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Obama and the Power of Words
The Wall Street Journal ^ | February 26, 2008 | STEPHEN F. HAYES

Posted on 02/26/2008 10:11:22 PM PST by ThePythonicCow

...

One Reagan adviser had predicted such a win shortly after Reagan had become the de facto nominee the previous spring. In a memo about the coming general election contest with Jimmy Carter, Richard Whalen wrote Reagan's "secret weapon" was that "Democrats fail to take him very seriously."

Are Republicans making the same mistake with Barack Obama?

...

In just the past week, conservative commentators have accused Mr. Obama of speaking in "Sesame Street platitudes," of giving speeches that are "almost content free," of "saying nothing." He has been likened to Chance the Gardner, the clueless mope in Jerzy Koscinski's "Being There," whose banal utterances are taken as brilliant by a gullible political class.

...

The assumption behind much of this criticism is that because Mr. Obama gives a good speech he cannot do substance. This is wrong. Mr. Obama has done well in most of the Democratic debates because he has consistently shown himself able to think on his feet. Even on health care, a complicated national issue that should be Mrs. Clinton's strength, Mr. Obama has regularly fought her to a draw by displaying a grasp of the details that rivals hers, and talking about it in ways Americans can understand.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: banglist; obama; reagan; stephenhayes; yobama
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The article suggests that Obama has the ability to persuade a large number of people of his leftist views, just as Reagan did for his conservative views. The article further suggests that both Obama and Reagan understood their positions better than their opponents gave them credit for, and that both benefited from an ability to present their case persuasively.

My comment: We underestimate Obama at our own peril.

1 posted on 02/26/2008 10:11:24 PM PST by ThePythonicCow
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To: ThePythonicCow

The American people will eventually realize that Emperor Obama has no clothes.

The question is, will we realize it before or after the election?


2 posted on 02/26/2008 10:13:15 PM PST by JillValentine (Being a feminist is all about being a victim. Being an armed woman is all about not being a victim.)
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To: ThePythonicCow
well on the other hand he was able to convince even democrats that universal health mandates is a bad idea. Hillary was not pleased.

3 posted on 02/26/2008 10:23:17 PM PST by ari-freedom
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To: JillValentine

They elected Bill Clinton, twice.


4 posted on 02/26/2008 10:23:45 PM PST by donna ("We can create Kingdom on earth" - Barack Hussein Obama)
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To: ThePythonicCow

Its not skill and intelligence, plans or experience that Obama has, because affirmative action does not require any of these to rise to a position , its more the hatred of Bush that gets him elected.

Just listen to what is the best reason to vote for Obama from a Democrat, and they won’t cite anything tangible, just platitudes and beauty contestant verbiage such as “world peace”, the only real honest value they can cite is that “he is the most electable”, which means they won’t be voting for him based upon perceived skills, but rather voting to vote against the consertiave...

Golda Meir once said, ‘Israel will have peace when the Arabs love their children more than they hate Israel.’

Likewise the US will be prosperous only when liberals learn to love their country more than they hate the conservative candidates.


5 posted on 02/26/2008 10:25:59 PM PST by seastay
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To: ThePythonicCow

I agree with your summary.


6 posted on 02/26/2008 10:27:42 PM PST by The_Republican (You know why Chelsea Clinton is so Ugly? Because Janet Reno is her Father! LOL! - Mac is Back!)
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To: donna

yeah but clinton signed bills to cut taxes including capital gains, balanced the budget, reformed welfare and he also bombed a bunch of countries.
The US didn’t turn into zimbabwe but the big problem was he was just evil.


7 posted on 02/26/2008 10:28:11 PM PST by ari-freedom
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To: ThePythonicCow

His words may have power, but not near the power of words on FREE REPUBLIC!!!!!


8 posted on 02/26/2008 10:28:20 PM PST by Rennes Templar ( Never underestimate the difficulty of changing false beliefs by facts.)
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To: donna

Because of Bush Sr.’s tax hike, Perot’s third-party run, and Dole’s weakness as a candidate. Jimmah Cahtah was not elected twice.


9 posted on 02/26/2008 10:28:25 PM PST by JillValentine (Being a feminist is all about being a victim. Being an armed woman is all about not being a victim.)
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To: JillValentine

Obama isn’t the negative, beat your enemy to a pulp leftist that we got with the Clintons. Tonight in the debate his behavior seemed somewhat similar to Reagan in the way he disarmed Hillary - it really throws her off too since she has a hard time being nice. He laughed when the clip of Hillary was shown talking about how the “sky would open, celestial choirs” etc. He said it sounded good to him and gave Hillary points for delivery. Reminded me of Reagan and his “there you go again”.

Unlike Hillary, Obama is likable. We’re going to have our hands full beating Obama with McCain.


10 posted on 02/26/2008 10:29:29 PM PST by Aria (NO RAPIST ENABLER FOR PRESIDENT!!!)
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To: JillValentine

Well, Jimmy Carter had a prime rate of 21.5% in December 1980, LOL.


11 posted on 02/26/2008 10:34:34 PM PST by donna ("We can create Kingdom on earth" - Barack Hussein Obama)
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To: ari-freedom

But he peddles the same socialized medicine BS ?


12 posted on 02/26/2008 10:35:17 PM PST by ncalburt
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To: Aria
McCain is a tad short on the likability quotient as well. He does crusty old man about as well as Hillary does crusty old pant suit.

If we can't paint Obama into a leftist corner, ala McGovern, we're in deep yogurt.

13 posted on 02/26/2008 10:36:50 PM PST by ThePythonicCow (By their false faith in Man as God, the left would destroy us. They call this faith change.)
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To: Rennes Templar
His words may have power, but not near the power of words on FREE REPUBLIC!!!!!

His words have put him on the verge of becoming the 44th president. The words on Free Republic utterly failed to influence the election.

14 posted on 02/26/2008 10:37:32 PM PST by drubyfive
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To: donna
And we're likely heading into a recession just in time to jinx this election.
15 posted on 02/26/2008 10:38:01 PM PST by ThePythonicCow (By their false faith in Man as God, the left would destroy us. They call this faith change.)
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To: seastay
The Dems hate Repub and consider us there enemies .
Once they are in complete control say good bye to
talk radio and the new media !
They hate this website and others ( MMalkin) and Rush more than these Mccain haters realize .
16 posted on 02/26/2008 10:38:29 PM PST by ncalburt
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To: Aria
You are correct . Most people get the Obama movement , and that is what it is. He is unlike what most folks have seen before. The pundits are out of touch. That idiot Hannity is leading the crusade against Obamas wife. Talk about a guy who just does not get it. He’s not alone , most of the old warriors are working off yesterday’s flight plans. They have been itching to go another round with the Clintons , they are unprepared for the new game . LIke or dispise Obama , he is for real , to not realize this , is born of ignorance.
17 posted on 02/26/2008 10:38:46 PM PST by fantom
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To: ncalburt

but even hillary’s new plan is miles away from her original plan or canada style single payer.

Hillary is associated with universal healthcare. It is her baby and she has invested years developing it. Once she is taken out, that’s the end of that idea.


18 posted on 02/26/2008 10:41:43 PM PST by ari-freedom
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To: ThePythonicCow

ding ding ding.


19 posted on 02/26/2008 10:42:29 PM PST by ketsu
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To: fantom

that is why mccain had to denounce bill cunningham. You can’t get Obama by digging up dirt and calling him names.


20 posted on 02/26/2008 10:45:03 PM PST by ari-freedom
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