Date of Award

Spring 2024

Thesis Type

Open Access

Degree Name

Honors Bachelor of Arts

Department

English

Sponsor

Dr. Paul Reich

Committee Member

Dr. Martha Cheng

Committee Member

Dr. David Painter

Abstract

Political rhetoric can be utilized as a divisive tactic in the modern polarized age to separate the Democratic and Republican public in U.S. congressional speeches. Once holding an educational purpose in the 1980s, U.S. House representatives and senators now must focus on their political party’s issue goals to ensure their re-election. This research investigates common political rhetoric tools – while evaluating women politicians’ speeches about abortion, the 2020 U.S. Presidential election, and Donald Trump’s two impeachments – to find if they encourage partisan polarization or anti-democratic behavior. This research focuses on these speeches from U.S. House Representatives Ilhan Omar and Lauren Boebert, along with U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Marsha Blackburn. My analysis concludes that framing, religious rhetoric, and narrative encourages partisan polarization for both the Democratic and Republican legislators. However, only the Republican politicians encourage anti-democratic behavior by embracing misinformation stemming from Trump’s impeachments and illegitimate accusations about the U.S. 2020 U.S. Presidential election. These findings emphasize how vital it is for Republican legislators to uphold democratic ideals, even if it costs them their incumbency and partisan acceptance.

Rights Holder

Ingrid Ryan

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