Youthful Republican vs Liberal Democrat

Youthful Republican

While viewing John McCain’s Acceptance Speech, I was struck by several facets. He presented himself as strong and patriotic. He used personal stories to give the nation a feeling of security and refuge if he were to be our President. Overall, I thought his speech was informative and intriguing.

When first observing Senator McCain’s speech, I thought that he presented himself in a professional manner. I could tell that he was a great communicator with his audience and knew how to respond to them. He presented a great amount of love and dignity for his country which was apparent throughout his speech. One thing that irritated me throughout the speech was when he would talk over the audience while they were applauding. I found his to be distracting and improper.

Senator McCain had a great way of putting things so that they sounded convincing. Senator McCain stated in his speech, “I won’t you down!” This gives us a sense of safety and leads the American public to feel that he will protect us as our President. Throughout his speech, he talked in generalities rather than realities. He used these generalities to make the public excited and comfortable about his beliefs. Senator McCain likes to talk “bigger than life”, because it allows the people to think big and not have to worry about the little things. He gives us hope that our small problems now do not have to be apparent once he is elected.

It is self-contradictory that Senator McCain stated “I wasn’t my own man, I was my country!” We all know that a man must be his own man before he helps others and his country. From a Christian point-of-view, a person must love themselves before they can love others. Our American society is very religious. We are conducive to Senator McCain’s ideal image and presentation. Senator McCain uses code words, such as “family values”, to prove to the American people that he will stand to religious norms. Two tactics Senator McCain uses during his speech are the evocation of patriotism and fear. Everyone loves a patriot because they stand proud of their country. Senator McCain constantly brings up his past because it evokes the public to be “proud to be an American”. Everyone knows about the terrible torture he suffered in a Vietnamese prison. McCain suffered for his country and was a brave man. This suffering proves to his country that he was a man of character. The pride he feels for serving his ordeal manifests itself in his candidacy. Also, Senator McCain uses fear to keep people in control. He uses fear as a technique because he knows when people are scared; they are more amenable to strong leadership. Therefore, voting for Senator McCain because he is a strong commander and he suffered torture makes people feel secure and patriotic.

During Senator McCain’s Acceptance Speech, he used both physical gestures and diction to excite the audience. Senator McCain used diction to fixate on certain words and his facial expressions emphasized those words he felt were most important. He would raise his voice to arouse his audience. McCain occasionally stumbled over some words but was able to recover quickly.

There were several gestures that I could identify during his speech. He not only looks straight at the camera, but to his viewers. This is an important tactic to address because it shows the public that he can talk to the camera but to the people, as well. Senator McCain moves around the platform so that everyone can see that he is talking to them as an individual and as a country. During his presentation, he often uses comforting and uplifting language. When he looks at the audience he says “My friends”, as if he is talking to you in your family room.

When observing his physical gestures, I noticed that he had a difficult time moving his arms. He seemed to show his enthusiasm by moving his arms but it looked like he had to struggle and it was not a natural movement for him. This became obvious when he would raise his hands awkwardly, as if in pain, when he spoke of his vision for the future of America. This obviously is not the type of feeling he wanted to come across. The awkwardness was apparent in that section of the video. On the contrary, there were moments when he seemed sincere and unrehearsed in his movements. For example: he placed his hand on his heart when he talked about our country. This brought about a feeling of security and honestly.

People are passionate about Senator McCain because everyone recalls the suffering he was put through during his imprisonment. Christians can relate his suffering to that of Jesus. Jesus suffered for his people just as McCain did for his country. Senator McCain constantly reminds us of his war stories as a tactic to present himself as experienced and ready to be our Commander- In- Chief. To me, this proves that Senator McCain would be a good President because he knows how suffering affects people and he wants to alleviate it. His experience is a powerful tool because it shows the public that if he can endure a Vietnamese prison, he can endure anything.

While viewing the people’s reactions to the candidate’s speech, I realized that they love him because he wants to make a change. Senator McCain wants to make a difference as a President and help others. He wants to alter a variety of things for the betterment of his people and country. Senator McCain presents enthusiasm in his speech to grab the audience’s attention. He provokes an admirable amount of love, pride, and dedication for his country throughout his presentation. For the most part he did a salient job presenting himself to the people of America.


Liberal Democrat

Watching Senator John McCain’s acceptance speech impressed me in some ways, but confirmed the reasons why I would not support his candidacy. I do have to agree that he had a good presentation, but he could not convince me to vote for him. Overall there was too much heat and not enough light.

When I reviewed Senator McCain’s speech I thought that he covered everything in a competent manner. He distinguished points that he needed to make his supporters pleased. I agree that Senator McCain speaks to his base in a positive manner; however the same points can turn off liberals and independents. Senator McCain also had a tendency to talk over his audience. I thought that he appeared to be arrogant and discourteous. Senator McCain seemed to speak only about positive aspects rather than state the errors in our government. He is afraid to take any responsibility for his party’s mismanagement of government for the last eight years. This is cowardly and not a good sign of a good leader.

Senator McCain preached to his supporter’s about information they would want to hear and they liked it. When Senator McCain contradicted himself, it not only sounded erroneous but it contradicts points in his previous speeches. This makes the audience wonder where Senator McCain’s beliefs and values lie. McCain’s speech was nuanced to remind conservatives that he believes in their ideas; but it seemed like pandering to his political base. When McCain stated in his speech, “I wasn’t my own man, I was my country”, I believe that it sounded slightly bombastic and phony. On several issues mentioned in Senator McCain’s acceptance speech, he magically changed his views. In his last campaign, Senator McCain was against President Bush’s tax cuts and now he wants them. Previously, Senator McCain stood up against torture and now he says it is okay. Such “flip-flops” seemed to be a sign of a lack of strength.

Some of Senator McCain’s gestures looked somewhat practiced and stiff. When McCain looked at the camera, it didn’t seem natural. He would look as if he was being directed, as if he had to look at the camera to remind his audience that he knew they were there. Even though he has an excuse for his gestures from his torture incident, it looked as if he was “made for T.V.” Senator McCain spoke sincerely, yet it still looked like he was “role-playing.”

Also McCain’s tone of voice lets him down. He could sound “preachy” at some points and his voice strident on occasion. Senator McCain’s diction was short and to the point which makes his speech easy to understand, but this could sound childish and immature. A true statesman is not afraid of language and uses more precise terms.

Supporters of Senator McCain are whipped up by his references to country, God, and flag. People know his story and respect it. When a wounded combatant like himself speaks to America, people become emotional. But military service does not equate a good leader in civilian government. In our system civilian control of the military is paramount.

Liberals can identify Senator McCain fooling the political base by using his service as being patriotic. Only veterans can be patriotic. People who have not served in the military are not a patriot. Statements such as these irritate Democrats and liberals. Senator McCain is promoting his service as a political ploy. He implies that the other side is unpatriotic.

Another part of his speech that makes liberals barmy are the gratuitous references he states about family values and God. As if God were a Republican and Democrats did not love their families.