Week 5: Catholics Won't Go Quietly (Rhetorical Analysis)

Michael Gerson begins his editorial by presenting the idea that "in a tight election a range of smaller concerns can end up being crucial." Gerson goes on to compare the current presidential election to that of George W. Bush in 2004. He suggests that the election will a tight race to the finish. The problem he identifies is the consideration of the Catholic communities vote in the Presidential election of 2012. He assumes his readers are a neutral audience and those interested in the upcoming election. Gerson's purpose is to highlight the idea that the Obama administration has alienated the Catholic community by focusing more on those Americans who are not only younger but are "non-religious voters." In order to accomplish this goal, he appeals mainly to logos. He presents statistics along with facts of the current electoral situation. Currently Obama's Catholic approval is a at 46 percent which is 8 percent less than it was in 2008. Gerson also points out that ignorance seems to be a problem within the current administration. In his editorial, Gerson addresses the main argument against his thesis, the idea that different races of Catholics have different ideals concerning the Presidential election. He refutes the argument by referring to statistics of the overall Catholic community. Finally, he concludes by making the point that Catholics do not support what is currently happening in the American government and will show their feelings through a suit filed in federal court along with 14 days of "prayer, study, catechesis and public action." Overall, Gersons's argument is effective because he has provided enough evidence to support his thesis that the Obama administration seems to be alienating the Catholic community.