Political Speechwriting

Something I didn't get to show you in class today is this article that discusses the speechwriting process for Bill Clinton's much talked about convention speech from a few weeks ago, including the changes--additions and deletions--that Clinton made to the speech after the final draft was submitted to the media.  Just a quick glance at the color-coded changes indicate how much of that speech was Clinton himself and not the speechwriters.  Check it out.

Obama:The First of The New Age Celebrity Presidents

In light of the advertisement which we viewed last week, I decided to discuss the so called ‘celebrity status’ of a president.  This is so unique to the United States which makes it of great fascination to me.

Barack Obama made history when he was elected but many feel as though he has not lived up to the ‘hype’.  There were many expectations of Obama and differing views say whether he successfully achieved his promises.  All the politics aside, another essential part of being a president is your public opinion.  This has become increasingly more important over the past years.  Whether or not popularity is taken too seriously, or if it should even be aimed for, is another thing.  For the purpose of my argument, that the president is a celebrity, I am going to agree that it is important.    

In an ideal world of politically educated, objective people public opinion would theatrically be based on policy work, achievements and improvements for the country.  This is true, for many, but one must remember that not all people have the interest, time or education background in the political area.  Some people purely based their options on what they see on television, or what they skim from the newspaper at breakfast.  Little people actually take the time to delve deeper into a political agenda.  So in order to maintain popularity (because let’s be honest a political campaign is seen to some as a major popularity race) a president has to be well known.  This has not always been the case, but for the 21^st century presidents including Obama and those who will follow him, it clearly is.          

During President Obama’s term thus far he has clearly risen as a celebrity worldwide.  It is almost as if Obama has embraced his celebrity status.  This is not only due to his foreign polices but also the fact that he can be seen on all the hit talk shows, magazines and the like.  He was the first sitting president to go on a late night talk show.  This may make him appeal to the younger generation, but does it get him creditably?    

   

Mark Styen, a political columnist and blogger, wrote an interesting article in June for the National Review Online, addressing this issue.  Styen clearly thinks that the newly rising status or a president is uncalled for and disagrees with it.  He does however, make some interesting points.  He states that Obama’s lifestyle has changed (and that too of a president) dramatically over the past four or so years.  Obama is now wining and dining at some of the fanciest restaurants in the most affluent of places.   

         

Even though I, personally, see no harm in a president embracing their celebrity like status, they still need to be good at the other aspects of their jobs.  It is no secret that Obama has had some great success during his presidency; if you just look here you will see his top fifty achievements (as according to the Washington Monthly).  One of which is the task of improving the image of American’s abroad, which I believe a celebrity status enabled him to do.   

In the previously mentioned advertisement (the one we viewed in class) Obama is criticized for embracing his celebrity status.  He is labeled an ineffective leader and focused on the small amounts of entertainment media which Obama has participated in.  However, this is not the first time Obama has been criticized.  During his 2008 campaign John McCain also came out with a similar video.  The video's main argument is that Obama is not ready to lead.     

     

Obama has also used his celebrity status for good and to get things done.  This is expected of all celebrities no matter what field.  I don’t see the constitution change the state the roles of the president to read “Head of State and Government, Chief Legislator, Commander-in-Chief of the US Armed Forces and Celebrity”, but it is something that new age presidents will have to be aware of.  It is now like an unwritten part of the job description.  

Two items

Obama 47% ad was released a few days ago.  The ad can be found here.

Article about Dark Money and Super PACs can be found here.

Romney not Out of the Running Yet

       There is wide speculation that because of Romney’s “47%” comment made in early May, his campaign is over. I think this is being hard on Mr. Romney, I mean he can’t be the only one to say something “ineloquently”, right?  I decided to research this topic and found an interesting article in the New York Times Romney is latest in a Long Line to Trip Over a Tongue; this article verified my thought, and gave me a good laugh in the process. 

       

       One first needs some background to understand Mitt Romney’s current predicament. At a closed fundraiser in May, he was tape recorded saying that nearly half of the people, or 47%, do not pay taxes and therefore will not vote for him. He said these people are, “dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them” (Rutenberg, Parker). Many Democrats and some Republicans were upset by this statement. Romney stands behind his statements, giving an interview with Fox News saying “The president’s view is one of a larger government; “I disagree, I think a society based on a government-centered nation where government plays a larger and larger role, redistributes money, that’s the wrong course for America.” Romney is hoping bringing up the large number of Americans dependent on government will help define the philosophical choice for voters in the upcoming election. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/19/us/politics/in-leaked-video-romney-says-middle-east-peace-process-likely-to-remain-unsolved-problem.html?ref=politics&_r=moc.semityn.www 

       So, the big question is, is it over for the GOP Presidential Nominee? I am going to turn to history for the answers. In the race for the White House, 47% of candidates have had self-inflicted blows to their reputation.   In 2008, Senator John McCain said “The fundamentals of the economy are strong.”  This was not what Americans wanted to hear from a presidential candidate, considering this statement was made in the midst of the collapse of Lehman Brothers and one of the worst economic recessions since the Great Depression. During a college event in Pennsylvania in 2004, John Kerry had this to say about money to pay for operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, “I actually did vote for the $87 billion, before I voted against it.” After George W. Bush’s campaign exploited this comment, it caused Kerry to be thought of as confusing an unreliable. The cause of Al Gore’s reputation an embellisher was a quote during a CNN interview, “I took the initiative in creating the internet.” Critics leaped at the chance to exploit Mr. Gore’s statement and with some minor misstatements during a debate, well let’s say the Electoral College doesn’t like a liar. President Clinton had a confession to Americans during a Houston Fundraiser in 1995 “You think I raised your taxes too much. It might surprise you to know that I think I raised them, too.” Although he made both Democrats and Republicans angry, he won re-election easily with some good opponent attack strategies. In 1980, Ronald Reagan said, “Approximately 80 percent of our air pollution stems from hydrocarbons released by vegetation.” The Democrats used this statement to try and cast Reagan as an extremist goof, but between Americans being fed up with the economy and the signature, “There you go again” rebuttal to Jimmy Carter during a debate.

 http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/09/21/us/politics/20120921-memo.html?ref=politics#index

       With these examples of successes and failures, it is clear that Mr. Romney is not out of the running quite yet.  I think it depends on how he handles the situation- I think he made some good choices in not denying or negating his statements. It was also very good strategy in choosing Fox News as his first and only interview on the subject. I also think how he handles the rest of his campaign will be crucial in his success- and to be honest I am excited to see how it all ends in November!