Posted on 09/10/2015 7:43:20 AM PDT by LS
So, thinking about the constant charge of "narcissism" that is applied to Trump, and trying to explain how that in fact works with his high level of support, I actually did some digging.
This is NOT a scholarly study. But here was my methodology. I read minute by minute quotations of Trump's Mobile speech, but did not watch the video of the speech. In New Hampshire, I watched about the first 16 minutes of his speech and recorded every use (and I mean, EVERY use, including repetitions interrupted by applause) of the following terms:
Category 1: I/me
Category 2: us/we/our
This includes the times Trump would say "I was watching this news report," or "I was speaking with soldiers backstage."
In Mobile, the numbers almost even, 9 category one, 8 category 2, but several of the category 2 involved the Oreos story where he wouldn't eat Oreos. ALL of the category one uses of "us" or "we" or "our" were when he was talking policy: "WE will make this country great," "WE will have the best military" "OUR military will be so tough . . ." Almost all of his category one comments had to do with a personal reference to his campaign ("I am rated the highest in this poll") etc.
The New Hampshire speech---the first 16 minutes that that I watched: 52 "we/our/us" to 70 "I/me". Again, overwhelmingly the "I/me" comments were "I was watching" or "I can tell you were watching that." Or, "I gotta say . . ." Many other of the "I/me" were past things he said, about Iraq, oil. But again, when it came to the CURRENT or future policy comments he made, they were overwhelmingly how "we" are going to do x, y, z. How we need to achieve this.
I think when communications scholars really get into Trump's speeches, they are going to find a very different dynamic than they expected. His "braggadocio" most often relates to what he has accomplished in the past. But his use of the inclusive "we/us/our" usually relates to what the nation and the people will achieve in the future. And that is why I think he relates far differently than what some of the experts think---because they are not "hearing" the way ordinary people hear.
Compare that to jug ears who uses I and me 473,295 times per speech as he speaks about himself.
Interesting.
I agree. Good job.
So, we will lower the seas together?
Not statistically sound nor meaningful. For example, when he says “I will take care of our Vets”, he is referring to unselfishly serving another deserving group.
Here’s background information on Donald Trump that shows unequivocally that he is a great American:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/3330070/posts?page=79#79
If a person says they can build a sky-scrapper - AND they've done it - it's not bragging. It's a statement of fact.
When Trump says he can build a wall - he's not exaggerating... he CAN build a wall. That mitigates what might be seen as bragging in a less competent person.
2) I Included the "I will take care of our vets" (although he usually says "We have to take care of our vets")
3) But the point is, his personal references were to past accomplishments, his "leadership language" is to future achievements.
But with the exception of the wall, his national agenda comments are all “we/us.”
Impressive Hostage...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/3330070/posts?page=79#79
From link:
Great list but it’s missing the most important item of all, an item that shows how sincere, unswerving and patriotic he is, and that item is his love and respect for our Veterans.
Long before he ran or talked about running for President, he formed a veteran’s memorial commission in NYC in the 1980’s and he funded it when no other politician would help. Donald Trump built the New York City Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza:
http://www.vietnamveteransplaza.com
A quarter million men and women from New York served during Vietnam and no one of means thought to remember their sacrifice save for Donald Trump. He built the Memorial Plaza with his heart when no other leaders cared to get involved. He did it unselfishly, he didn’t have to do it, no one told him to do it. Without his love for our Veterans, this memorial would not exist.
The Memorial Wall above has hundreds of inscriptions of excerpts of letters from Veterans that were sent home. You can read the inscriptions at the above link. The Memorial Wall is a spiritually moving experience.
No matter what is said about the values of conservatism, the root of conservatism lies in the love for our Veterans and our Brave Warriors. Without this love, conservatism is a ghost of nothingness.
Donald Trump at the center of his core being, has the root of conservatism firmly planted. No one can say he does not love America. He is passionate about her.
Donald Trump follows with a passion the careers of many of our military heroes. He keeps an eye on them and as President he will surely see them promoted to positions of great responsibility. One such hero is Rob O’Neill, the Navy Seal who shot Bin Laden.
Rob O’Neill praised Donald Trump when he was interviewed last month on Fox News. He praised how Donald Trump as President would be able to lead Americans to victory if there is a war. When Donald heard this, he was astonished and flattered because Rob O’Neill is a hero to him.
And so many Veterans have been helped by Donald Trump. One US Marine who was forgotten and left to rot in a Mexican jail without so much as a phone call to Mexico by President Obama was Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi. Donald Trump quietly worked behind the scenes, one year before he filed to run for President, to free Sgt. Tahmooressi:
http://www.thepoliticalinsider.com/donald-trump-quietly-helped-marine-whom-obama-ignored
And after Donald Trump had helped to free Sgt. Tahmooressi, he wrote a check for $25,000 to him to help him get his life back in order.
All of the above was done quietly, unselfishly, with kindness and great respect.
Now there are other items you missed Helicondelta, items that again confirm that Donald Trump loves America and will be a President that is the polar opposite of the one we have now. But let’s conclude in agreement that without doubt Donald Trump has the best interests of all American patriots in mind. Together with Ted Cruz, there can be up to 16 years of turning this country around to restore its pride and its exceptionalism. Everyone that loves America will have an opportunity to see it happen and to benefit from what it brings. And further, all the people around the world that have admired and marveled at America but now see it as sick, they too will be so happy to see America rise again and recover its dignity.
Did you mean to say “We agree”? LOL
BTTT!
But I must admit, his obvious respect for vets back before he was a candidate for anything does reassure.
There was a recent Trump quote where he said , "I can make America great again" and I criticized him for it.
If he often says "we" than that would be a good thing.
BFL
Trump is my #1, but maybe he is pronoun challenged??? LOL
Only a shallow thinking idiot counts the number of times a word is said, without taking into context the use of the word, and proclaims a conclusion.
Quite the metric and analysis. Tremendous idea/work. Thank you.
Are you suggesting that LS is a shallow thinking idiot?
Donald Trump is a great American with a very great heart. What causes many to hesitate is his New York Queens street fighter background that colors his words and mannerisms. But it is his heart that everyone sees and that is why he is drawing Americans from every background and walk of life.
His supporters look past his words, grammar, hair and lack of ‘polity’ and they see a very tough American with a huge heart.
Many Americans have similarly been brash, bombastic and overreaching but they hone their delivery and improve over time. I have seen great great improvement in Donald Trump since he announced in June 2015. His delivery will improve and it will never be scripted, it will be directly from him, what’s inside him. No teleprompters, no speechwriters, no packaging. He is what he is and I find that refreshing.
Love him or hate him he grows on people, leaving them optimistic about America once again.
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