TOW #24: “Republican Governors Vie For Adelson Support" by Zeke J. Miller

Writing Goals:

• analyze rhetorical devices effectively

In “Republican Governors Vie For Adelson Support,” Zeke J. Miller of Times Magazine, a credible source since the magazine has been producing stories for years, describes a Las Vegas Conference where three possible Republican candidates spoke in front of the Republican Jewish Coalition in order to gain the support of Sheldon Adelson, a mega-billionaire.  Those three candidates were Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin, and Governor John Kasich of Ohio.  Miller accomplishes his purpose of demonstrating how the governors vied for Adelson’s support to his audience of the general public and politically involved folk by using a cause-and-effect method and by simply sharing parts of the speakers’ speeches meant to entice the fat cat.  

Two days before the conference, Governor Jeb Bush of Florida was well-received by Adelson after saying he was against American passivity under President Obama.  As a result of this knowledge about Adelson being strongly against Obama, the governors decided to also share their distaste for the President.  Miller wrote, “Catering to the pro-Israel crowd at the RJC’s leadership conference, they brought heavy criticism of President Barack Obama’s foreign policy to the high-dollar donor conference.”  By speaking about subjects that they knew would be favored by Adelson and the RJC, the governors heightened their chances of gaining the billionaire’s support.  Miller’s purpose gets accomplished because he shows how the governors tried to get Adelson to invest in them by describing how the wealthy man’s opinions caused the governors to have specific talking points.  

Other talking points used to gain support from the RJC and Adelson included self-promotion and discussion of their own Jewish values.  According to Miller, Walker, “said he lights a ‘menorah candle’ every year with his Christmas tree and that his son Matthew’s name derives from the Hebrew for ‘gift from God.’”  Walker specifically spoke about his supposed Jewish values as a way to appeal to his audience.  Christie used a similar ruse to appeal to the audience.  Miller’s purpose is accomplished because he shares how the governors had specific talking points in order to cater to Adelson.  

Sheldon Adelson

http://dyn.politico.com/tag/sheldon-adelson