Type of Document	Thesis
Author	Baseman, Mark F.
Author's Email Address	Imightbemark@hotmail.com
URN	etd-04102006-164530
Title	Selling War as Obligation: Appeals to Obligation at Work in George W. Bush's Iraq Speeches
Degree	Master of Science
Department	Communication, Department of
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Dr. Danielle R. Wiese Committee Chair Dr. Davis W. Houck Committee Member Dr. Donna M. Nudd Committee Member
Keywords	Presidential Rhetoric Obligation Duty War Rhetoric Crisis Rhetoric Presidential Crisis Rhetoric
Date of Defense	2006-03-30
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract This thesis examines the rhetoric employed by President George W. Bush in the period leading up the American-led invasion of Iraq. Specifically, this thesis posits that the appeals to obligation so prevalently featured in Bush’s oratory were well suited to his particular rhetorical situation. In supporting this claim, a theoretical understanding of how obligation rhetoric functions is created. By approaching appeals to obligation from both a Neo-Aristotelian and Narrative criticism perspective, the conclusion emerges that obligation rhetoric: 1) builds a speaker’s credibility, 2) limits a speaker’s liability with regard to proposed action, and 3) allows a speaker to receive praise for future success. The rhetorical work done by appealing to obligation is then applied to Bush’s particular rhetorical situation to show how obligation rhetoric worked in his unique context.
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