Is anyone down to talk

What is the most likely reason schlosser uses a direct quotation in this excerpt from fast food nation?

Especially since they live in pack’s whos’ leaders are the biggest and strongest of them all.

In paragraph 5, president obama remarks: “you know, when trayvon martin was first shot i said that this could have been my son. another way of saying that is trayvon martin could have been me 35 years ago.” how does president obama use rhetoric in this quote to contribute to the overall meaning of his speech?