Wednesday’s Debate
- The last Presidential debate on Wednesday is high stakes for both candidates and their campaigns. Donald Trump has to keep his conservative base of voters despite the recent video leaks of him verbally abusing women. Hillary has to try to maintain her democratic voter base despite newly classified emails being released as well.
- The debate on Wednesday will have the Supreme Court be one of the highlighted topics of the night’s discussion. According to Bloomberg Politics, “for the first time since 1968, Election Day will arrive with a Supreme Court seat needing to be filled.” This is crucial to the future of our country and the stability of our highest court.
Clinton Rhetoric
- Clinton has touched on the issue of how she will appoint the next Supreme Court Justice and has used identification rhetoric to do this. She is quoted saying,“I want to appoint Supreme Court justices who understand the way the world really works, who have real-life experience…” This strategy was so she could identify with audiences on a personal level and make herself seem more relatable to their needs and wants. The only issue is that this strategy is not effective when she is trying to reach so many voters. It would have been more effective if she had specifically tried to target a certain group of voters for support when she said this. In reality, all of the Supreme Court nominees have “real-life experience.”
- She also mentioned that she would look through “a wide list of candidates to fill the vacant seat,” this almost contradicts her normal views of supporting President Obama with the nomination of Garland.
- Hillary has also used identification with voters when she is quoted saying, “I respect the Second Amendment.” This quote is especially important because the Supreme Court decides on major issues like gun control and the new justice could sway the Supreme Court’s ruling on Gun control. By Hillary saying that she supports gun control this could impact who she wants to appoint as Supreme Court Justice, but on the other hand she could just being saying that to appeal to more conservative voters whom she is trying to win their vote.
- Hillary is also quoted saying she will choose the Justice based on, “who understands the way the world really works.” This is a rhetorical strategy that uses ethos and pathos because it shows how she wants someone who can relate and identify with voters on a personal level, but also wants someone who is credible in their experience to make the important decisions that Supreme Court Justices are supposed to make.
I personally like your inclusion of Clinton’s tweet. I believe that’s a very good touch on what you’re trying to accomplish. Overall, I believe you did a very good job. Your grasp on Clinton’s rhetoric is very good and this is a quality blog. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Thank you for your good work.
I agree with your points on Clinton’s rhetoric surrounding supreme court appointees. I think that her claim that she wants to appoint “someone who understands the way the world really works and who have real life experience,” is perhaps the most important. She seems to be simultaneously taking a jab at Trump while also enhancing her credibility and pathos. She claims she wants someone who reflects the people of America, which uses pathos and identification with a broad audience. Overall, great post!
I really agree with your point about Clinton choosing rhetoric to create identification. I think your examples and analysis are both really spot on with her campaign strategy and her overall goals. The twitter post you included further supports the points you made as well. Great job!