Logos, pathos, ethos

I don't remember which website I read this on, but it was in the comments section and made so much sense:

Those voters who would be swayed by logos (policy papers, positions on issues and such) have been swayed.

Those voters who would be swayed by pathos (emotions) have been swayed.

All that is left is ethos, which the debates are custom-made for: how well the speaker convinces the audience that he or she is qualified to speak on the particular subject.

The base in both parties are convinced. These debates are really for the fence-sitters, the independents, those with no party affiliation or allegiance, the undecideds. As much as we have a hard time understanding that kind of head space, there ARE a lot of people out there who don't really get all involved in politics beyond the basics, if even that. Sure, a lot of them don't vote. But for the ones who do vote, they are probably using these debates to finally make up their mind one way or the other. Both campaigns know this. The undecideds aren't all airheads who don't care. Some feel intimidated by this stuff. Some are working three jobs and barely keep up with the news. Some burned out a long time ago and tuned out except for showing up on election day.

I used to be one of those people, many years ago. I didn't understand it, it all seemed a mess and it was easier to throw up my hands and say "I hate 'em all!" I still maintain that's a lazy position to take. But I was swayed by watching debates in the late 80s and realized sure enough, I was a Democrat. :)

Now, go back to that definition of ethos: how well the speaker convinces the audience that he or she is qualified to speak on the particular subject.

Think about that in terms of McCain's performance last Friday. Think about it in terms of Obama's performance. For all of McCain's blathering on about Obama not understanding (when really he was simply disagreeing), McCain didn't really do a lot to be very convincing of his authority on those topics, did he? A few hoary old stories from the history channel, a lot of pouting and claiming his opponent didn't understand, very low on facts and persuasion.

Obama? For his supposed lack of experience, he bested McCain in ethos in that debate.

Now think of ethos in terms of Palin.

Now in terms of Biden.

Even when people don't know what ethos is, have never heard of it in their lives, they know on some gut level that's what these debates are about. And they are looking for persuasion, for authority, through knowledge. That's ethos. And that's the one biggest thing Sarah Palin is lacking.

Don't worry about the base. Of COURSE the base is going to love Palin, no matter WHAT she does. She could stand up there and sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and they'd call it inspired, brilliant. A post-modern satirical take on the American political debate, if they could be so fancy with the verbiage.

But those fence-sitters don't give much of a shit about any precious or adorable acts. They want to know what these people KNOW.

which is why those focus groups are so telling.

Interesting the L/T/E distinction. Remember studying logos a lot during my religious studies undergrad work.

I would think they are who's being courted.

and I shouldn't.

For those of us who watched it all with the CNN graphs... the independents (and sometimes repubs) were up there with democrats when Barack spoke. Thats heartening stuff.

These three devices are the basics for effective public speaking. The problem is the general public spends almost no time on the most important for our leaders...logos (or facts on issues in this case.)

We spend WAY too much time focused on pathos which is essentially the appeal to emotion. Palin's prego daughter, Obama's cute daughters, what is Cindy and Michelle wearing today, wrist bravelets with dead soldiers names on them, etc. None of that has anything to do with if these people will be good leaders. But it is a VERY effective device in public speaking.

The ethos is important for independents but I think pathos in these debates and stump speeches rule for our narrow minded decision making in this country.