Rhetorical Analysis Of Governor Kathleen Blanco's Speech

Governor Kathleen Blanco’s speech, “Address To A Joint Session of the Louisiana State Legislature, was spoken out to advocate for the aid needed to those impacted by Hurricane Katrina. The speaker of this message, Kathleen Blanco, is the Governor of Louisiana and speaks for the people of that state. On September 14, 2005, Governor Blanco’s speech was delivered at Louisiana’s state capitol, Baton Rouge, to discuss matters on the next steps taken to successfully rebuild the damaged areas in Louisiana caused by Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Katrina was an infamous hurricane that was reported as a category 5 storm. This dauntful storm resulted in the cost of many people’s lives being lost, buildings and properties damaged, and many injured and displaced.

In ways for Governor Blanco’s speech to be credible, she highlights certain high-profile people and organizations as a way to strengthen her focus on rebuilding the state she actively represents. For instance, in Governor Blanco’s speech she stated, “I want the people of Louisiana to know that we have a friend and a partner in President George W. Bush. I thank you, Mr. President, and I thank the Congress for your initial investment in our immediate recovery and relief. We can not rebuild without you. I assure the Congress and every American taxpayer that every nickel will be properly spent. I will appoint an outside financial accountability advisor, someone of unquestioned character and reputation, to work with our Inspector General, Legislative Auditor, and Commissioner of Administration to safeguard this investment” (Blanco 22). By Blanco highlighting President George W. Bush (2001-2009) and other members of the US government in her speech, these high contributors advising her plan for bettering Louisiana conveys her deep motive of wanting her state and the people of her state to be successfully acquainted with the aftermath of Hurricane

By doing so, Governor Blanco addresses in her speech, “Tonight I speak to the brave and resilient people of Louisiana: those of us thankful to be here at home, those in Louisiana shelters, and those temporarily dispersed across the nation in shelters from Texas to Tennessee and in homes and hotels in faraway states” (Blanco 2). This piece of information provides a clear call out to who she is trying to reach in regards to empathy, but also factoring in the role of helping those she sympathizes with. Similarly, Governor Blanco also goes on to appreciate the other side of her audience by saying, “I also speak for a grateful state to thank people across our nation and around the globe -- people who have uplifted Louisiana in our time of need, people whose generosity and support renews our faith in God and the human spirit” (Blanco 3). This piece of evidence shows that not only is the speaker reaching out to the people of Louisiana in forms of uplifting them, but she also addresses the people throughout the U.S. nation in regards to the help they have given to those who have lost everything during the unexpected aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. By Governor Blanco implementing the rhetorical appeals of pathos and ethos to her call-to-action speech, she impacts her audience in ways of motivating them to help the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. With the help of pathos, Governor