Analysis of Julian Castro's speech at the 2012 democratic convention

Résumé du document

The democratic convention is a very important event in the course of the presidential elections in the United States. The speakers at the convention are carefully selected as the main representatives of the strategy that will be developed during the campaign. It is not a coincidence if Castro has been chosen as one of the speakers. He belongs to the Hispanic minority, which plays a big role in the final decision.

Julian Castro starts his speech with a climax to stress that he is not only addressing to the democrat people, not only to the inhabitants of Texas, but truly to all Americans: "My fellow Democrats, my fellow Texans, my fellow Americans". He also intends to identify himself with the audience: He is a "young" and "proud" American, who has been born at the end of the Cold War, who has been deeply moved by 9/11, who communicates via internet, and who is going to vote for Obama on November 6th.

We can clearly notice how the American pride and the American patriotism are underlined. Castro described himself as a "young American, a proud American", this shows that the new generation has to keep up the American values and stand up for them. They have to be proud of their country.

Extraits

[...] By saying that, he appeals to the patriotic feelings of the American citizens. He wants to stress that the American dream is accessible to every citizen: “With hard work, everybody ought to be able to get there”. Julian Castro explains how Barack Obama will make it possible for every citizen to fulfill the American dream. The core of the program is to “invest in opportunity today for prosperity tomorrow”. Investments have to be made in education, and these investments will strengthen the American competivity in the global economy. [...]

[...] The chances should be the same for everyone. It is one's hard work that should distinguish a person from the others, not his/her social background. Julian Castro underlines the fact that the American dream should not only be accessible to a wealthier minority but to every American citizen. Romney defends individual opportunity, Obama defends shared opportunity. “President Obama took office—and he took action”. Castro enumerates Obama's achievements: He saved a million jobs by saving the auto economy in Detroit, he invested in education for everyone and supports the integration of legal migrants. [...]

[...] Mitt Romney does not understand the problem of unequal chances. He suggested some students in Ohio to start a business by borrowing money from their parents. According to Castro “Romney just has no idea how good he's had Castro is trying to make Romney appear naïve, and not at all able to lead a country as big as America. The Romney-Ryan budget “dismantles what generations before have built”. By saying that, he refers to the American values, to the generations that have fought to contribute to the idea of “prosperity tomorrow”. [...]

[...] Analysis of Julian Castro's speech at the 2012 democratic convention The democratic convention is a very important event in the course of the presidential elections in the United States. The speakers at the convention are carefully selected as the main representatives of the strategy that will be developed during the campaign. It is not a coincidence if Castro has been chosen as one of the speakers. He belongs to the Hispanic minority, which plays a big role in the final decision. [...]

[...] Doing so, Castro explains that one mandate was not enough for Obama and that WE should give him a second mandate to continue and consolidate what he has done so far. At the end of his speech Castro emphasizes the importance for young people and Hispanics to vote for Obama. By bringing some wishes in Spanish dios te bendiga”, Castro clearly addresses to the Hispanic minority. He himself as a young Hispanic represents very well the possibility for Hispanics to materialize the American dream. [...]