Barack Obama Ethos Analysis

Pathos: Barack Obama’s Presidential Commercial In the political commercial of Barack Obama, he starts off by talking about his hard past and how his family and he struggled to make ends meet. He connects with the common people through his past hardships and struggles. He is a man who emphasizes value and hard work to get his point across and to bring success to the people. This commercial uses pathos with the images, which utilize his rough background, with his attire and the way he applies his soft, yet effective voice to connect with his people. To begin with, Barack Obama's attire presents himself laid back and understanding. He is not wearing a tie and is generally business casual. This means that yes, he is about business and looking out for the best of the people of the United States, however, he is still relaxed and down to earth. It also shows he is humble and a people’s person. It is the type of
look where he can relate to the people, but still be professional and accomplish his tasks. In addition, Obama looks comfortable and relaxed. He does not look “fake”; he is not trying to play the “cool, calm, and collective” role, his commercial shows that it is as real as it gets when it comes to Barack Obama. In the commercial, Obama’s information of his past exhibits an excellent example of pathos.
He grew up with a single mom and his grandparents, which in today’s era is common. When a person grows up with his or her grandparents, they are taught the old ways- respect, honesty, and discipline. This has helped him become a role model and a respectable person that everyone can look up to. Barack Obama also grew up with humble ways. Since his family struggled to make ends meet, he learned that life was not easy. However he developed the character qualities of self-reliance, self confidence, respect, and dignity. He worked his way through life by taking loans for college, and working to pay them off. He as well mentions that he rejected job opportunities at Wall Street, so then he could instead travel to devastated parts of the nation due to major company lay-offs. Due to his learning’s from his early life and to his dedication to his people, Barack Obama is portrayed as a common man who will represent the common people of the United States of
America. Pathos is exhibited in Barack Obama’s tone in his commercial. His diction is to the level of the common man. He is able to communicate with the working class in his commercial because his choice of words is not complicated and unknown. He talks to the camera as if it was a normal everyday person. This enables the viewers to feel as if he is talking directly to them. This enables the viewers to have to feel a more in-depth connection with Obama and possibly side or consider him as candidate in that year’s election. Also he articulates his words strongly and with vigor letting the people of America know that he is a serious and strong willed man. His tone of sincerity and vigor let the people understand that he knows what responsibilities he will have to endure, yet he will always come through for his people. Barack Obama’s commercial for his candidacy strongly displays the rhetorical analysis of pathos. His demeanor throughout the commercial demonstrates that he is a goal orientated individual who will get the job done no matter what. Through his humble beginnings and experiences throughout his life, he understands the hard work and dedication needed to make a name for oneself. His utilization of pathos enables him to emotionally grasp the audience to a level of which they can feel a connection his own life. Thus enabling him almost enough certainty of securing a vote during the election.