It’s stiff competition, but arguably Barack Obama’s chief courtier in the press is Jonathan Alter. Consider this analysis from a recent op-ed he wrote on five myths about Obama:
3. Obama is an effective public speaker.
Obama’s lofty speeches during the 2008 campaign led even his detractors to admit that he is a gifted orator. Some critics try to minimize his skill by saying he relies on a teleprompter–a ridiculous charge considering that he often writes big chunks of his speeches and often speaks off-the-cuff.
That said, there are few examples of Obama’s speeches actually moving popular opinion. That’s because he speaks in impressive paragraphs, not memorable sentences. He is allergic to sound bites, and that keeps him from effectively framing his goals and achievements.
The roots of this allergy may lie in his famous Philadelphia speech on race in 2008, which followed the revelations of incendiary comments by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. The speech lacked memorable lines, but it was a big hit. I believe it convinced Obama that the public could absorb complex ideas without bumper sticker lines. He was wrong.
James Taranto of the Wall Street Journal, whose daily take on events is very nearly indispensable, summarizes Alter’s argument this way: “So it turns out Obama is an ineffective public speaker because the public lacks the intellectual acumen to appreciate the brilliance of Obama’s speeches.”
All of this got me thinking about some other bumper-sticker lines in American history we could have done without. For example:
- “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
- “With malice toward none, with charity for all.”
- “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
- “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
- “I have a dream.”
- “Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall.”
The mistake Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Kennedy, King, and Reagan made is in failing to understand that the public could absorb complex ideas without these bumper-sticker lines. (These sound bite artists unfortunately succumbed to the temptation to use memorable sentences to mask their shallow arguments and unimpressive paragraphs.) Obama, on the other hand, employed sophisticated and complicated phrases to articulate his public philosophy – phrases like “yes we can” and “hope and change.” Against such eloquence, Abraham Lincoln never stood a chance.
Ever since BHO ran for office, his words meant nothing, no matter how 'sophisiticated" he sounded. It was always his actions that betrayed his real agenda. Why?Because he lies in his speeches and the hypocrisy is astounding. He truly is like the emperor with no clothes. He really does think we are that stupid. This man has the most dangerous character flaws: arrogance and narcissism.
Everytime he speaks I have to scrunch up my head. It's like he makes my poor brain explode!
I don't think you're taking this seriously enough, Peter. it's obvious that we have disappointed Obama once again. don't you feel bad? I do. I bet Michelle's not even proud of her country anymore! n nTaranto gets it. Obama is just too damn smart for us. n
Yes. I worry constantly that I am not living up to Obama's expectations as an anonymous citizen worthy of being led by this giant of a man. n nIt doesn't help that I get nauseated every time I listen to his lecturing, or his halting delivery when trying to add phony drama to make a point, as he did numerous times today during his speech at Florida Atlantic University which happens, incidentally, to be the same school where hundreds of Jewish students received fake eviction notices from some pro-Arab group. Seems like a real civil rights violation–wonder if he addressed it while he was there?
but seriously Jonathan, what is it with this shtick? Arthur Jr at least the props of being the first at modern Dem Prez idolatry. But dang it, beyond that, O's not JFK. Not by a long shot. Not a Bobby either, Nope, not a Teddy. Maybe one of those innumerable and sad lessor scions.
More sour grapes!
yes we envy the blinding brilliance of young master Obama. If only we could have his ghostwriters to engage in withering blog repartee, what is that Jonathan? ok come back after lunch and we'll pick up after "ghostwriters to engage in etc."
Classical narcissist thinking – if you don't agree, it's because you don't understand.
President Obama's approval ratings go up slightly when he refrains from speaking publicly. If he gives the Queen of England another compilation of his greatest speeches, perhaps he ought to try giving her a blank CD. She'd probably appreciate it more.
So– it seems that the SOTA speech delivered by Barry was rated to be understandable by eight-year-old kids. I was utterly confused by his faulty logic, so I will not compete against 8 year old kids.
Newt should write Obama's speeches for a week. Then our ears would perk up!
I only caught a few minutes of the SOTA during commercials on The History Channel. Did he say anthing truthful during the parts I missed?
I’ve never thought Obama’s “Philadelphia Speech” to be so great. It’s intelligent, eloquent and recitative of some ideas. So what? So are many essays written by smart graduate students. Give me a few days and let me do some research, and I could write a speech or essay of like quality, and I’m no genius or paragon of brilliance. Just another reasonably intelligent guy. So I don’t understand the acclaim this speech gets. Can someone make the case for that acclaim; can someone cite a fresh or original idea or insight in it, how it advances our understanding of its subject–race in America?
Typical white person
The speech was "great" because it was an excuse to avoid the actual issue – What, sir, were you doing attending a church for 20 years that was led by an openly racist and America-hating minister? One that you were so close to that he was the inspiration for your books. How does that make you a suitable candidate for president? n nThe media was so happy for a chance to change the subject that anything he said would have garnered their rapt attention and unqualified praise. As long as it fulfilled the "Squirrel!" function (hey, look over there!) then it satisfied their requirements at that moment.
Every speech by Obama will be labeled as great by the Left. In most of my time on this planet, we called his ilk a "bullshit artist".