After nearly 18 months of campaigning, fundraising, and debating, the hard fought election has finally come to a conclusion with an incredibly controversial candidate emerging victorious. In a rather surprising turn of events, Republican candidate Donald Trump won the electoral vote by a very large margin, leading many to question how the media had so poorly predicted the results and so badly misrepresented the feelings of the people of the United States. Wins and losses present interesting rhetorical situations for both parties. Candidates must choose whether to handle themselves with dignity and class or with harsh criticisms of the system and the other parties. In this situation, both Mike Pence of the Republican Party and Democrat Vice Presidential candidate Tim Kaine both spoke with class and optimism for the future as they learned of the election outcome. Pence obviously had the easier of the two jobs as his party was celebrating victory but he chose to focus on themes that had run throughout the 2016 Presidential campaign: “Making America Great Again”, working Americans finally getting their say, and the importance of family and faith. Pence started by saying, “This is a historic night. The American people have spoken and the American people have elected their new champion.” On Pence’s behalf, this was a very strong rhetorical approach to take in speaking on Trump’s victory. In what some may call the most divisive election in our great country’s history, Pence focused on how Trump’s election was the doing of the people and now Trump and the Republican party were going to work for them. The rest of his speech he kept short and sweet, thanking God for “his amazing grace” and for the support of his family with whom he could not have survived this difficult year and a half without.
Kaine, on the other hand, had a much more difficult rhetorical situation on his hands. In the face of defeat, he had a choice to make as to what to say in his introduction of Clinton. While it angered many that Kaine and his Presidential counterpart did not speak last night, it was probably a strong move as it allowed the two candidates to not speak solely on emotion nor to party members and supporters who were hurting from the initial sting of the outcome. Kaine’s focus was on how proud he and his family were of Hillary Clinton and the history that had been made by having a female candidate run for President and win the popular vote of Americans. Kaine then took a subtle jab that may have been rooted in anger of their expected win, saying “She has made history in a nation that is so good in so many things, but has made it so uniquely difficult for a women to make it into a federal office…” While Kaine’s point does not lack validity, this was not the reason that the Democrats were giving Concession speeches. Overall, Kaine’s speech was very good as he thanked the Clinton’s for choosing him and his family, quoted scripture, and thanked the American people for their support. Even in the face of defeat, a bitter Kaine carried himself with class.
Overall, the two Vice Presidential candidates carried themselves with class and dignity on this final day of the Presidential election in the same fashion as they have this entire campaign. Both Tim Kaine and Mike Pence have played and will continue to play strong rhetorical positions when it comes to supporting their Presidential counterparts and their respective parties.
To watch either Pence’s or Kaine’s speech, click on their names and you will be directed to a website where you can watch and learn more surrounding the two speeches and candidates.