Waters went into specifics about how she used her own resources which gave a more convincing outlook in her determination to seek justice for those responsible for taking advantage of their authority. Waters mentioned taking to trip to Nicaragua to meet Enrique Miranda Jaime, a former Sandanista official and drug partner of Norwin Meneses. She also interviewed Gary Webb, the writer of the series and a number of key figures that was mentioned in the series.
The tone of the testimony was very abrasive yet easy-going because she was spent a lot of time destroying the credibility of the IG Report, however because Waters included her use of personal funds and resources, it set a lighter tone for the testimony. On one hand Waters was defending and speaking out about the morality of the CIA and on the next hand she is using her personal experience and personal vested interest to gain support from other political leaders.
The utilization of Inductive Reasoning was again used throughout the testimony because of the way in which the evidence was presented. Waters stated that the CIA did their own investigation and came up with their own conclusions that contradicted everything that was mentioned in the Webb article. She then stated she did her own investigation and her conclusion confirmed the allegations in the Webb series as well as the other research that was done in the past. The conclusion that she arrived at was basically the IG Report lacked credibility should be dismissed.
Waters identifies with her audience because the audience is comprised her colleagues. She testified in front of her colleagues about an issue that, not only, will affect them, but the country as a whole when the truth is known. The only problem with the testimony was that because the targeted group were a committee made up of government officials Waters assumed that the language used was familiar. However, for a person like an ordinary citizen, or myself some of the language (terms) she used were unfamiliar. For example, she mentioned the Freedom of Information Act, but did not really define what it was. She also mentioned the CIA subpoena power, but does not state what it is, and she also mentions the FDN, but once again I don’t know what it means.
In a continuing effort to investigate the allegations introduced in the Webb series, Waters wrote another letter to Honorable Henry J. Hyde. The letter asked the Judiciary Committee “to investigate the allegations, including allegations of criminal wrongdoing and domestic drug trafficking by law enforcement agency, raised in the San Jose Mercury News.” The letter also pinpoints another issue that is concern to Rep. Waters. The issue that was of concern to Rep. Waters is “discriminatory mandatory minimum sentences which politician have attached to crack cocaine use and possession.” Waters states that “these sentences have the effects of severely punishing small-time users, and are prosecuted in discriminatory way which disproportionately impacts African-American and Latino males.”
The style of this letter was written like the style of the letter written to Janet Reno. The only difference was that the goals of the letters were different. Waters again used her personal experiences as well as her life in South Central to encourage Hyde to continue with the investigation. The format, writing style, use of language and Feminine Style Rhetoric was the same as the Janet Reno letter. The stylistic device Climax was used to raise the importance of the government involvement in drug trafficking.
” The notion that a U.S. government agency know about the drug-tainted resources that were funding a war in Nicaragua, and idea that those involved allowed a major infusion of cocaine onto the streets of America because of its blind devotion to win a war – a war which was at the time being conducted secretly – is among the more devastating assertions one could make this government”(Letter to Henry Hyde).
How could a government use its own people as bait? How could the American public ever trust the government? What is the difference between Democracy and Totalitarianism? A democratic system of government is supposed to be for the peoples’ well-being and best interest. I don’t think the best interest of the people is supplying ##################################################################ly destroy communities with children and families in them? Waters tries to get Hyde to see that the government has been lying all along and will continue to do so if someone does not put a stop to this.
In all four of Waters’ speeches the Rhetoric of Definition was used to “label/name” crack-cocaine. Waters often referred to crack-cocaine as a “foreign substance,” devastating, deadly, and destructive. The government was also labeled as liars, untrusting, drug smugglers, and hypocrites. Ideographs were used were throughout her speeches. Ideographs provides an entry point for rhetoric; it is the use of an ordinary term whose meaning go unquestioned where it is positioned under some special interest. For example, crack-cocaine connection, contra, allegations, investigation, responsibility, wrongdoing, U.S Intelligence, drug smuggling and many more ideographs were used.
Waters’ ideology was made very clear throughout her speeches. She believed that the people responsible for creating the drug epidemic in America should be punished. She believes that the government should take responsibility for their wrongdoing and stop making a mockery out of the American public. On Monday March 18, 1998, it was officially reported that the CIA, after denying its involvement in trafficking ##### to the U.S, admitted knowing about contra drug trafficking.
” The CIA, through its ties to Nicaragua drug dealers, was linked to the introduction of crack cocaine into Los Angeles, allegations that were raised by a series of articles published in the San Jose News in August 1996″(Zirnite p1).
Not only did the CIA lied about doing credible research to clear them of charges, but they lied about their involvement with crack cocaine in south central Los Angeles. After they got caught up in the lies the truth was told on that glorious day on Monday March 18, 1998. After eighteen years of hiding, lying and cheating the truth was finally told.
After all the hard work, long hours and personal time spent on seeking the truth, Rep. Waters finally got her truth. What will come of this newfound truth? Who knows, but like Peter Jennings said she was “a woman who will simply not go unheard.” Her persistent, determination and consistency was the key factors that allowed Waters to get to the bottom of this problem.
Like any other American was disgusted by the fact that our own government, lied, cheated, destroyed the lives of many families throughout America. Many would say that she was too emotionally involved or too bothersome in seeking the truth. However, I would say, we need politician like Waters today to not only fight for the issues, but to believe in the issue that you will be willing to use your own fund and resources, if necessary, to make a difference. In conclusion, I have critically examined Waters’ ideology, the rhetoric style of Definition and Form, Kohrs Feminine Style Rhetoric and performed an analytical overview of the writings, press releases, speeches, and other documents by Rep.Waters. I think politicians today are too caught in the promises of what they would do if they were in office and many of them when they get into office cannot account for anything. Maxine Waters, the exception to the rule is the type of politician that “will simply not go unheard” and I thank her for speaking up for the American people.
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###################################################################.” Tikkun 12:4 (July-
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