A Speechwriter's Tip for Obama: Silence Is Golden

Washington Post ^ | 9/6/2009 | Matt Latimer

[IbJensen]

I've made a decent living as a speechwriter over the past decade and even realized my dream of becoming one of the few to have crafted the words of an American president. Deserved or not, my name can at least be placed in the same sentence with those notable presidential scribes whose talents have enlivened our national story: Sorensen, Safire, Shrum, Dolan, Noonan.

So it might not be in my interest to say this, but here goes: The time has come to eliminate my job, Mr. President. Fire the speechwriters; it might be the only way to save the presidency.

The age of the Internet and cable news has opened the world to an onslaught of ideas, opinions and information. It also is stripping away the grandeur -- and power -- of the highest office in the land. Commanders in chief have become daily, even hourly, television performers, expected to be out yakking in public on everything that happens, from the death of Michael Jackson to the latest NASCAR champion to "An Evening of Country Music."

Speechwriters have become enablers, manning an assembly line of recycled bullet points so presidents can serve as the nation's pep-talk-givers, instant reactors, TV friends. The constant access to television coverage can tempt any presidential ego, but it's a terrible trap. Even President Obama's pal Oprah knows when to go on hiatus from her show and give her viewers a break.

There was a time when a president's words could instantly move millions. Think of Kennedy's call to land on the moon or Reagan's challenge to the Soviets to dismantle the Berlin Wall. Now we hear presidents so often, they are almost irrelevant.

[IbJensen]

He keeps arguing and re-explaining while his poll numbers drop.

I'm beginning to believe that Obama is a communist and he, like Hillary Clinton, is certifiably insane.

(Other than this, I have no further comment on this article. It's merely presented for your perusal and comment.)

[rawhide]

Deserved or not, my name can at least be placed in the same sentence with those notable presidential scribes whose talents have enlivened our national story: Sorensen, Safire, Shrum, Dolan, Noonan.

Instant turnoff for me when this exalts himself.

[rawhide]

Correction: Instant turnoff for me when this guy exalts himself.

[Dr. Sivana]

I thought that Fred Thompson was going to try that approach. Unfortunately, if you don’t shape your message, others will shape it for you.

[GeronL]

Obama wouldn’t have anything to say without a speechwriter

[RummyChick]

This is what it would be if there were no speech writers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00eGsBZ1Vrc

[SonOfDarkSkies]

Obama wouldn’t have anything to say without a speechwriter

If left free to speak from his cold, cold heart, I'll bet he would spew a steady stream of hatred that would make Van Jones and Jeremiah Wright proud.

[The Wizard]

I bet the ratings tank......and the bombs numbers lower

[Senator_Blutarski]

The problem is that Obama cannot articulate a closely reasoned argument for his positions. That problem arises because the facts and logic don't support his positions. No amount of selling on Obama’s part can cause his positions make sense to an increasingly skeptical American populace.

[Don Corleone]

Obama wouldn’t have anything to say without a speechwriter

"On the nose" you win the refrigerator and dream vacation of your choice.

[Dem Guard]

Obama has gone from esteem to town jester in no time. By the end of his term he'll be doing cheap card tricks in the street to get attention. The man just can't
resist talking to hear himself talk.........

[upchuck]

Now we hear presidents so often, they are almost irrelevant.

Two thoughts about that sentence:

1. "presidents" plural should be "president" as -13nobama is the one clogging up the media. President Bush sure didn't.

2. The word "almost" should be removed from the sentence.

As edited: Now we hear the president so often, he is irrelevant.

[bestintxas]

It won’t happen.

As a narcissist, he values his own voice as he believes if he says it, it must be so.

[Fantasywriter]

“The problem is that Obama cannot articulate a closely reasoned argument for his positions. That problem arises because the facts and logic don’t support his positions. No amount of selling on Obama’s part can cause his positions make sense to an increasingly skeptical American populace.”

Another reason he’d can’t present reasoned arguments is because he has a very dysfunctional and undisciplined mind. Think about it. When you have embraced the lunacy of ‘moral equivalence’, and when reading Miranda rights to terrorists on the battlefield actually makes sense to you, the logical and reasoning part of your brain is shot. In Obama’s world nonsense makes sense. He can talk to his fellow leftists and have what he thinks is a good conversation. When he talks to normal, rational people, he comes off as just shy of coherence.

[alloysteel]

Why do we, or anybody, want to save THIS Presidency? It should be allowed to, nay, it MUST, fail.

Miserably. Catastrophically. Without recourse, without mercy.

To the degree this perversity, this series of monstrosities, fails in its attempt to “remake” America, just so does the ideal of America have a chance of revival and restoration.

After all, who controls your destiny - you, or some faceless oligarchy composed of malefactors of great wealth?

[stevie_d_64]

They are expected to yakkity-yak at every opportunity, yet our ability yakkity-yak back is diminishing in importance to those that need to listen more than yak...

I’m getting cramps in my fingers now, because I must be tappity-tappin’ too much over this last weekend...

Obviously, the cure to that is to read more...duh!

I know, I can be a little dense sometimes...;-)

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

We predicted that people would get tired of listening to that sanctimonious,
preachy, self-satisfied, condescending, lecturing,cocky, self-righteous, and
arrogant voice (last summer during the campaign). He tries to sweet-talk his way
out of jams and lies with that baritone Venus Flytrap "Hey, baby, come on...
you don't think I was serious about that mandatory end of life stuff, do ya?"

Then he giggles nervously like Michael Jackson with inappropriate affect.
"You don't think I'd really pull the plug on granma, do ya? Hee, hee..."
Well, gee, with a "science czar" who wants to dope the water supply
with population control drugs, who knows...

[IbJensen]

Must of us here are with you, Alloy!

While this commie idiot is busily churning up garbage with which to fail, our enemies are watching and waiting.

How about a gigantic recall?

[Vaduz]

He only has one speech and it is used for every subject.