Presidential Debate Response

Bradyn Busche 7 October 2012 ENG 101- Dawn Diprince Presidential Debate Analysis In the presidential debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, it started off with polite manners, etiquette, and respect. But after the first two minutes it went out the window due to the fact that Obama became laid back, repetitive, and used proper debate techniques. Romney on the other hand began to act over the top aggressive and at sometimes almost seemed rude. Obama constantly addressed Romney as ‘Governor Romney’ while Romney constantly referred to President Obama as ‘my opponent.’ This tactic was used on both ends to remind the audience who is the President with experience, and who is the governor who plans to take his place. Romney attempted to hide the idea that Romney is inferior to Obama in experience as president and what duties it in tales in first person. Each debater’s campaign had loads of ethos including American workers, Bill Clinton, Ronald Regan, and Donald Trump. Each person used statistics, facts, and pathos to support their claims and relate with the audience in an effort to thwart their opponent and gain an advantage. To me, the debate as a whole seemed balanced. Neither debater really did anything to wow me and push me toward their side. Romney was, in my opinion, overly aggressive and Obama was too laid back and almost seemed uninterested. All in all it seemed to me that the debate was ineffective on each end and was not very well executed.