Running Head: THE DEBATE IN PAPER 1

Sergio Lorenzana

The University of Texas at El Paso

The Debate In Paper

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Introduction

The political intent to spur Texas to a change gears from a centrist right to a progressive left is

brought forward by the analysis of the two genre. Beto O’Rourke is the new face of the return to

American “normalism” he promotes what U.S. Citizens for the most part yearn to be viewed as

in the rest of the world, courageous pursuers of liberty. In this genre analysis there is deep

exploration of the efficacy both forms of media utilize to inform the public of the senate race in

Texas between incumbent senator Ted Cruz and challenger Beto O’Rourke. We are able to

compare both genres seen through the application of rhetoric and different styles to appeal to

specific audiences.

Will Beto O'Rourke Skate His Way To The Senate?

Late night shows are a great way to build support for mass consumption. This is because of the

advantage iconography has over the oral and written genre types. Videos are a much simpler and

enjoyable activity it takes less concentration and from observable actions is able to convey

emotion and credibility. Late Night Monologues are also able to through a combination of

comedy and mature subjects that can be debated promote a proposal from a different perspective

where common ground can be found by signaling inconsistencies in an argument. Although a

different path is followed for “Will Beto O’Rourke skate his way to the senate?” Late night show

host Stephen Colbert is able to accomplish his goal of persuading the audience to support

candidate O’Rourke by specifically focusing a thirty minute segment of his show to concentrate

on the senate race. The audience focus in this particular video is the internet savvy, video

watchers, and entertainment bingers because of where the video is published; the largest

broadcasting provider for the internet videos YouTube with over 1 billion daily viewers. But, it
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can also be separated into more specific demographic categories like the youngest generations.

The millenials extending from the early-eighties to mid-nineties and generation Z those born

1995 onward due to the fact that most of these two generations were born in an interconnected

world or where at least conscious about it at an early age. They can also be considered a target

because both have the lowest turnout in voting polls. If the show is intended to persuade a

change in favor of the democratic candidate Colbert makes it clearly visible by concentrating his

criticisms on Senator Cruz by making not of his slimy appearance to create an emotion of disgust

in the audience toward the current Senator. Another, clearly observable audience in the video is

the late night crowd where a broader debate in ideological views is apparent and dark comedy is

implied to be less restricted due to the fact that the video concentrates on politics by solely

having the whole sketch be about the senate race and the support of challenger O’Rourke. To

create an emotion appeal to the audience Colbert outlines the candidate’s similarities to a

historically beloved political figure Bobby Kennedy in specific their similar physical features.

This comment also serves as an important ethical appeal towards the viewer because it implies

that O’Rourke has the “politician appearance” of being well liked and an all American. Bobby

Kennedy’s comparison is fundamental to appeal to the emotions of the audience because it takes

the United States back to a point which most citizens remember in a romantical fashion, the

Kennedy era, where the modern civil rights movement commenced and the progressive

revolution to ensure first class citizenship status for all Americans’ is struggled for. The late

sixties era that still yearns for a Bobby Kennedy president is now bringing senate candidate

O’Rourke center stage an oddly familiar parallel to the political struggle faced today. Colbert’s

celebrity status further consolidates his whole argument which attracts attention by appealing to

his credibility as a public figure by capitalizing his opinion on Beto to further spur the older
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generations trying to conserve their values to move forward by taking into consideration the

young Americans who have a lot to convey in the search for a more representative state.

A Democrat in a deep red state.

Writing has the advantage of the almost infinite

dictionaries and encyclopedia that the

humankind has been perfecting since the stone

ages. When vocabulary is used correctly by

experienced writers with well-developed

writing styles organizations like the economist

have the pleasure and facility of being the most

effective and well respected form of

communication. Even more so than oral and Iconographic because of the same level of facility

for it to be charged with positive and negative word meaning when used correctly as for it to be

toneless and impartial wish this article accomplishes. The Economists Op-ed “A Democrat in a

deep red state” which aims to inform the public of Beto’s heroism for going into perceived

sharply partisan opposition counties to bring them back to the politically correct environment

prior to the trump era finds a primary intended audience in the well informed news followers,

higher education institutions were pupils and polymaths congregate and the heavily connected

business world which relies on The Economist’s informed publications to make important

decisions that affect the globe daily. The balance used in the article when giving props to

O’Rourke’s fresh challenge of politics in Texas are grounded by using realism or the logical

appeal when describing the long standing tendency of Texas to vote republican and remain

conservative by setting the fact that for the past 20 years no democratic senator has represented
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Texas in Congress. where differing ideas can be discussed once more and common ground can

be found in labor and health care issues. The writer using a more traditional approach to reach

his audience could be believed to be at a disadvantage to the more modern Iconographic genres

he quickly subsides all doubts by versatile using persuasive strategies that evoke an emotional

appeal where the reader is guided to associating positively connotated diction when referring to

the Congressman through words like earnest and entrepreneur and the sleight of hand to

effectively present his achievements like bipartisan successes in the committee that he belongs

to, Veteran affairs, to more expediently pass bills that support the American troops after being

dismissed from serving their country. This vivid op-ed describing O’Rourke’s career in politics

enhance O’Rourke’s persona and public clout therefore increasing the faith in voters that Beto

aims to work for the people as stated by the author.

Relative Analysis

When these to genres are put side by side the most powerful conveyor of certain rhetorical

patterns like ethos pathos and logos and a unique style of presentation like sharp information

structuring are fundamental for mass consumption. Both genres have the facility of representing

a candidate with very reasonable propositions that reflects an approachable invitation for change

because of his youthfulness and progressive thought. The emotional appeal, enhanced by the

comedic relief of the iconographic genre and genius word manipulation from the side of the Op-

ed article, is utilized often to expand on all of their claims because it is the most easily acceptable

for audiences without having to provide quantitative proof or factual claims. But what we are

able to see from the Article is the balanced way to present the argument instead of relying solely

on emotion it is able to logically back up its claims to maintain a level headed perspective on the

challenges ahead for Beto O’Rourke’s campaign.

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Reference Page

Colbert S. (2018, Sep. 13). Will Beto O'Rourke Skate His Way To The Senate? Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CQEIvzjyDQ

(2017, Aug. 24). A Democrat in a deep red state. Retrieved from

https://www.economist.com/united-states/2017/08/24/a-democrat-in-a-deep-red-state

Kallaugher K. (2017, Aug. 24). Beto Painting Texas blue. Retrieved from

https://www.economist.com/united-states/2017/08/24/a-democrat-in-a-deep-red-state