Question: "Why is your [economic] plan better than his?"
OBAMA RESPONSE
Obama uses a mostly emotional appeal when answering this question, using phrases such as "CEOs ... enriching themselves", "shipping jobs overseas", "creating a job right here in America", "a give-away to banks", "waste tax-payer money", and "giving our wealth away".
Each of these phrases reflect the (often angry) views of many Americans as to the nasty state of the American economy. "Shipping jobs" affects those who have been laid off due to companies sending jobs overseas to India, China, etc. in order to pay less for their labor, and those left without jobs was to see more jobs kept "right here in America", where they're desperately needed with rising costs of living. "Give-away to banks", "waste tax-payer money" and "giving our wealth away" strongly affects those struggling to make ends meet in this roller-coaster economy while the government continues to overspend and borrow money that can't be repaid from other countries.
Obama uses three times more logos than McCain, who relied mainly on pathos, with maybe one actual fact. (I'm not making this up - I actually typed out everything they said so I could go back and highlight, and he only used one fact, which might even be counted as more of an opinion.)
"We are experiencing the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression" - obviously. Anyone can look back at the years since the Great Depression ended and validate this.
"We included, in the financial package, a proposal to get homeowners in a position where they can re-negotiate their mortgages" - we don't necessarily know that this is true, so this could possibly also be used as an example of pathos, since Obama is clearly targeting desperate homeowners in this instance.
"a give-away to banks if we're buying, for full price, mortgages that now are worth a lot less" - again, fairly obvious. With house values falling, paying for them based on their cost X number of years ago, instead of their worth now, would be a waste of money.
The only example of ethos used by Obama was a shot at Senator McCain - "the way Senator McCain has designed his plan" - which, in context, suggests that McCain has organized a terrifically flawed plan for an economic fix.
MCCAIN RESPONSE
McCain also relies heavily on pathos when giving his answer - more so than Obama, who only used six examples to McCain's eight.
"Our beloved Nancy Reagan is in the hospital tonight, so I thought some prayers were going with you" - while this is a lovely sentiment, it has nothing to do with the question asked and is clearly meant to put the audience into a more recieving mood based on his apparent 'sensitive' qualities.
"Americans are hurting right now, and they're angry" - a good way to attempt to connect with those hurt by the failing economy, and give an appearance of McCain relating to his audience.
"innocent victims of greed and excess on WallStreet, and as well as Washington DC" - again, playing on the emotions of those who feel they've recieved the short end of the stick as the economy's failed, while those in Washington DC have continued to overspend and continue to borrow more and more unrepayable money.
"housing crisis" - Intended to create a greater feeling of panic and urgency with the audience to find a fix for the economy -now-.
"Fanny and Freddy Mae that caused some prime lending situation that now caused the housing market in America to collapse" - blaming the government for the current economic situation endears him to the large number of Americans who also believe this to be the case.
"American Dream" - meant to instill hope in the audience that they could still possibly reach said 'Dream', even with things going as badly as they are now.
"Afford to pay the mortgage, stay in their home" - what every struggling household hopes/wants to do and fears they won't be able to.
The onyl example of logos I found in McCain's response was "reverse this continued decline in home-ownership and put a floor under it ... that value [of homes] will come up", which is obviously true - if you fix the economy, of -course- the value of homes will go up. However, he does not mention how he plans to do this, while Obama gave specific examples of how he intended to fix the economy.
McCain also made only one example of ethos, and this was a personal attack on a member of Congress. (?) Here, he attempts to pass off blame for the economy on one specific person.
"I am disappointed that Secretary Paulson and others have not made that their first priority".
I really do believe that both men are good people. I just think one's got it together better than the other.
Just throwing that out there.
(( ... Obama fo yo Mama. :) ))
