Transcript
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    Kate LaCorte

    COM 403

    Orr

    Term Paper

    December 13, 2009

    John McCain hes a maverick

    Throughout the 2008 presidential campaign there were many public speaking moments

    that will go down in history. Obamas Yes We Can speech may have been one of the most

    moving and memorable speeches in the 21st century. Yet on the other side of the same campaign

    trail was a new recruit, who also made more than one memorable public appearance. This new

    recruit would be the one and only, Sarah Palin. One of the most memorable and possible still

    most talked about would be her sit down interview with journalist, Katie Couric.

    This paper will discuss that interview and cover how Ms. Palin reacts and uses theories of

    persuasion to help field the questions that Ms. Couric gives her. This paper will cover such

    theories as information power, imagery words, absent party questions, bridging, chunking up

    and finally God words.

    The best way to show the level of power in this particular interview would be when Palin

    is asked b Couric about how Sen. McCain is being paid more attention about the Freddie and

    Frannie Mac issue than Sen. Obama because he has been in the Senate longer. After Palin uses

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    vague examples and somewhat walks around the question, Couric use information power to

    show who is in charge of the interview.

    Couric uses information power by countering Palins answer by stating that But polls

    have shown that Sen. Obama has actually gotten a boost as a result of this latest crisis, with more

    people feeling that he can handle the situation better than John McCain. This shows that she has

    information about what Palin claimed to be an expert on and therefore just changed the power

    level of the interview. Since she used polls that have been creditability assessed as her

    information source, and clearly stated that what Palin said was wrong, Couric now has more

    power in the interview than Palin does.

    Sarah Palin draws on Ronald Reagans vision to help convey how she also feels. Using

    imagery words as America being the beacon of light and hope for those who are seeking

    democratic values she is helping to draw a picture of the America she would like to see , and

    believe many also would like to see. A beacon of light could render up images of a lighthouse

    that obliviously represents not only a guiding light to sailors but also can stand for a sign of relief

    that many may feel when on the seas for a long time. The advantage of this is many people may

    feel as this warm and welcoming imagery.

    However, if the audience member did not hold Ronald Reagan in high regard, before

    Palin even gets to the imagery aspect of the statement, the audience may have already stopped

    listening or counted out what she was saying as out of date and irrelevant in todays world. In

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    addition to this, Palins use of name dropping Ronald Reagan may also cause the audience to

    reflect on the idea that this would be who she would like model her service in office after. This

    again can be a good or bad thing depending on what opinion the audience has of Mr. Reagan.

    As far as the top six journalist questions, Couric asked one of the most basic interview

    questions, and Ms. Palin fell into the trap of it. This of course being, the Absent Party Question.

    Couric asks,In preparing for this conversation, a lot of our viewers and Internet users wanted

    to know why you did not get a passport until last year. And they wondered if that indicated a

    lack of interest and curiosity in the world. And in response, not only does Palin answer the

    question, but she may have actually insulted some of those who asked it saying,Im not one of

    those who maybe came from a background of, you know, kids who perhaps graduate college and

    their parents give them a passport and give them a backpack and say go off and travel the

    world. Granted, she tries to dig herself out of the hole that she has created by trying to explain

    that she has always worked two jobs and saying that she has experienced the world through

    books, but not first hand. Answering the question in this way not only insulted those who may

    vote for her but also state that she has had no will to try to step out of her comfort zone other

    than to pick up a book and keep the culture in that book at arms lengths. Perhaps if she has

    answered the absent party questions more along the lines of,Due to my working class family

    background, I was not given the chance to travel around the world like many other people .

    However, my curiosity of the world was not limited by this, for I read every book I could get my

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    hands on. This shows that even though she was not able to travel she still has some want and

    understanding for how the world works around her, whether it is true or not.

    One thing that Sarah Palin does very well is Bridging. She is amazingly talented in

    bringing any issue that is on the table back to her running mate , John McCain. When discussing

    the employment of Rick Davis and his possible conflict of interest, Palin turned this question

    right into a reason why the American public should have faith in McCain. She does this by

    saying,Again, my understanding is that he recused himself from the dealings with Freddie and

    Fannie, any lobbying efforts on his part there. And I would hope thats the case because, as John

    McCain has been saying, and as Ive on a much more local level been also rallying against is the

    undue influence of lobbyists in public policy decisions being made. In addition to this, Ms.

    Palin also has a tendency to bring back the point of Mr. McCains reputation of being a

    Maverick, and more than once will answer a question with,Well John McCain hes a

    Maverick. If this is one of her main points, she certainly is good at driving this point home.

    When Couric asks Palin to give concrete examples of how McCain is a better candidate than

    Obama for president, Palin uses a lot of chunking to do so.I can give you examples of things

    that John McCain has done, that have shown his foresight, his pragmatism, and his leadership

    abilities. And that is what America needs today. She does not actually sight exact moments

    where McCain was better at a situation that Obama but rather uses umbrella like ideals to show

    that he is the better candidate. His foresight, pragmatism and leadership abilities are far better

    than Obama, yet she chunks up to such a level that Courics asks for some examples, and Palin is

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    TRANSCRIPT; Katie Couric interviews Sarah Palin

    Sarah Palin: My understanding is that Rick Davis recused himself from the dealings of the firm.

    I dont know how long ago, a year or two ago that hes not benefiting from that. And you know,I was - I would hope thats not the case.

    Katie Couric: But he still has a stake in the company so isnt that a conflict of interest?

    Palin: Again, my understanding is that he recused himself from the dealings with Freddie andFannie, any lobbying efforts on his part there. And I would hope thats the case because, as JohnMcCain has been saying, and as Ive on a much more local level been also rallying against is theundue influence of lobbyists in public policy decisions being made.

    Next,Couric asked about the $700 billion government bailout of bad debt - and whether shesupports it.

    Palin: Im ill about the position that America is in and that we have to look at a $700 billionbailout. And as Sen. McCain has said unless this nearly trillion dollar bailout is what it may endup to be, unless there are amendments in Paulsons proposal, really I dont believe thatAmericans are going to support this and we will not support this. The interesting thing in the lastcouple of days that I have seen is that Americans are waiting to see what John McCain will do on

    this proposal. Theyre not waiting to see what Barack Obama is going to do. Is he going to dothis and see what way the political winds blowing? Theyre waiting to see if John McCain willbe able to see these amendments implemented in Paulsons proposal.

    Couric: Why do you say that? Why are they waiting for John McCain and not Barack Obama?

    Palin: Hes got the track record of the leadership qualities and the pragmatism thats needed at acrisis time like this.

    Couric: But polls have shown that Sen. Obama has actually gotten a boost as a result of thislatest crisis, with more people feeling that he can handle the situation better than John McCain.

    Palin: Im not looking at poll numbers. What I think Americans at the end of the day are goingto be able to go back and look at track records and see whos more apt to be talking aboutsolutions and wishing for and hoping for solutions for some opportunity to change, and whosactually done it?

    Couric: If this doesnt pass, do you think theres a risk of another Great Depression?

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    Palin: Unfortunately, that is the road that America may find itself on. Not necessarily this, as itsbeen proposed, has to pass or were going to find ourselves in another Great Depression. But,there has got to be action - bipartisan effort - Congress not pointing fingers at one another but

    finding the solution to this, taking action, and being serious about the reforms on Wall Street thatare needed.

    Couric: Would you support a moratorium on foreclosures to help average Americans keep their

    homes?

    Palin: Thats something that John McCain and I have both been discussing - whether that ... ispart of the solution or not. You know, its going to be a multi-faceted solution that has to befound here.

    Couric: So you havent decided whether youll support it or not?

    Palin: I have not.

    Couric: What are the pros and cons of it do you think?

    Palin: Oh, well, some decisions that have been made poorly should not be rewarded, of course.

    Couric: By consumers, youre saying?

    Palin: Consumers - and those who were predator lenders also. Thats, you know, that has to beconsidered also. But again, its got to be a comprehensive, long-term solution found ... for this

    problem that America is facing today. As I say, we are getting into crisis mode here.

    Couric: Youve said, quote,John McCain will reform the way Wall Street does business.Other than supporting stricter regulations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac two years ago, canyou give us any more example of his leading the charge for more oversight?

    Palin: I think that the example that you just cited, with his warnings two years ago about Fannieand Freddie - that, thats paramount. Thats more than a heck of a lot of other senators andrepresentatives did for us.

    Couric: But hes been in Congress for 26 years. Hes been chairman of the powerful CommerceCommittee. And he has almost always sided with less regulation, not more.

    Palin: Hes also known as the maverick though, taking shots from his own party, and certainlytaking shots from the other party. Trying to get people to understand what hes been talkingabout - the need to reform government.

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    Couric: The United States is deeply unpopular in Pakistan. Do you think the Pakistanigovernment is protecting al Qaeda within its borders?

    Palin: I dont believe that new President Zardari has that mission at all. But no, the Pakistani

    people also, they want freedom. They want democratic values to be allowed in their country,also. They understand the dangers of terrorists having a stronghold in regions of their country,also. And I believe that they, too, want to rid not only their country, but the world, of violentIslamic terrorists.

    Couric: Youve cited Alaskas proximity to Russia as part of your foreign policy experience.What did you mean by that?

    Sarah Palin: That Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia,and, on our other side, the land-boundary that we have with Canada. Its funny that a comment

    like that was kinda made to I dont know, you know reporters.

    Couric: Mocked?

    Palin: Yeah, mocked, I guess thats the word, yeah.

    Couric: Well, explain to me why that enhances your foreign-policy credentials.

    Palin: Well, it certainly does, because our, our next-door neighbors are foreign countries, therein the state that I am the executive of. And there

    Couric: Have you ever been involved in any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?

    Palin: We have trade missions back and forth, we do. Its very important when you considereven national security issues with Russia. As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space ofthe United States of America, where do they go? Its Alaska. Its just right over the border. It isfrom Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful

    nation, Russia, because they are right there, they are right next to our state.

    Couric: When President Bush ran for office, he opposed nation-building. But he has spent, as

    you know, much of his presidency promoting democracy around the world. What lessons haveyou learned from Iraq? And how specifically will you try to spread democracy throughout theworld?

    Palin: Specifically, we will make every effort possible to help spread democracy for those whodesire freedom, independence, tolerance, respect for equality. That is the whole goal here infighting terrorism also. Its not just to keep the people safe, but to be able to usher in democratic

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    values and ideals around this, around the world.

    Couric: You met yesterday with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who is for directdiplomacy with both Iran and Syria. Do you believe the U.S. should negotiate with leaders likePresident Assad and Ahmadinejad?

    Palin: I think, with Ahmadinejad, personally, he is not one to negotiate with. You cant just sitdown with him with no preconditions being met. Barack Obama is so off-base in hisproclamation that he would meet with some of these leaders around our world who would seek to

    destroy America and that, and without preconditions being met. Thats beyond nave. And itsbeyond bad judgment.

    Couric: Are you saying Henry Kissinger

    Palin: Its dangerous.

    Couric: is nave for supporting that?

    Palin: Ive never heard Henry Kissinger say,Yeah, Ill meet with these leaders withoutpreconditions being met. Diplomacy is about doing a lot of background work first and shoringup allies and positions and figuring out what sanctions perhaps could be implemented if things

    werent gonna go right. Thats part of diplomacy.

    Couric: You recently said three times that you would never, quote,second guess Israel if thatcountry decided to attack Iran. Why not?

    Palin: We shouldnt second guess Israels security efforts because we cannot ever afford to senda message that we would allow a second Holocaust, for one. Israel has got to have theopportunity and the ability to protect itself. They are our closest ally in the Mideast. We needthem. They need us. And we shouldnt second guess their efforts.

    Couric: You dont think the United States is within its rights to express its position to Israel?And if that means second-guessing or discussing an option?

    Palin: No, abso we need to express our rights and our concerns and

    Couric: But you said never second guess them.

    Palin: We dont have to second-guess what their efforts would be if they believe that it is intheir country and their allies, including us, all of our best interests to fight against a regime,especially Iran, who would seek to wipe them off the face of the earth. It is obvious to me whothe good guys are in this one and who the bad guys are. The bad guys are the ones who say Israel

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    is a stinking corpse and should be wiped off the face of the earth. Thats not a good guy who issaying that. Now, one who would seek to protect the good guys in this, the leaders of Israel andher friends, her allies, including the United States, in my world, those are the good guys.


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