OPINION:
As a Jewish American who worries about the rise of antisemitism at home and abroad, I was delighted and proud to hear Doug Emhoff, Vice President Kamala Harris’ husband and America’s “second gentleman,” speak at the Democrat National Convention this week (“Emhoff on Harris: ‘Empathy is her strength,’” Web, Aug. 20). His ongoing fight to end hatred and antisemitism on behalf of the Biden-Harris administration is noteworthy and admirable.
Needless to say, as a Democrat, I enjoyed and applauded his performance. But most important, as a rhetorician who has studied and taught political communication during my career, I found his address superb and would grade it an “A.” It convincingly proved that one does not need to be an orator trained in public speaking to deliver an outstanding speech.
Emhoff’s introduction of his wife and family was genuine, believable and authentic, something more like what we would expect from an ordinary citizen rather than a politician.
RICHARD CHERWITZ
Ernest A. Sharpe Centennial Professor Emeritus, Moody College of Communication
University of Texas at Austin
Camas, Washington
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