Analysis Paper

I chose Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin's speech from the recent Republican National Convention as the topic for my analysis paper.

Sarah Palin utilizes a variety of propaganda techniques in her speech. She exudes confidence while speaking, first of all. She also uses the name-calling technique, although she is more subtle about it than most politicians often are. For example, she calls the current Democrat-majority Senate the "current do-nothing Senate" and talks about the "Washington Elite", which is a common conservative perjorative lobbed against Democrats or liberals. (I've never understood that insult, for one, because there's plenty of Republicans in the "Washington Elite" also, but that's just me.)

Mrs. Palin uses the scapegoat technique, although again, she is more subtle about it. Oftentimes politicians will flat out insinuate, "if you don't vote for me, the terrorists win". This time Mrs. Palin simply states, "terrorists are seeking nuclear weapons without delay" and urges us not to "leave ourselves at the the mercy of foreign [oil] suppliers" such as Iran and Venezuala. So she still makes it seem like we are in a dangerous world in which Americans need a protector - and, of course, that protector is herself and John McCain.

Mrs. Palin uses the transfer method by describing John McCain's bravery while a POW in Vietnam, so that we will experience those inspirational feelings.

But most of all, Mrs. Palin utilizes the "plain folks" technique of propaganda, by portraying herself as an average, down-to-earth everywoman. Right towards the beginning of her speech she describes herself as "just your average hockey mom". Later in the speech she talks about how her husband is a commercial fisherman - as opposed to having some executive white collar job. She talks about her kids in great detail. The idea is that a mom will listen to her speech and think, "Hey, I'm really proud of my kids, and so is Sarah Palin - therefore, Sarah Palin is just like me!"

***

When I write my paper, obviously I will go into more details about these propaganda techniques, but that's the gist of what I'm going to write about. I hope I've got the idea of the assignment down.