From Communist Nightmare to American Dream: Hybrid Rhetoric in Senator Marco Rubio’s 2016 Tribute to José Fernández
2017; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 83; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/1041794x.2017.1398778
ISSN1930-3203
Autores Tópico(s)Public Relations and Crisis Communication
ResumoThis essay analyzes a curious moment in American public address where the legacy of a baseball player became entangled in a societal dialogue on the nature of the American Dream. When José Fernández, a pitcher for the Miami Marlins, tragically died in the fall of 2016, Senator Marco Rubio delivered a eulogy to him on the floor of the Senate. The media, public, and politicians are quick to condemn those who "politicize" tragedies such as this; yet, Rubio's tribute, filled as it was with political content, received praise from across the ideological spectrum. In this essay I argue that Rubio avoided charges of politicization by formulating a unique rhetorical hybrid and couching his celebration of conservative values in terms of his own experiences as a Cuban American, providing insight on the complex manner in which our society deliberates over fallen athletes and enhancing generic rhetorical theories.
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