Though tonight is all about the Rs (sorry -- Florida doesn't count for the Ds), here's a good read on Barack Obama's speaking style.
Bloomberg's Indira Lakshmanan (a former Globe colleague) quotes a few people who should know (and not just me), including the model presidential speechwriter, Ted Sorensen (an Obama supporter whose former aide is on the Illinois senator's speechwriting team).
"I was almost moved to tears by the power and the breadth of Obama's message,'' said Ted Sorensen, 79, the former speechwriter for Kennedy and an Obama supporter. ``His speaking style and what he stood for reminded me of JFK, of national interests uncluttered by the interests of race, religion or even political party."
Ted wasn't the only former White House ghost Indira corraled:
"Stylistically, I rank him quite high -- I like his Biblical cadence, parallel structure, alliteration, repetition, involving the crowd as participants," said Curt Smith, a former speechwriter for President George H.W. Bush, now a senior English lecturer at the University of Rochester.Still, not everyone is convinced his mastery of style and emotion are matched by substance.
Obama's speeches are "extremely pleasing and moving," said Ted Widmer, a historian at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, who was a speechwriter for President Clinton and now supports Hillary Clinton. "But I'm not sure I've heard a truly arresting thought."
So while you're waiting for Florida to finish off Rudy G...
JFK: "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
BO: "What he said!"
The basis of Obama's campaign has always boiled down to the fact that he is an exceptional public speaker. Back in 2004, when he gave that legendary speech at the DNC, rumours started flying that he was presidential material.
Certainly, he's added some substance since then, but the fact remains: the story of Obama's candidacy is the story of a great speech.
There are few novel truly novel virtues to be had. Messages like Obama's are significant not because of their novelty, but because he makes you want to listen to--and follow--the same old virtues.
mmmmmmm... A former speech writer for Bill Clinton who now supports Hillary Clinton hasn't heard an truly arresting thought from Sen Obama.
Shocked! I'm Shocked, I tell you! Hope your cynicism pays off Prof. Widmer & you get a speech writing gig in a future Clinton administration.
As for me I cannot wait to see what the next four years look like & SOUND like with President Obama!! Glory Halleluia! Go Barack Go!
Thanks ckdogs for pointing Mr. Schlessinger in the direction of substance.
Thanks ckdogs for pointing