Entry #2- Rhetorical Strategies in Obama's "The Connection Between Faith and Politics"

In the speech "The Connection Between Faith and Politics", Obama begins by sharing an anecdote. Former Illinois Senate contender Alan Keyes made several comments concerning Obama's morals and spiritual beliefs. Because Obama was directing his speech to a religious crowd and wanted to establish a strong connection with the audience from the start, this was an example of ethos. Mostly everything Keyes commented attacked Obama's spirituality and what he believes, which would arouse an ethical feeling among those present to hear Obama recount the event. Later on in his speech, Obama explains how Americans feel a sense of emptiness within. This feeling of emptiness would definitely appeal to the audience emotionally and make them realize that they are not the only ones experiencing the same thing. The point he was trying to make there is even though that not everyone pertains to and believes in the same religion, there is a part of ourselves that can only be fulfilled spiritually. Towards the end of the speech, Obama says that while we might have a lot of faith and be devoted to a specific religion, we might still have questions about our spirituality. I think this point he makes is a logical argument. Many argue that they are atheist because they do not believe that there is one religion that answers all the spiritual questions they may have. However, Obama argues that it is okay to believe in a religion and still be intrigued because he experienced it himself. He explains how there was a time in his life where he did not identify himself with any church, but he gradually discovered himself and eventually found his place in the Episcopalian church and has remained there ever since. In his speech, then-Senator Barack Obama used all thre rhetorical strategies that appealed to emotion, character, and logic in order to effectively engage the variety in the audience.