Melissa Mata 8th Period Rhetorical Analysis The United States trembles with the fear of a double-dip recession.

It seems that these days the American people are constantly questioning whether or not the government will ever agree on something. Obamacare seems to be the main subject causing gridlock in Congress, which recently sat through a 21-hour filibuster from Ted Cruz, senator of Texas, protesting against Obamacare. Whether successful or not, voting on Obamacare will occur. The Los Angeles Times editorial board, author of GOPs Unhealthy Obsession with Obamacare, succeeds in convincing readers that the GOP, the Grand Old Party, aka Republicans, does in fact have a strange, unhealthy obsession with Obamacare. In the article, the board writes of the houses refusal to set a higher debt limit unless Democrats agree to stop pushing funding for Obamacare. Republicans have also refused to pass a spending bill. These refusals will lead to a government shut down until Congress can agree on a spending bill to spend. The reason for such refusals comes down to one of the most controversial subjects, Obamacare. Formally named the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPCA), the law received its nickname Obamacare after being proposed by President Barack Obama. It was officially passed in March 2010. This act basically is meant to increase the number of insured Americans and reduce health care spending in the United States. It also ensures that health insurance companies cant deny a person coverage based on pre-existing conditions. Due to the necessary expenses in order to fund Obamacare, many believe it is worth the cause while others

believe it is not worth the other cuts that may occur. Now, whether or not this is the best option for the country, only time will tell. The LA Times board writes of the last time a forced shutdown by Republicans occurred during the Clinton years, 1995 and 1996. According to the board, this shutdown helped Democrats reelect an embattled President Clinton. It seems that the board is implying that the Republicans plan will backfire, like it did during Clintons term. The board uses data to support their opinion, by stating that Congress has failed to pass 12 annual funding bills, and without passing one by September 30th, there will be a government shutdown. The board describes the relationship between Obamacare and Republicans as a fight they cant win. It seems then that indeed a government shutdown is almost inevitable. They go on to back up this statement by declaring opponents of the Affordable Care Act dont have the votes to repeal it in the Senate. With these threats of not passing a spending bill and not raising the debt ceiling, the Los Angeles Times board writes of a past situation, stating the last time Republicans did so, in 2011, the stock market tumbled and the economy staggered. The House, with the support of their House majority leader, Republican Eric Cantor, has suggested that unless they put a hold on the main necessities of Obamacare until after the 2014 elections, they will continue to refuse raising the debt limit. The usage of logos supported the boards argument, and strengthened their predictions. Not only did they use this data, but they also added pathos to convince readers. The board begins the article with humor, writing House Republican leaders are having trouble stopping their colleagues from shooting themselves in the foot again. This is a form of pathos because it implies that not only are they battling over something almost ridiculous, but that it is not the

first time. This is another implication that Republicans cannot move on from Obamacare. They then state The House GOPs obsession with Obamacare is really just a sideshow to the longrunning fiscal dispute the two sides have been embroiled in since the GOP took control of the House." While being distracted by Obamacare, congress is simply leading America down of a rough fiscal year. Expressing the longer it takes them to strike some kind of deal, the more of these exercises in brinkmanship well go through, the board continues to write of the unwinnable battle Republicans are fighting, and should simply get to work instead on the long delayed grand bargain. By slightly exaggerating the consequences of Congresss action, the board grabs the readers attention by writing something the majority of Americans want to avoid: more fights within the government. Though the board successfully played into the readers attention through emotions, and other than the data listed before, the board excluded any credibility that could have supported their argument even more. With the lack of ethos in the editorial by other sources, the board relied solely on their own credibility. The only source of credibility in the article came from writing that the Republicans, who are opposing all proposed spending bills, are rank-and-file Republicans who are resisting their leaderships proposed stopgap." This is another way to say that these Republicans are inferior, and are causing problems while their leaders are trying to come up with a solution. Besides this statement, no other source is used to strengthen their position, or even to weaken the opposing opinion. In order to strengthen this editorial, the board should include other news articles that express the majority of Americans opinion on either Obamacare, Congress, or both. They may even go as far as getting other congressmen and womens opinion the issue, to show that it really is an obsession. Even though it is missing more forms of ethos, the editorial is still successful in convincing us of its opinion.

It may bring a sense of concern to Americans that their government is on the verge of a shutdown. This consequence is all a result of one, very controversial act. This is a problem, and action must be taken to prevent a shutdown. Of course, this is not the last time that Congress will have to agree to disagree on this situation, but it is the time to put a plan into action to prevent much bigger problems. This editorial brings a lot of insight on how these battles are being fought in Congress, and the consequences of such battles. In conclusion, the board makes a great argument by showing readers that much more is at stake other than the controvercy overObamacare. It is our governments job to work together, and compromise if needed, to run this country. Having an obsession like the Republicans', it seems there is little to expect by such a divided government. Through the success of convincing readers that there is a battle going on, the article almost encourages Americans to want to inform their representatives that Obamacare is not the only thing that is being affected. With ongoing progress like now,slow with no deal in sight, America may be in more challenging obstacles in the future. For now, as a country we must hope that our government may agree on something to prevent worse complications.