The power of rhetoric and the rhetoric of power: Exploring a tension within the Obama presidency

When Barack Obama acceded to the Presidency of the United States he held out the promise of a new beginning. As a master of political rhetoric he had spoken of a new start following the dismal years of the Bush administration. He would take America back to its inspirational creed of freedom and demo...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:URI:https://journals.openedition.org/ejas,
Autor Principal: Kroes, Rob
Formato: Article ou chapitre numérique
Idioma:Anglais
Publicado: European journal of American studies 2012
Sujets:
Acceso en liña:Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM
Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM
Descripción
Résumé:When Barack Obama acceded to the Presidency of the United States he held out the promise of a new beginning. As a master of political rhetoric he had spoken of a new start following the dismal years of the Bush administration. He would take America back to its inspirational creed of freedom and democracy. He augured a break with policies infringing on civil liberties and government under the law. Once in office, though, the power of rhetoric that had carried him into the White House ran into the hard reality of political rule under conditions of ongoing wars in far-away countries and the threat of terrorism, lurking at home and abroad. This chapter will explore how well President Obama managed to preserve democratic freedoms at home while fighting terrorism.