Barack Obama and the Power of Language
Words matter.
More than any candidate in recent memory, Barack Obama has used the power of rhetoric to ascend to political prominence, prompting his opponents to discount the importance of oratory.
The power of political rhetoric has its limits. As I point out in today's Politico, no one knew that better than the politician to whom Barack Obama is so often compared -- a young senator whose words inspired a nation and a generation.
But Kennedy also appreciated the limits of rhetoric. He liked to quote from Shakespeare's "Henry IV, Part I," in which Owen Glendower boasts that he can "call spirits from the vasty deep" and Hotspur replies that he can, too, and "so can any man; but will they come when you do call for them?" Anyone can speak well, in other words, but do the words lead to deeds?
Those spirits have come from the vasty deep at Obama's summons, but having established their power, Obama is now in danger of their turning on him. The toxic language of Jeremiah Wright, his pastor and friend, threatens to blot out the unifying beacon that the Illinois senator has been striving to become.
Obama will shortly step to the podium to deliver a speech that his campaign aides have been careful to note he worked late into the night writing himself. (This is almost certainly true as far as it goes -- but to say that he was writing it himself does not mean that he did not have the aides of his three talented speechwriters. As I note in my forthcoming book, White House Ghosts: Presidents and Their Speechwriters, the last successful presidential candidate who wrote his own speeches was -- wait for it -- Bill Clinton.)
This morning's speech is the critical moment of the Democratic campaign: Failure could trigger the kind of political collapse for which the Clintonites have been waiting and about which they have been warning. Can Obama's words overcome and defuse Wright's? Stay tuned.
Update: For more on the stakes facing Obama this morning, see my thoughts at Robert Emmet.
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He can never overcome aligning with REV WRIGHT....his "spiritual advisor"....this just FINISHED his candidacy....he is now NOT ELECTIBLE....I hope the superdelegates understand that...do you people realize what the republicans are going to do with this???/ Can you see the political ads on TV right now? Obama's quote...." Rev Wright is like family to me"...and then in the next panel, Wright ranting and raving a "God -Damning" America.....POINT, SET, MATCH......he will not and now, CANNOT, beat them...it is up to HILLARY......whether you like it or not, this has ended..if the Democrats plunder on, and he is their candidate, it will most defintely be a "DUKAKIS MOMENT" in the history of the democratic party....Hillary is vetted, intelligent, and ready to lead..it is time that idiot head of the DNC, Howard Dean, accept the Fla. delegates, and we need to unite around Hillary and elect her as President of the United States.
He can never overcome the prejudiced, the hardened, the closed-minded, the set. For the 80%+ citizens who aren't, he's touched our hearts.
Having just read the text of Barack Obama's speech, it appears that March 18, 2008 is going to be a date printed in a lot of anthologies.
It's the best speech Obama has given so far-- better than his 2004 speech at the Democratic convention.
At times, Obama-- as befits a true politician, in the best sense of the word-- uses simple slogans or catchy phrases. "Yes We Can." The memorable line about there being "no red states" and "no blue states."
However, this speech confronts the complex, almost impossible issue of race with language that is also complex-- though, of course, it's not possible for words to make these things magically go away. Instead, Obama sets up the questions for America to deal with: how the black struggle is not finished, but how many of the same struggles also facing whites and Latinos are a result of a broken Washington, stale ideas, and an economy that does not bring security for most Americans, regardless of color.
Obama links the struggles of race with those of gender inequality, and talks about how we cannot ignore these hard truths. At the same time, we have a choice about whether we continue to exploit these social divisions, or come together to solve real problems like failing schools, the lack of health-care coverage and a war in Iraq that is costing the lives of so many Americans-- men, women, black, white, brown.
Only the most bitterly partisan person, and someone who is even more cynical than I am (impossible!) will not find this speech to be the final word on the controversy surrounding Rev. Wright, Geraldine Ferraro, and the growing polarization in this rather disheartening Democratic primary. Actually, not the final word-- the first word which will lead to a more substantive (and hopefully constructive) discussion about race, gender, old wounds, and new solutions.
Obama links the struggles of race with those of genger inequality....Now how is that since he is not
a female, he didn't use the word gender in his speech. Now I think it is Hillary's turn to talk
about Women and politics, including the sexism that existed 400 years ago, not just in terms
of polictics, but religion, and the media.
Obama was took the opportunity to talk about history, and he did not talk about gender!
A) He may not have talked about it in depth, but I do seem to remember him including women either specifically or inclusively in the context of the points he was making. B) This wasn't supposed to be about gender anyway; it was supposed to be a speech about race.
"But it also means binding our particular grievances - for better health care, and better schools, and better jobs - to the larger aspirations of all Americans -- the white woman struggling to break the glass ceiling, the white man whose been laid off, the immigrant trying to feed his family."
No, but he did throw his grandmother under the bus. He said her racist remarks made him cringe. Poor grandma.
"For the African-American community, that path means embracing the burdens of our past without becoming victims of our past. It means continuing to insist on a full measure of justice in every aspect of American life.
But it also means binding our particular grievances -- for better health care, and better schools, and better jobs -- to the larger aspirations of all Americans, THE WHITE WOMAN STRUGGLING TO BREAK THE GLASS CEILING, the white man whose been laid off, the immigrant trying to feed his family."
I don't understand the issues. Sure, there is strong rhetoric from Rev. Wright. He has a right to speak his mind and we have to respect him for that, even if we don't agree with him.
I have to credit Obama for giving this speech on this matter. He was able to wrap it all up. I don't see where he was allusive or misleading as others have commented.
From the AP & MSNBC...
"He told the crowd the the comments that have been made and the issues that have surfaced over the last few weeks reflect the complexities of race in America that have never been worked through, calling them "a part of our union that we have yet to perfect," and saying, "If we walk away now, if we simply retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like health care, or education, or the need to find good jobs for every American.""
Remember, Obama is a true mix of American culture by having a black father and a white mother. I am sure it was difficult for him to resolve this issue with Rev. Wright, and we have to respect the Senator's point of view.
Obama is a great orator since he tugs at the hearts of the people. I cannot be quite so supportive of Sen. Clinton's skills as a speaker, as she is easily flustered and seems to speak very loud, almost using the volume as a manner to show she's serious on a point. However, those points are the entire speech, which is acting less like someone with leadership skills and more like someone with a personal agenda. IF elected, she could be a very good President. However, she is not inspiring nor a charismatic leader. Obama is.
Confront Hillary Clinton consistently and brutally with issues from her past and I would like to see her handle herself as calmly and passionately and as eloquently as did Barack Obama this morning.
Ok, give her equal time on tv, for talking about the Hillary experience, just like Obama did
this morning!
Yup. Everyone would like to hear that. She has to write it herself though. No cheating. Oh wait, we were talking about Hillary Clinton, right? My bad. Okay, cheating's allowed.
How about asking Hillary to make a speech about gender issues? She speaks quite eloquently to them and might surprise you.
Stop trying to make this about the Clintons in any way shape or form. You are the one who is tearing the party apart, not HRC!
Words do matter and this morning Obama said that he was in the pews hearing divisive and offensive sermons, but on Friday night on all the news shows he said that he was NEVER in the pews for any divisive and hateful sermons.
He cannot have it both ways. Is he lying now or was he lying Friday night?
What about the responsibility of black communities to accept the role that they play in the problems of race relations in America? Are black communities completely innocent in this scenario? Are all white communities guilty?
The last time I checked, the hateful sermons were coming from Wright and Obama was a willing participant in his parish and called him his mentor. It is all well and good that he is coming forward now with this nice speech, but it is only to help him get votes. If he meant this, he would have distanced himself from the hateful Wright a long time ago.
Too little too late. Obama = Do as I say, not as I do.
It is time for HP to start supporting HRC so that we can win in November.
Listen carefully, he said he wasn't in thepews for that particular sermon. Alot of peolpe draw their own conclusions before realizing what is truly being asked or said.
I'm sure you haven't associated with ANYONE that you disagree with on certain issues.
There's a pattern emerging:
He wasn't there when they voted for the Iraq war.
He wasn't there when this sermon was made.
The guy is never there! Wowwwww. Let's hope he won't be there when it's time to elect a president.
HP can only support the viable candidate. Hillary clearly is not. She has too many bad things going for her, bad things of her own making:
1. she ran and is running a terrible, and negative campaign;
2. her campaign is not well planned or organized;
3. she's motivated by attaining power at all cost rather than service to her fellow man;
4. by trying all tactics: cheating, changing the rules, skewing the rules, she's lost integrity.
This speech today is make-or-break. As I'm watching it, I'm noticing how Obama is using Generation Jones-style language, which differentiates him, among other ways, from Hillary and the Boomers. When you study language from a generational perspective, Obama is obviously part of Generation Jones (born 1954-1965), he certainly isn't a Boomer or Xer.
I knew Dr King. Obama is no Dr King.
If he behaves in a different manner, I suppose he could attain the kind of manhood that Dr King had.
I'm sure he doesn't understand what he is doing wrong, nor you, to deserve my judgement that he is a false prophet. What is he doing wrong? He is seeking power. Stop running for office and do the work you were hired to do Obama. He has run for office 4 times and was in the Senate one year before running for President.
That alone disqualifies him, in my mind, for respect. I think he needs to show us what kind of work he can do other than preach to the masses.
Rev Wright is divisive. Obama is divisive in his sermons as well. When Obama says - "Young people unite and get rid of the old folks. Tear down the bridge to the past and follow me. I will give you the power you so deserve " - this sounds to me, much like the sermons Rev Wright gives. Maybe Obama has just stirred up divisions between young and old voters like his adopted father does between white and black Americans. Obama certainly blames Hillary and Bill for all kinds of ills like Rev Wright does.
This has little to do with fear of black men. This, for me, has to do with a fear that democracy and the right for all to vote could actually give us a President who is anti American.
We know inside ourselves who has sufficient love for this country or not. Obama does not and likely never could. He would have to work the land, love the people and stop running for office.
Americans as voters have confused a good sermon with the qualifications to be President. And I am not even moved by his sermons anymore. I hope other voters disconnect themselves from this false prophet.
I really think you should take the time and read your remarks. If you do?, you will realize the divisiveness in the content.
It's okay to support Bill and Hillary but it should be noted that this is a strategy of Hillaries that seem to be working. She would love nothing more than this distraction on race. He had to respond because if he didn't, there would have been a lable on him of hiding something.
No one wants to get rid of the old folks but the old way of doing things. The old way of doing things have gotten us in the state we are in as Americans.
I strongly disagree with people like Rev. Wright but it doesn' diminish Obama in my view.
We shouldn't try to measure one's love for anything this country or other. We shouldn't say what another ought to do to prove their love.
For bringing religion in the political arena was not his doing so then when you get a sermon don't be surprised.
I will suggest you take a long hard look at Hillary's qualifications as well, How can she diminish anyone's qualifications? Her husband was president not her. She didn't answer ant phone calls at 3:00 am either.
Really think about what you write befor writing it and please think. Whatever you decide is your right and I do respect that.
George W. Bush is the false profit. Obama is just a man. An honest to goodness man who will start right the ship that has been overturned under the wake of the Bush/Cheney corruption.
The United States created the AIDS virus to kill Blacks.
"Just words."
God Damn America.
"Just words."
The United States of KKK-a.
"Just words."
Live by the sword -- die by the sword.
Jeez, don't you get it?
ElliotNC....Dr Wright didn't make that up on his own. If you really want to know where that came from, try reading the Strecker Memorandum, by Dr. Robert Strecker. A white man that researched the AIDS virus and discovered that it was highly possible the virus was created in a laboratory.
Google it....do some research on your own....The Strecker Memorandum
You use that quote against him, as I'm sure most white people who don't like Obama or won't vote for him, will continue to use to beat him up. But remember, Obama did not utter those words. So you are disingenuous to keep trying to make that connection. Obama's own words have never been close to those that were uttered by Rev Wright.
Rev. Wright's words not Obama's
BRAVO AND KUDOS TO NASCARLiberal !!!
If HRC were in this mess, you Huff folks would be screaming bloody murder. Funny how when Obama gets in trouble all of a sudden every Huff post is about Bear Sterns. We should rename this place HucksterPost. I sure miss May 2005.
Ain't THAT the truth!!
yes. Ain't that the truth!!!
Yeah, every post would have been related to Hillary, even though you notice they put up all the favorables about Obama, winning additional delegates in Iowa. I notice that too, not anything much about the Rev. Saturday they didnt even seem to be doing anything, little or no activity on the board even. They are getting to taste their own medicine and they dont seem to like it at all.
And isn't it pathetic that his "oratory" is ALL just rhetoric? He NEVER talks in specifics ... just platitudes. Now there is the campaign slogan this faux-bo should be using, "Prince of Platitudes" ... all talk, no show, no go.
But, I really don't get the "oratory" greatness. I've seen and heard great orators. I've seen and heard Barack in person and on camera. HE is NOT in anyway a great orator. Great orators do not hesitate and throw "ummmmm" and "ahhhhhh" and uhhhhhh" into almost every sentence. I'd guess he flunked Public Speech 101 ... he sure can't cut it in public speaking. He appeals to those people who can't comprehend it when people talk about REAL ISSUES and real SOLUTIONS.
Hillary has the SOLUTIONS! She's got the message.
Barack ... "hope"??? "change"??? My "hope" is that Hillary gets elected and brings about REAL change for the positive (better healthcare, more access to healthcare, stronger economy, jobs, and all the issues she is talking about). "Change"? I don't want the two cents on the dollar we'll get for Sen. Bambi-Boooosh.
His speeches are PAINFUL to listen to. They sound mostly like GWB ... and that is NOT a good thing.
Great orators? Hillary Clinton is surely that. She gives SPECIFICS, she has a plan, and she speaks it well.
If you don't see that, maybe the burka is in the way! Certainly Obama-istas have been trying to shove her under one in recent weeks. I'm betting my feisty girl won't let that continue!
GO HILLARY!
www.thehillaryiknow.com
NASCAR and Hillary, apparently, attract people of the same intellect.
I'm pretty sure NASCAR is a Republican. "Liberal" in the moniker is usually a dead giveaway.
I can only hope somebody does some real talking about the real issues and no I don't mean healthcare, I am self employed and pay my own health insurance. I also don't mean education, you can lead a horse to water but....you get my meaning, nobody wants to take advatage of the great value in our system these days, just play online games and smoke pot. I mean illegal Immigration and the Economy. We need incentives to start people loaning money again. We also need Sherrif Joe to be appointed Imigration Czar. Phat chance either will happen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOYcM1z5fTs&eurl=http://www.dickmorris.com/blog/?page_id=237
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yf7OImljSI&eurl=http://www.dickmorris.com/blog/?page_id=237
Changing the subject won't help.
I think you need to consult the dictionary as to what the definition of "orator" is. If giving specifics is what makes one a great orator, then John Kerry was a great orator. NOT.
It seems as though you could be talking about Hillary as well. UMMMMMMMMM how funny!
This was an interesting post for someone works works for The Dark Side -- Politico. Are you that desperate to get your thoughts out that you must align yourself with THEM? Sad . . .
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