Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The President Whose Words Once Soared
NY Times ^ | November 7, 2009 | PETER BAKER

Posted on 11/10/2009 3:39:21 PM PST by Ben Mugged

As the most gifted orator of his generation, President Obama finds speechmaking perhaps his most potent political tool. It propelled him to national prominence in 2004 and to the White House in 2008. And whenever he needs to calm economic fears or revive stalled health care legislation, he takes to the lectern.

It may be too soon to reach such conclusions. The Democrats who lost last week, after all, had fatal flaws all their own. But the results do suggest that Mr. Obama’s addresses these days may not resonate quite the way they did. Speeches that once set pulses racing now feel more familiar. And if that remains the case heading into next year, it could make it more difficult for the Democrats’ own Great Communicator to promote his program and carry along allies in crucial midterm elections.

“Really inspirational speeches like the Iowa caucus victory speech set expectations for Obama’s rhetoric that would have been difficult to meet, and he hasn’t met them,” said Michael J. Gerson, who was President George W. Bush’s chief speechwriter. “He’s had one really large explanatory task, which is trying to motivate people on health care reform, and the polls have gone the other way. He will now have another very difficult task, to explain his Afghan policy, whatever it is, to a country that’s deeply skeptical.”

Speechmaking as a president often presents a sharper challenge than it does on the campaign trail. The audience is different, the desired goals are different, the platform is different. Selling another candidate, as Mr. Obama tried to do for Jon Corzine in New Jersey and Creigh Deeds in Virginia, is invariably harder than selling yourself. And pushing policies requires more explanation than inspiration.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bho44; democrats; fail; failure; fourth100days; nj2009; obama; totus; va2009; yawn
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-87 next last
The NY Times? Beating up 0bama? Look, up in the sky, it's a Pig.
1 posted on 11/10/2009 3:39:22 PM PST by Ben Mugged
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Ben Mugged
As the most gifted orator of his generation ...

Stopped reading right there. A real orator doesn't need a teleprompter.

2 posted on 11/10/2009 3:41:37 PM PST by pnh102 (Regarding liberalism, always attribute to malice what you think can be explained by stupidity. - Me)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ben Mugged

” Speeches that once set pulses racing... “

...now send thumbs racing - towards the ‘Mute’ button..


3 posted on 11/10/2009 3:41:57 PM PST by Uncle Ike (Rope is cheap, and there are lots of trees...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ben Mugged

People are tired of speeches. That’s all he’s got. It is going to be a long three years. For him.


4 posted on 11/10/2009 3:42:25 PM PST by eureka! (Turn the Tea Party into our own ACORN when voting time comes. GOTV.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ben Mugged

LOL. It’s a bird...it’s a plane...no, it’s SUPER PIG!


5 posted on 11/10/2009 3:42:41 PM PST by nagdt ("speak the truth but leave immediately afterward")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ben Mugged

TOTUS


6 posted on 11/10/2009 3:42:55 PM PST by JHBowden (Keep the Change!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ben Mugged

He’s only “the most gifted orator in the history of the world” or whatnot because the New York Times said he was. His actual speeches are total crap.


7 posted on 11/10/2009 3:43:17 PM PST by Question Liberal Authority (Why buy health insurance at all if you can't be turned down for any pre-existing conditions?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ben Mugged
It may well have soared...but it wasa always a pack of lies

THE AUDACITY OF TRUTH ABOUT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA

BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA IN HIS OWN WORDS

THE AUDACITY OF TRUTH ABOUT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA'S UPBRINGING

8 posted on 11/10/2009 3:43:36 PM PST by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free...never has been, never will be. (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ben Mugged
As the most gifted orator of his generation

ROFLMAO!!!! Does he give you a thrill up your leg?

9 posted on 11/10/2009 3:43:45 PM PST by thecabal (Destroy Progressivism)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ben Mugged

10 posted on 11/10/2009 3:44:03 PM PST by Lucky9teen (America is at that awkward stage..2 late 2 work within the system, but 2 early 2 shoot the bastards)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ben Mugged

The writer is just another sad liberal whose leg doesn’t tingle for 0 the way it used to.


11 posted on 11/10/2009 3:44:03 PM PST by mojito
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pnh102
Stopped reading right there. A real orator doesn't need a teleprompter.

Agreed. You want a gifted orator? Try Reagan on for size; he was the REAL DEAL.

12 posted on 11/10/2009 3:44:22 PM PST by kromike
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Ike
"Speeches that once set pulses racing...."

....and legs tingling!

13 posted on 11/10/2009 3:44:26 PM PST by Churchillspirit (9/11/01...NEVER FORGET.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Ben Mugged

“Speeches that once set pulses racing now feel more familiar”

My pulse is still high when I hear him...of anger


14 posted on 11/10/2009 3:44:39 PM PST by GauchoUSA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ben Mugged

The only ones proclaiming this are the sycophants in the media. Obama isn’t a great orator. And the biggest conclusion is that his words were always full of hot hair and when his balloon bursted, it all fell down to the ground to be seen what his words really were. Lies and rhetoric to make the insane believe he was their God.


15 posted on 11/10/2009 3:45:06 PM PST by MAD-AS-HELL (Hope and Change. Rhetoric embraced by the Insane - Obama, The Chump in Charge)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ben Mugged

I watched part of the Fort Hood speecha and really found it horrible. This side to side glancing to read the teleprompter is really getting old and repulsive. I am thinking that it really sounded shallow


16 posted on 11/10/2009 3:45:25 PM PST by mel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ben Mugged

Most know that he is just an empty suit, reading a script like an actor in a play or a trained parrot and are not wowed anymore. And when it’s his own words, they know he’s a pathological liar in the extreme!


17 posted on 11/10/2009 3:46:04 PM PST by MrDem (And this is a loyal lifelong Democrat saying this... Democrats for Cheney/Palin 2012)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ben Mugged

His address to the Fallen at FT HOOD could have been a great moment...but as I watched him shift his eyes from side to side....i felt...its just another speech someone sat and wrote for him while drinking their starbucks this morning after reading what was important to the people at Ft. Hood...Nothing personal...he could have spoken from the heart and showed he didnt need a speech to tell he was thankful to soldiers and their families for the many sacrifices they make...but no....he made a speech as always.


18 posted on 11/10/2009 3:46:25 PM PST by Texas4ever (God is in control!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ben Mugged

brings an old saying to mind; Actions talk, BS walks...


19 posted on 11/10/2009 3:47:19 PM PST by God luvs America (When the silent majority speaks the earth trembles!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ben Mugged

Well, before we get to their beating up on him, let’s examine those opening words.

“As the most gifted orator of his generation. . . .”

Where the HELL do they get this nonsense? He can’t speak a word without his teleprompter. He stands there with his head swiveling from side to side like some kind of robot metronome. And if you actually EXAMINE what he says, it’s all vacuous nonsense.

As I recall, a great orator has to consider three aspects: ethos, pathos, and logos.

Ethos involves the moral credibility of the speaker. Does Obama inspire trust? Not unless you’re an idiot.

Pathos involves feeling. Does Obama express any real feelings? Does he feel for anyone but himself. Does he reach out and appeal to the feelings of his audience? Not unless they are idiots.

Logos involves logic. Do Obama’s speeches make any sense? Does he ever engage in rational persuasion? Not unless you’re an idiot.

It sickens me whenever I hear this nonsense about Obama being a great speaker. I can’t stand looking at him, and I can’t stand listening to him. I thought that clinton was bad, but Obama almost makes clinton look like a decent guy. Almost. In fact, I can’t stand looking at or listening to either one of them, and I can’t understand how anyone can let these corrupt and evil jerks send thrills up their legs.


20 posted on 11/10/2009 3:47:27 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-87 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson