preview

Analysis Of Barack Obama's Speech

Decent Essays

“Violence isn't a Democrat or Republican problem. It's an American problem, requiring an American solution.” (Stokes, 2017). On January 5, 2016 President Barack Obama delivered a speech unveiling a new set of extensive actions aimed at limiting gun violence in the United States of America. The speech is arguably one of the most honest, personal, and emotionally appealing speeches ever given by Obama in his presidential tenure. It is the goal of this paper to provide a meaningful analysis of President Obama’s speech using an Aristotelian criticism to show how this speech in particular was one his most forthright.
To provide a meaningful analysis using an Aristotelian criticism we must appeal to three terms coined by Aristotle in his work …show more content…

In large part due to powerful gun lobbying and gun culture within the United States. As a result, Obama acted alone by imposing mild, but significant, tweaks to existing federal laws through his limited presidential authority. His measures included the using of appropriated agency funds to modernize the electronic background check system, the hiring of more personnel to process background checks, as well as encouragement of research into "smart gun" technology. Improved mental health care was also in the plan.
So what was the credibility of President Obama at the time this speech was given? A poll taken by Gallup in January of 2016 asked Americans, “Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president” (News.Gallup.Com, 2017)? The results found that Barack Obama had an approval rating of 47% prior to giving the speech and saw a jump to 48% after delivering his executive orders. Partisanship is considered the principle factor that played into the public ratings of Obama.
So how does Obama’s credibility translate throughout this speech to make it one of his most honest speeches to date? He initially cements his credibility by stating “I’m not on the ballot again. I’m not looking to score some points” (Obama, 2016). At that time in history Obama was starting his last year in office as President of the United States. The campaigns for the 2016 election were well under way and

Get Access