This week, Ellen Degeneres phoned Obama on her show. She asked him various questions for his wife Michelle, such as "did you go to the gym and have you eaten." These are everyday questions that can be asked to anyone. Obama answered with a "yes," but giggled after words. He was very conversational with Ellen and the audience, making the call more personal.
I related this to the article we read this week, "The Republic Rhetoric of Identification." In this article, author Nelson explains how important it is for Presidents to identify with society. Obama is answering personal questions on television, which we all can relate to. We feel more comfortable with Obama when we can relate to him.
Yes, great point. It's especially helpful during election season or when a politician is trying to get us to do something (sign up for health care, in this case).
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