Here again we see Moore’s use of a logos-heavy appeal. In his next claim, Moore combines logos and ethos appeals. He argues that we should be grateful for the contributions immigrants have made and the “benefits we’ve reaped”. It’s the American Dream in action: People working hard to better themselves, moving up the socioeconomic ladder, and giving their children a better life than they had. The audience can respect that because it is something they themselves value (an ethos appeal). In addition, if previous immigrants have come and positively impacted America – as they have – then future immigrants should be allowed as well based on the same merit. This is most clearly a logos appeal the audience can appreciate.

Part of the controversy surrounding Michael Moore is the rhetorical strategies he implements. At the heart of his arguments are heavy logos-based appeals. However, he will often make very strong pathos-heavy appeals with his logos approach. It’s kind of a see-saw thing for him. You can count on Moore’s logos appeals to be supplemented with a pathos appeal (that is not always the most positive approach). For example, when he talks about the “benefits we have reaped”, he calls those that take it for granted “Assholes”. And after pointing out immigrants often do the “dirty work”, he tears Pat Buchanan apart by placing him in McDonalds. In fact, he tells Buchanan to “get down on your hands and knees and wipe the crusted urine off the rim of the office toilet seat yourself”. It is easy to see why a reader would take Michael Moore’s manner quite offensive.

I think the intended audience in the author’s mind is anti-immigration advocates (namely the Pat Buchanans of the world). Convincing people who already share the same beliefs as him seems superfluous, right? It makes sense for his intended audience to be those that disagree with him. However, due to his outrageous and often offensive language and style, it seems that Moore’s pieces are written more for those that agree with him; and perhaps additionally, those who are somewhere in the middle and are trying to come to their own conclusions. It is also important to

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