Governor of Massachusetts shortly thereafter, where he served his term for 4 years.
His economic and political background help establish his credibility because Americans want to choose a person who can lead our country out of this economic turmoil. Although his oratorical skills may not be up to par with those of his Democratic counterpart, Romney delivered an effective speech during the Republican National Convention mainly due to his appeal to a wide audience’s emotions, or pathos. Romney demonstrated humility during the beginning of his speech, as he gave a brief autobiography of his life growing up. Romney mentioned, “My friends did not judge me by what church I attended, but, rather, what sports I followed.” This was a clear representation of religious freedom. Romney wanted Americans to feel secure no matter what religion they practiced or what God they worshipped. He spoke of promise, as well. “Now is the time to restore the promise of America… My promise is to help you and your family”, he declared. These telegraphic sentences educed a sense of patriotism from his audience. In this time of disarray, Americans need to feel this sense of pride to restore
their hope and optimism of the future. Furthermore, Romney also attempted to appeal to women voters. He asked, “Why should women have any less say than men? ...Women are more likely than men to start a business.” In doing so, the camera switched between several women in the audience to capture their emotions. They were applauding favorably in regards to Romney’s remarks. His emphasis on feminism seemed effective in alluring the women in the crowd. On the other hand, Romney expressed his reaction on the impact of the President’s tenure. He said, “You know something is wrong when the best feeling of his presidency was when you voted for him.” By appealing to the frustrations of many Americans, Romney effectively seems to force his American audience to consider another President. Moreover, pathos is also established with Romney’s repetitive use of pronouns, such as “we” and “us”. He made himself more personable by including himself with the public. Therefore, the public perception of his authority was elevated. Romney also used several different logos, or appeal to logic, to prove his point. He did so by conjuring a few moments of American history. For example, he alluded to the era of Kennedy and the Space Exploration as a means of providing hope for our future. Americans are aware that we are facing one of the largest economic crises in American history; yet, they also acknowledge the fact that we have overcome similar situations in our past. Similarly, Romney spoke of the era of the Great Depression and how we, as Americans, had overcome that hurdle. In the face of adversity, America usually prospers. Alternatively, Romney had also referred to one of America’s most influential entrepreneurs, Steve Jobs. He mentioned that “we must celebrate success.” Indeed, America would not be as dominant in economics worldwide as it is without its businesses and entrepreneurs. Romney attempts to encourage a flourishing wave of new ideas to keep our economy as strong as ever. He reminds the public that we must not forget our liberties. Americans are privileged to have the ability to start a business simply by thinking of an exciting new idea. All in all, Romney was able to get his points and views across to Americans with his effective use of rhetoric. His words influenced a myriad of Americans who are on the brink of choosing the fate of this country’s future.