Precis #2

            Shannon Travis, eminent writer for CNN.com, in her article entitled “Is Obama taking the black vote for granted?,” declares that Obama can afford to take the black vote for granted. In fact, in opposition to those who think Obama can’t take the vote for granted, she states “that’s not entirely true”. Because Obama got ninety-five percent of the black vote in the two thousand eight elections, he can actually afford to take the black vote for granted.

            Travis utilizes three rhetorical devices to bolster her point. She employs logos when she describes why Obama can take the black vote for granted; “Obama won 95% of the black vote in 2008, and polls show he enjoys 87% support among black registered voters versus 5% for Republican rival Mitt Romney”(ibid.). Also she utilizes pathos as she describes Obama’s response to conservatives who stated “[u]nlike President Obama,[Romney] will not take any vote for granted”; Obama campaign spokeswoman Clo Ewing replied “President Obama does not take a single vote or support from any community for granted”(ibid.). To prove that Obama does not take any vote for granted, Travis lastly employs cause and effect. Hilary Shelton, NAACP Washington Bureau director, states “the president’s policies have greatly benefited African-Americans, such as health care reform…and protecting voting rights and civil rigths”(ibid.). With this last quote, Travis shows the things Obama did through his first term that allow him to take certain votes for granted.

            Shannon Travis employs sincere language. Although Obama was unable to attend the NAACP convention due to a so-called scheduling conflict, he rectifies the situation by releasing a statement saying he “really wanted to be with the NAACP because he recognizes that strong support that he has from this constituency”(Travis). Obama attempts to make up for his absence by reminding his African-American supporters how much their support and votes mean to him. Syntactically, Travis utilizes many quotes and m-dashes in her support of Obama. “I think the policies that he adopted--for better or for worse--they are very much policies that benefit African-Americans” says Sabato (ibid.). The quotes from other sources reveal her adamant support for Obama; in addition, the m-dashes reveal that Travis accepts the fact Obama is not perfect but that won’t stop him from trying to fulfill all the promises he has made to the American people, which contributes to her sympathetic tone.

            I agree with Shannon Travis believing that Obama can risk taking the black vote for granted. Although he shouldn’t, the overwhelming support from the African American community in the two thousand eight elections almost ensures him the same amount of support in the coming election. However, it is not the support Obama needs to worry about for “[Obama] doesn’t have to worry about losing votes to Mitt Romney. He has to worry about African-Americans not showing up in the record numbers that showed up in 2008,”states Sabato (ibid.). Obama needs not to concern himself with whether or not he will lose his most loyal supporters but more so with whether or not those supporters will actually show up to the polls.