Rhetoric redux

For this week’s piece on rhetoric, I chose an article from the January 27^th 2010 Willamette Week. I felt uninspired by the blog topic this week, so I found myself searching for an example of rhetoric instead of just stumbling upon one. The topic of tone is still fresh on my mind. I was able to quickly identify the tone in this piece. Stay tuned for more information.

For a better look, click here

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Rhetoric of the logos flavor is abundant in the first column. The dollar amount ($20,000 in case you missed it) was mentioned in two of the first three paragraphs. The factoid embedded in the middle of the first two columns reiterates this figure while comparing it to the miniscule amount raised for the competition. But the fun doesn’t stop there. The importance of the endorsement is highlighted as well. The article mentions that jails take up 70 percent of the budget, therefore making the endorsement of the corrections union a key to victory. All of the numerical data suggests that Staton has this election in the bag. The logos landslide alludes to a similar conclusion.

The overwhelming tone throughout the article is that of political mudslinging. This article sounds to me like an expose on how Staton’s supporters are playing against the rules by canvassing a federal building. The manager of Staton’s campaign, Carol Wessinger, is quoted in an appalled tone. She sounds shocked at the evidence, and very defensive. She denies all knowledge of the posting incident, and attempts to preserve Staton’s innocence in the matter.

I usually only read the Willamette for information regarding upcoming shows, or for the occasional commentary on what’s going on in the Bridge City. This article caught my eye because of the roaring rhetoric held within.