Jay Steagall: Perfection of Emotional Rhetoric Essay Example

📌Category: Speech
📌Words: 527
📌Pages: 2
📌Published: 02 February 2022

Congressman Jay Steagall’s recent response to President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate regarding COVID-19 is a clear example of emotional rhetoric. He uses compelling emotional words that appeal to readers who were already displeased with Biden’s actions. His language makes those who weren’t displeased question why by stating that Biden’s actions should be ‘offensive to every American’. Steagall uses emotional rhetoric to emphasize Biden’s “tyrannical” actions, how the power belongs to the people, and how he will protect citizens. 

Steagall begins by emphasizing Biden’s “multiple acts of despotism” as well as his “usurpation” of power. These emotionally charged phrases agitate citizens of the United States because they may feel as if they are being stripped of their Constitutional rights. Using this phrasing persuades readers to distrust Biden because he is identified as a “despot” who is taking power that doesn’t belong to him. Steagall then refers to Biden’s release as an “edict” - phrasing you would typically only hear referring to a leader in total power and certainly not phrasing associated with the president of a democratic nation. Furthermore, the phrase “Biden’s dictatorial comments” leaves a sour taste in the mouths of readers who don’t believe the United States should be ruled by one man. Steagall then states “... the power of our Constitution resides with the people…” which furthers his point that Biden’s actions exceeded his authority. Steagall’s diction gives the impression that he is trustworthy because he appears to tell readers they are more powerful than they realize. Readers may then feel outraged that their power has been ripped away by a despot. Steagall’s wording stirs up emotions in a dangerous way that could potentially persuade readers to take action on their emotions. 

To further his persuasion, Steagall claims that he will take “whatever action necessary” to protect the rights of Oklahomans from federal overreach. He paints himself as a hero by claiming he will invest his time and energy into protecting innocent citizens from ‘tyrannical actions’. Steagall attempts to sway readers’ views by stating that President Biden’s comments should be “offensive to every American”. His case against President Biden continues by stating that there is no refuge in our government for one man attempting to rule the nation. Throughout his response, Steagall continually emphasizes that he will take any action necessary to defend the rights of all Oklahomans.

Steagall’s emotional rhetoric becomes dangerous because he manipulates language in a way that attempts to persuade readers to agree with his opinions. Essentially, his response was propaganda veiled as a response focused on defending the rights of Oklahomans. His use of political jargon is meant to confuse and manipulate readers in addition to the fact that his writing is neither clear nor concise. Language is a powerful tool that has been misused by Jay Steagall as an attempt to manipulate readers. Instead of stating the facts and allowing readers to decide where they stand, he tells the reader how they should feel. 

In conclusion, Jay Steagall powerfully uses emotional rhetoric to emphasize Biden’s “tyrannical” actions, the power of the people, and how he will protect Oklahoma citizens. Steagall’s use of language is dangerous mainly because it attempts to manipulate the emotions of readers. His writing contains such strong emotional rhetoric that it could persuade those who are reading to feel the same way he feels. The manipulation of language at this level makes it clear that readers should access more than one resource for factual information.

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