Family Sacrifices vs.

Meritocracy

Through out this essay we will notice the different devices and
methods both Obama and Schwarzenegger used in their speeches that
they read at the republican/democratic convention. Both Obama and
Schwarzenegger uses some of these method we will recognize them
while I analyze them in this essay.
In the perspective of the Obama speech we analyzed the
methods and rhetorical devices Obama used to get the audience in
and out of the convention attention in a way that is professional but
also convincing toward everyone. Obama uses the technique of his
family sacrifices to establish his credibility as an immigrant of color but
also as a successful American. His family ties are one of the main
focuses he acknowledges to state that the whole family should share
the American dream he glorifies in his speech. The American dream is
advertised as the accomplishment that every immigrant and American
should shoot for and John Kerry chose Obama for this exact reason.
Obama perfects his tone on his part of the speech he talks about the
amazing American dream that he and Schwarzenegger glorify as the
main purpose to join either the democratic/republican party.
In his speech Schwarzenegger grasped the feeling of the
audience mood by starting off with a joke about one of his acting jobs
to make a funny connection and to set up his credibility. His main
purpose of his speech is to get the votes from the immigrants

Family Sacrifices vs. Meritocracy

populating in the USA so he talks about how he is an immigrant and
emphasizes the republican ideal of meritocracy. George W Bush choose
Arnold as his speaker because he is the poster boy for meritocracy
because he came from another country and became a successful actor
and then became governor of the greatest state in America.
Schwarzenegger also glorifies the American dream because he uses
the idea of meritocracy in the process of stating why the American
Dream is the greatest thing that can happen to anyone so this relates
to the immigrants because the immigrants want the American dream
and follow Schwarzeneggers pathway the he layout to become as
successful as he is.
Both Obama and Schwarzenegger used similar methods but used
them in very different ways, in trying to persuade the audience to vote
for their candidate they are promoting. One of the devices they used
were their families. Obama use his family as a sympathetic way to get
to the hearts of the audience and also established his credibility to
prove that he has a reason to bring up immigrant in their pursuit of
happiness. While Schwarzenegger talks a little bit about his family but
talks more about his idea of meritocracy and how he became as
successful as he is. His success proves that any immigrant can become
successful if they go the right path and vote for Arnolds candidate.
In this essay we saw the devices and methods both speakers
used to make the best speech they could to help there candidate on

Family Sacrifices vs. Meritocracy

there campaign to the white house. We also saw the way they both
used these methods in similar ways and used the same points.