Gaga at the Clinton Rally

On Election Day morning, Lady Gaga spoke at Hillary Clinton's North Carolina rally. It was a celebratory event in which attendees and speakers were moreso just waiting to go home that night and hear the announcement that Clinton had won. Lady Gaga begins this speech much like the way she began her 2010 speech "The Prime Rib of America" at a rally to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell-by shouting an enthusiastic greeting to her audience. "WHAT'S UP RALEIGH?!!!" she cheers. She refers to the rally as one of her most favorite days. As one of the most successful musicians in the world currently with countless achievements, this is a powerful statement that both acknowledges her accomplishments and casts them aside in favor of Clinton. She then appeals to the women watching, stating that she did not believe that in her life she would see a woman win the presidency. This appeals to logos. However, she also speaks as if Hillary has so clearly already won. Her visual rhetoric is mostly pointing strongly for emphasis, but she does not make too many large gestures. This shows a subtly to her seriousness about Clinton. She directly reaches out in a call to action, asking "you" to join her, Clinton, and her supporters in fighting for America. She asserts that true Americans will learn to view Trump supporters as allies rather than adversaries. She then repeats Hillary's tagline, "Stronger together" and says it is what "we" say, making things personal with the audience. She then describes herself as a "woman from an Italian-American immigrant family" making another personal, human connection with viewers. She says "I'm. With. Her." slowly, with strength and power. At the end of a serious speech, she places her sunglasses on and jokes, "put your voting shades on, practice your walk to the poles" adding humor to the speech. Finally, she ends with the statement, "I think it's time to come to Mama." This is a reference to her new song Come to Mama, from her album that was released just two weeks before election day. More on the actual song later. This phrase is not only a reference to her song to add enthusiasm from her fans. It appeals to Michelle Obama's earlier rhetoric when speaking of Clinton. Michelle appealed to her listeners as a mother, rather than the First Lady-as everyone can relate to being or having a mother. She also appealed to Hillary as a mother and grandmother who cares about ALL of America's children. Lady Gaga's "Come to Mama" phrase and song built upon this rhetoric.