Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

July 25, 2008 5:50:41 PM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Eloquence Can, in Fact, Be Presidential

Posted May 16, 08 4:17 PM CDT in Politics 

(Newser) – It’s a bit weird to defend something like eloquence, but that’s just the task to which the primary season has inspired Calvin Trillin, writing in the Los Angeles Times. Rivals and pundits alike dismiss Barack Obama’s eloquence as some kind of liability, whereas Trillin sees in the Democrat's ability a key component of the role of president.

Hillary Clinton often trots out Mario Cuomo's nugget “You campaign in poetry and govern in prose.” But, Trillin writes of the president, "It's part of his job to comfort the American people in times of distress or inspire them to sacrifice for the greater good"—and this ability can yield as much political capital as Eisenhower's war heroism or JFK's charm.

Source Los Angeles Times

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Love Affair Between Press, Obama Is On the Rocks

    1 hour, 35 minutes ago
    Love Affair Between Press, Obama Is On the Rocks Might the much ballyhooed love affair between the press and Barack Obama be coming to an end? Republicans watching coverage of his Europe trip would scoff, but Gabriel Sherman writes in the New Republic of a growing resentment between reporters on the trail and a campaign staff seen as more and more arrogant, secretive, and willing to freeze out reporters seen as uncooperative.
    More »

  • Obama's Empty Rhetoric Starting to Wear Thin

    7 hours, 51 minutes ago
    Obama's Empty Rhetoric Starting to Wear Thin Say this for Barack Obama: He’s optimistic. Yesterday in Berlin he promised to “remake the world,” envisioned a “new dawn in the Middle East” and mentioned walls tumbling down no fewer than 11 times. It was trademark Obama rhetoric, writes David Brooks of the New York Times: soaring and empty. Obama spoke as though the masses could mystically come together to solve all problems. More »

  • Not Exactly JFK, But Obama Leaves Crowd Happy

    Jul 24, 08 6:23 PM CDT
    Not Exactly JFK, But Obama Leaves Crowd Happy Make no mistake, Barack Obama gave a fine speech in Berlin today, writes Shane Danielsen in the Guardian. But any comparisons to JFK can stop right there. His speech hit all the right notes but shaded more toward the ordinary than the memorable. The mood of the mostly young crowd "never quite tipped into hsyteria," says Danielsen, who notes that Obama is known for feeding off his audience. "Still, most people left happy." More »

  • Obama, in Berlin: There Are More Walls to Tear Down

    Jul 24, 08 1:09 PM CDT
    Obama, in Berlin: There Are More Walls to Tear Down Barack Obama told an estimated 100,000 in Berlin today that “America has no better partner than Europe.” Touching on climate change, nuclear non-proliferation, genocide, and human rights, the Democrat referenced Ronald Reagan’s famous plea to the Soviet Union—saying there are new “walls we must tear down.” He cited the example of post-war Germany's rebirth from ruins, accomplished by bringing people—including former enemies—together, CNN reports. More »

  • Obama Buys $5M in Olympic Ad Time

    Jul 24, 08 6:52 AM CDT
    Obama Buys $5M in Olympic Ad Time The Obama campaign has bought $5 million worth of network and cable television airtime to run during coverage of the Beijing Olympics, reports TV Week. It's the first major TV airtime purchase by a political candidate in 16 years. NBC and its cable channels will air 3,600 hours of Olympic coverage beginning August 8. More »

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., looks downward as he is introduced at a campaign event at Thorngate Ltd., in Cape Girardeau, Mo., Tuesday, May 13, 2008.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Barack Obama greets supporters after his speech at a town hall-style meeting with veterans held at Washington Jefferson College in Washington, Pa., Tuesday, April 15, 2008.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Part of being president, Calvin Trillin argues in the Los Angeles Times, is the ability to inspire or comfort the country; foes dismissing Barack Obama's talent for this are missing a key point.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Senator Barack Obama speaks at a charity event in New York, in this Dec. 4, 2006 file photo.   (AP Photo/Seth Wenig,File)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (1 of 1)

Tags

Barack Obama  • Hillary Clinton  • Obama 2008  • speech  • rhetoric


Loading...

Loading...

Today's Most Popular


Other Politics Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »