We promised we'd talk about the big speeches — here goes! Last night gave us our first real taste of the general election campaign, and nothing stood out more to me more than the juxtaposition of John McCain's and Barack Obama's speeches and supporters.
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Obama's speech had rock-star qualities. Speaking in a packed arena to loud cheers, his powerful words and oration gave viewers present and at home goose bumps. About an hour before, McCain gave his prebuttal to what sounded like a group of about 12 supporters, and his delivery seemed unfinished for prime-time.
The contextual contrast gave McCain a serious handicap. This was the historic night Obama had been waiting for — his ascension as the Democratic nominee, the first black candidate from a major party. His supporters were ecstatic, after a long and hard fought battle with Hillary Clinton.
In this context, McCain's decision to preempt Obama, in a format that's not his strong suit, seems like a strategic blunder. But, his style might not necessarily be a lasting burden. So see why, read more.
Voters may have a distaste for Barack's celebrity-like campaigning, instead preferring McCain's candid speeches and open Q&A sessions with the press. Enough Americans may like McCain's policies as well as his accessible, low-production events.
Either way McCain's camp should find a way to relay his message in the bright lights of a general election campaign. Obama's speech was electrified, while McCain's fell flat. In addition, Barack's battle with Hillary has allowed him to amass the money, exposure, and staff of a national campaign. Did last night send a warning signal to Republicans?
S***r
Esprit
Antik Batik
well I, for one, found that Obama is actually God. So that was news to me.
1Enough Americans may also decide they don't want to live through another episode of American Idol and move to have Simon deported. Or not.
2Not all Obama's events are big and bright - remember him sitting and talking casually about what a lousy idea the gas tax holiday is? He can adapt, apparently McCain can't. As President, McCain would be have to do a lot more of the kind of stuff that he didn't do well last night.
simon's been deported?
3Don't even joke about such things!
4I think that Obama gives great specific speeches...I wish the media would cover those more often! When he needs to give a energizing speech, though, he really knows how to knock it out of the ball park.
I found myself getting teary eyed, and then I felt stupid...and then I just let it flow. This IS history being made.
5Change We Can Believe In, A Leader We Can Believe In... can we get some more creative campaign slogans here?
6McCain's speech was disappointing, but he'll have plenty more opportunities to wow Americans in the coming months. We'll just have to see how it goes.
McCain always sounds like he's reading a night time story to a group of little kids with like, really long drawn out vowels and this weird hushed tone.
7In all fairness I've seen Sen. McCain give very good speeches and be quite eloquent. So last night was not necessarily a taste of what the general campaign will be like. It was a taste of a bad speech given at the wrong time.
8I agree, Hypno. I think a better comparison would be McCain's speech the night he clinched the nomination and Obama's speech last night.
In any case, both candidates have given speeches of many different styles and been very successful.
9The point of that second part is that both Obama AND McCain can adapt; to judge McCain's adaptability based on one speech would be foolish.
10I think Obama looks at ease and comes across well in most formats I've seen him in - be them smaller more intimate 'town hall' formats or interviews or stadium orations packed with cheering supporters... he matches the energy well and projects confidence.
McCain isn't necessarily as charismatic, but AZ has stood by him since he has seemed to stay true to himself ans what he sees as 'right', not trying to project anything but his own blunt reality. He has a different approach, and it will be interesting to see these two go toe to toe - to see whether McCain makes Obama seem inauthentic, or if Obama overshadows McCain. I'm excited for it all to begin!
11Also, I think we should all remember, it doesn't matter how much money Obama has amassed. He pledged to accept public funding for the general election, remember? After the convention, I guess he will have to return any money he collects.
12Completely agree with Hyptonicmix. Nail on the head sir. McCain has absolutely given good speeches, but even if he came out playing a banjo with his feet, he was never going to be able to top the theatre of politics and raw enthusiasm Obama had going for him last night. And the proximity of the two events time-wise? Could not have been more unfortunate. It was just asking us to make a comparison. He'll get 'er next time, you'll see!
13Ah she called me Sr. I haven't heard that since...
I just try to call it like I see it, at least when I'm not being a goof ball.
Thanks for the shout out Citizen.
14It was a tactical mistake for McCain to give a speech last night. Someone should have known that all three speeches would be held up side by side and that he would not look very good in comparison to Obama.
15I think McCain's staff has started with two mis-steps: timing that speech and using A Leader We Can Believe In - makes it seem as if Obama is leading the dance.
16McCain may have given good speeches in the past, but last night he was awful. When he smiled he looke like he was in pain. Jeffery Toobin said it much better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1m3limGF7Y&feature=related
17Last night if you googled "a leader we can believe in" links Obama's site came up. I laughed hard at that. Links to McCain's site come up today.
18I don't think that McCain's camp would necessarily call his speech last night a bad speech. I think that's what he's about. But forget the delivery and the fact that Obama seemed to be surrounded by 100x the amount of people... I think Obama's message was better too.
Ok, maybe that's just because I'm an Obama supporter.
And after reading the comment above, I have to agree that McCain sounds like he's reading a bedtime story. haha
19PS I like the video here. It helps send the message home. I think it showed strong points from each of the speeches. It allows for a balanced comparison.
More videos please... I live out of the country and I rely on Citizensugar for my video clips!
20When I here MC talk ---I always giggle. His voice. I am starting to sound sick.
21"He pledged to accept public funding for the general election, remember?"
I thought he said that he was interested in it, and that if he got the nomination he would talk with the other nominee.
IMO, it doesn't really make sense to spend tax money on campaigns when you have funds that people gave you voluntarily.
22Jillness~ I was worried that the funding ratio would be too off balance... I don't like the idea of spending tax payers' money on campaigns, but I feel like there should be a set spending limit too.
23A good public speaker does not a good president make
24KJerabek excellent point and might I say you phrase just like Yoda.
25What is with that looking down chuckling thing?
26McLame is getting lamer.
"Grampa with a toothache" That's what he looks like lately. And I noticed he moves reallllly slowwwwwly.
O's rock star quality may actually scare some people. Especially
27Hillary's Army of Older Women.
But when he answers specific questions, he is so clear and rational.
I don't think that being a good speaker is the ONLY qualification for President, but it certainly doesn't hurt. Being an effective communicator is a huge plus, especially when it comes to international relations. I can't really think of a President that was a poor speaker that made great things happen (but they could be out there!)
28I think it's funny that he said Obama was change that would take us backwards. Backwards to what? To a successful economy? To a foreign policy that actually makes sense? I hope he starts making more sense in the future or this will be one sad campaign.
29At a basketball game, I don't care if the game is exciting. I want my team to be way ahead. So I would prefer that the vast majority of Americans early on see the big diff between "toothache 1000 more years in Iraq" and Obama. Bring on the sad campaign as long as it's the GOP with the long faces.
30Oops, I want to say sorry if any of my comments seemed to be criticizing McCain's physical appearance. I don't want it to be about that. I was meaning to highlight their differences in persona, public personality.
31mccains speech last night was simply ill timed, history was made last night and with obamas penchant for speaking, there was no way mccain was going to give a speech that didnt seem awkward and aloof.
32Was anybody else irritated by this story? Liberty, you come off extremely biased. I wasn't aware this was an editorial page.
33"Voters may have a distaste for Barack's celebrity-like campaigning, instead preferring McCain's candid speeches and open Q&A sessions with the press. Enough Americans may like McCain's policies as well as his accessible, low-production events."
34Think she was too rough on Obama?
Anybody that has taken government courses learned that the economy goes up and down separate from the "political side"... anytime it is up the president attempts to take credit, anytime it is down the president wants nothing to do with it.
I do agree that Obama comes across as charismatic & at ease (especially in what you call "rock star" speech... even though a president as a rock star? HAHAHAHAHA) Even though charisma is great, it doesn't substitute for knowing what you are doing. Charisma gives you only so much power... We'll see how everything goes!
35i always find mccain to be sooo stiff and never really seems to relax when talking. but thats just me i guess. from the green backdrop to ending EVERY sentence with 'that's not change we can believe in' paired with a kind of creepy smile. i dont think anyone could have really competed with what happend last night, no matter what kind of speaker they are, it just wasnt gonna happen and mccains camp should have known that. i get that he wanted to be included in what happend last night but really it was the democrats night and that just totally overshadowed what he tried to get across.
36Well, we might see a lot more side by side comparisons if Obama agrees to McCain's town hall meeting proposal. I personally think ten meetings is a bit much and would like to see them engage in some good old fashioned debates with podiums and moderators and what not too. This kinda puts O in a bad spot though. If he accepts, Mac is setting the tone for the general election. If he declines, it will appeare as though he is running scared or thinks he can't compete with Mac at that low key level. I personally think O can handle himself just fine in any forum but I wouldn't want to watch 20 weeks of them traveling together and participating in town hall meetings.
37i think they will travel together doing townhalls this summer but just not on mccains terms.like i dont think it will start on june 12 like mccain wants it to. i saw an RNC person who helped get this together say they are willing to work out the details, if obama wants to do 6 instead thats fine. i think it'll be interesting to see two fierce rivals side by side answering different questions from a diverse crowd. when i heard this the first thing i thought of was when hillary was demanding that obama debate her once a week in the run up to either the texas/ohio or penn. primary. if i learned one thing it was that obama can adapt to any situation and make it his own, it will be funny if somehow he does this to john mccain and makes him look bad in some way.
38I think there should be some candy named after this years political leaders. Here are a few suggestions.
John McCandy Corn
Obama-licious Kisses
Hillary Nut Clusters
Ed-wafers
I'm so lonely.
39I can not care for another emoticon family. I'm sorry, see if Stephley will help you or Harmony. I just don't have the facilities to house you! GO!
michelin- EVERYONE is biased.
40If you had a page, you would give your opinions too.
All news channels- completely biased.
Ohbaby, can you stop that icon. My cat just had a seizure.
41Obama has agreed to debate McCain in townhall style meetings across the country-
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/04/MNK01139AC.D...
This will play to McCain's strengths, but it will still be the old-ass guy versus your cool black friend. I know who I'm voting for!
42http://www.cafepress.com/electricyouth
msnbc is having the greatest bio on Obama. i am learnig so much. My SO says it is great free publicity.
43Awww...I'll take in all the homeless emoticon babies. Send them my way.
44I'm more the crazy cat lady type
45Rac, I think I am a little bit in love with you!
46janneth, wanna learn more? Check out my blogs.
47Another thing....wanna know someone else who had charisma and could work the crowds into a frenzy? Take a guess...starts with an H and ends in mass genocide. Not comparing politics, just charisma. Also, when he doesn't have a speech written for him, he isn't smooth. Reading transcripts I feel I will have another one of my episodes
if I see "you know" one more time.
48see i am all for listening to a dissenting opinion but when you start comparing him to infamous dictators thats when you lose me. just because something is different doesnt make it socialist and just because someone can work crowd doesnt make him a dictator.
49Read the whole thing again. I clearly state that I am not comparing politics.
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