
but doubt Mitt Romney.
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