AOW #20: US News "Re-election Hurdle" Political Cartoon

AOW #20:
http://www.usnews.com/cartoons

this image is showing Obama jumping over a hurdle in the "re-election" race. Not only does it show that he's fighting to be re elected, but the scoreboard is showing gas prices and not the runners' times. This is important because it expresses how much automobile gas and the price of it can sway someones vote die to the current increasing dollar amounts for gas. Basically, the cartoon is saying that the lower your gas prices are on the score board, the more likely you are to win (as in real running with times). 

The creator of this cartoon is Steve Breen. He won the Pulitzer prize twice for his cartoons and is featured in a number of prestigious newspapers, such as US News. Both of these facts express his credibility because awards and features are a perfect evaluation of what critics think of his work. 

The context of this piece would be causal. It would be because the elections are coming up soon and the gas prices have just recently risen to one of their highest. So due to the current status of the gas prices AND the election being shown, we can see that this image is a reaction to the new issues. 

The purpose of this piece was hinted at before: to show how much Obama wants to be reelected for a second term, and that lowering the gas prices will help him in doing so. 

The audience of this piece would be those who are aware of not only the election, but the other  candidates. They must also have some idea about what is truly the most important factor in this election that will push one candidate over the other - that being gas prices, the economy, etc. 

Some rhetorical devices used were contrast and enthymeme. Contrast was expressed when you saw the racing track and then the scoreboard. When you see a track, you expect the scoreboard to be running times or even just a regular football scoreboard. However, here there was contrast because the scoreboard was actually gas prices and not at all like a normal track timer. 
The enthymeme was expressed when all of the elements of the cartoon worked together.
Major: The re-election race depends on low gas prices. 
Minor: All of the gas prices on the scoreboard are high. 
Claim: Therefore, the runners in the election race must lower the gas prices in order to win (alike to regular running)

I believe that the author completely accomplished their purpose. They did because people like me, who aren't completely involved in the election and re election process, can understand what's going on. Not only is it clear, but it portrays a strong message of the current issues related to politics.