Topic > The Effective Use of Repetition and Inclusive Pronouns in Barack Obama's Yes We Can Speech

After losing the 2008 New Hampshire primary to Hillary Clinton, Obama delivered his famous "Yes We Can" speech to thousands of his disheartened supporters and still-undecided American voters. Instead of focusing on his defeat in the New Hampshire primary, Obama focused his speech on instilling hope in the hearts of American voters who wanted a change in the country's political dynamic. By recognizing and addressing the unique concerns and struggles of all the different demographics of American citizens, he was able to unite them under a common cause instead of dividing voters by focusing on special interest groups. Obama used a lot of repetition to convey his message of teamwork and hope, as well as using deeply held metaphors to explain the current state of America. Although this speech was loaded with emotional appeals, Obama managed to increase its effectiveness by expressing authority and credibility in his undoubted potential to be one of the greatest presidents in American history. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Americans are born with the right to a government that meets the needs and desires of the people. With the majority of American citizens dissatisfied with the strong divisions of the parties and the unpleasant nature of the oppositions, Obama recognized their desire for change in the dynamics of American politics and the need to unite citizens under a common cause: hope. Throughout his speech, Obama used repetition to urge that "something is happening in America." At that moment, citizens were finally stepping out of their political comfort zone to oppose elements of government with which they were dissatisfied. For years the government's party system had plagued Washington, and Obama recognized that the Americans he needed to appeal to were "tired of the division and distraction that clouded Washington." Due to the stalemate between Democrats and Republicans, the government had lost its effectiveness and nothing could be passed time-efficiently, negatively impacting millions of Americans. Regardless of their political alignment in our two-party system, those who heed Obama's message of hope would "vote not just for the party to which they belong, but for the hopes they hold in common." While the vast majority of Americans support Obama, great support doesn't come without great opposition. “We've been told we can't do it by a chorus of cynics,” Obama said. He used the metaphor of “a chorus of cynics” to express that, just like a chorus, criticism and doubts resonate across the country when a task begins to seem impossible. “Our new majority can end tax breaks for businesses…and free this nation from the tyranny of oil.” Corporations control much of American politics by endorsing candidates aligned with their personal agenda, making the task of limiting their influence nearly impossible. While denouncing these companies and promising to limit their control over politics was a risky and potentially campaign-ending move, knowing that it would encourage American voters to speak out and participate in the effort pushed Obama to declare these ideals in his speech. : This is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay Although not all American voters,.