RODHAM & POLITICAL LANGUAGE

Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, presented a speech regarding the rights of LGBT members around the world. In 2011, Clinton presented an audience in Geneva. Below you will find broken down parts of the speech used to emphasize how she used some political communication strategies.

VIDEO OF SPEECH

TEXT VERSION OF THE SPEECH

IDENTIFICATION 

“Now raising this issue, I know, is sensitive for many people and that the obstacles standing in the way of protecting the human rights of LGBT people rest on deeply held personal, political, cultural and religious beliefs. So I come here before you with respect, understanding and humility."

Clinton is using the political communication strategy identification in order to assure the audience that she holds the same values and morals as them. This particular strategy is very effective because it creates a harmonious environment between the speaker and the audience.

LABELING 

“Some have suggested that gay rights and human rights are separate and distinct; but in fact they are one in the same.”

This point is made by Clinton to kind of break down the labeling barrier within the minds of the audiences. While some speakers will use labeling to separate and show differences, Clinton is doing the opposite. She wants the audience to not get caught up behind the label. All people, gay or straight, deserve the same basic rights.

POLARIZATION 

“Some seem to believe it [homosexuality] is a Western phenomenon, and therefore people outside the West have grounds to reject it. Well, in reality, gay people are born into and belong to every society in the world.”

Secretary Clinton uses this strategy to show differences in the two belief. Basically Clinton is saying, I know some people see it this way, but it is actually this way. This use of polarization helps the audience distinguish between the two beliefs pertaining to LGBT in the world and is a very powerful use of political communication.

EXPRESSION 

“There is a phrase that people in the United States invoke when urging others to support human rights: “Be on the right side of history.”

When Clinton is talking about the right side of history she doesn't actually mean a location. She uses expressive language in order for the audience to create a picture in their heads that show them being more tolerant towards members of the LGBT community. This specific quote is a direct example of expressive political communication.

REINFORCEMENT 

“The Obama Administration defends the human rights of LGBT people as part of our comprehensive human rights policy and as a priority of our foreign policy. In our embassies, our diplomats are raising concerns about specific cases and laws, and working with a range of partners to strengthen human rights protections for all.”

Considering that Clinton was a member of the Obama Administration at that point in time it is easy to see why she chose to speak on the groups values. She, as a speaker, wants to create, manage, and maintain credibility. She is telling the audience, I believe the same things that you do, but people [LGBT members] need help. You should join me in this cause because it’s the fair thing to do. She then ends on a note where she is letting the audience know that the group that she works for stands by these values. She is reinforcing the idea that she knows what she’s talking about because her group follows these standards.

PERSONAL EVALUATION 

As a member of the LGBT, I felt that Hillary’s approach was very successful. However, I’m not sure how members from different cultural backgrounds would have rated the speech overall. After keeping up with class readings and going over the text version of the speech, I can say that this particular piece of rhetoric used a strong amount of political language.