On "the speech".....
After it's been chopped into little replayable TV bits, I don't know if Obama's speech today will have the political effects that people had put on it, but I thought the thing was brilliant to watch.
Here's two collections of early reviews.
Question: I would also argue that a key target audience of this speech is the media, talking heads, and newsroom elites.
The media are the ones who will choose whether race is elevated as a primary issue, whether it's "tasteful" or not to run the Wright comments over and over, whether the racism of Mississippi should be amplified out of context......
Will this speech influence/shame the media into leaving race alone. Do you think they want to see themselves as a part of the racial problems of the past as Obama divided it?
(PS. Like I said yesterday, anytime Obama can get on TV making a full speech, rather than soundbytes or answering questions, is good for him.)
(Ambinder) "Obama wrote the speech himself, working on it for two days and nights.... and showed it to only a few of his top advisers."
And now Obama's moving on. (Politico) "Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 19, 2008, five years after the Iraq war began, Sen. Barack Obama will deliver a major speech on the war in Iraq and our national security in Fayetteville, N.C....."
Here's two collections of early reviews.
Question: I would also argue that a key target audience of this speech is the media, talking heads, and newsroom elites.
The media are the ones who will choose whether race is elevated as a primary issue, whether it's "tasteful" or not to run the Wright comments over and over, whether the racism of Mississippi should be amplified out of context......
Will this speech influence/shame the media into leaving race alone. Do you think they want to see themselves as a part of the racial problems of the past as Obama divided it?
(PS. Like I said yesterday, anytime Obama can get on TV making a full speech, rather than soundbytes or answering questions, is good for him.)
(Ambinder) "Obama wrote the speech himself, working on it for two days and nights.... and showed it to only a few of his top advisers."
And now Obama's moving on. (Politico) "Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 19, 2008, five years after the Iraq war began, Sen. Barack Obama will deliver a major speech on the war in Iraq and our national security in Fayetteville, N.C....."
posted by mikevotes at
1:50 PM
8 Comments:
I think you're spot on with regard to the media being the target audience for the speech. If he picks up some of the "shame on you, media" kind of talk in his stump speech I think it may have the desired effect. Not unlike Hillary's "your picking on me" did for her.
I heard the speech, but didn't see video. I was impressed by the depth, thoughtfulness and authenticity of both the speech and the man. But like any really difficult and complex issue, it doesn't led itself to broadcast/cable media sound bites. It takes more than five words to articulate and therefore the general public will never really "get" what Obama was talking about. But as we agree, the main audience was the news-makers themselves.
I don't expect this one speech to change the public polling, but if he begins to repeat some of these themes in stump speech, as I said, that may pull fence-setters back in.
Three things I came away with:
1) While the Republicans pander to the Ministers of Malice in the Religious Right, compromising their own character in the process, Obama stands tall, repudiates some of his minister's words and sentiments, but embraces the man and calls on him to rise up and past the old rhetoric. Where the Repubs subjugate and bow before the Religious Right, Obama is having none of it. I really think Obama's authenticity makes the McCains of the world look very small and weak by comparison.
Having a hard time getting the words right... Do you know what I'm going after here?
2) In a similar vein, I think Obama's willingness to stand tall and hold to his principles without throwing his pastor under the bus -- indeed this whole dust up -- is going to make the Clinton campaign look very petty and trivial if they start attaching Obama's character. When's the last time you read a headline of consequence about Hillary's campaign?
3) THIS is the kind of person I want representing America to the world. He shows the toughness of poised conviction, not of belligerent vanity. He has the ability to grasp and articulate complex ideas, not merely spout platitudes of gut "beliefs." And in all this he calls on people to spurn the wedge and come together.
He believes the ideals to which he aspires -- that he calls us all to aspire -- are bigger than himself as in individual. I think most other politicians see themselves as the apex of importance and all else must be molded around their person.
---
Ok. Enough gushing.
By
-epm, at 3:00 PM
Good speech. I liked that he didn't just throw the reverend over the side. I liked the nuances and the complexity. He is a smart, thoughtful, articulate guy. Downside: it was a bit long, and the ending fell a bit flat.
I think it will help him with Democrats and some independents. I don't think it will make the Reverend Wright issue go away. Because here's the thing--"the press" is not a herd that all moves in the same direction. And there are too many right-wing outlets that will keep pushing this thing. And--a point Ambinder made--depending on how you excerpt this LONG speech, it can sound a lot of different ways. Sean Hannity's lead story will probably be something like "Obama Defends Pastor's Anti-White Sermons."
Too, there was a potential fault line that the right may seize upon: he seemed to admit more knowledge of Wright's statements than he has previously. The old Clinton tactic of the creeping admission.
So... nice speech, and I'm sure it helped some, but I doubt if he put the thing behind him.
By
Anonymous, at 4:06 PM
Well, I disagree a little. I do think there's a herd mentality with the traditional media.
Fox News and their ilk are a different breed. Really, they are an organ of the Republican right wing and not part of the news media. If Obama found a solution to the turmoil of the Middle East and Arab and Jew were dancing living in peace, Fox News would be running the headline: "Barak Obama aiding terrorists in lulling Israel into false sense of security?"
By
-epm, at 4:23 PM
EPM, I was impressed by the complexity, but it came across smoothly.
This may be his best way to respond to the attacks. He always looks defensive when asked tough questions face to face, and he doesn't craft soundbytes very well, but he does seem to have this ability to lift himself above the criticisms through his speeches.
But that only works when the media plays along.
(And, maybe I'm wrong, haven't checked the pundits this afternoon, but I'm betting he gets some pretty strong praise for this, and that translates into friendlier media coverage.)
....
TG, I don't think he could throw Wright under the bus without blowback.
I don't really think this will slice up well either to fit the media holes. I think it'll lose alot of effect part of which was the sweep and scope.
And I agree. I have the feeling this Wright thing will be a wildfire that will flare up periodically, but if this is received well, Obama can point back and say he dealt with it, now let's move on.
Yes, the Hannity's will bring it up from time to time, the trick is whether the tinder is there to get the it out into broader coverage. (He's not likely winning FoxNews voter anyhow.)
ONE MORE THOUGHT. Separate from Wright, Obama showed the party and superdelegates how he can deal with this sort of thing. I don't know how they'll receive it, but "how does he respond" was a standing question, and now they know.
We'll see what they think of it.
By
mikevotes, at 4:31 PM
A historic speech about race and how it keeps our country from a better tomorrow for our kids.
He really has the potential to be the Frederick Douglas of our generation and for the 21st century.
Maybe today for a brief moment I felt like a white citizen listening to Douglas or reading an article he wrote. I was moved to be a better person. I was humbled.
By
Anonymous, at 6:41 PM
I think it's sort of circular logic to say that the media acts like a herd... except for the part that DOESN'T act like a herd, which therefore isn't really media.
I guess I'd agree that much of the "traditional media" moves more or less together... but I'm not even sure where you draw that line anymore, they've been so influenced and penetrated and overrun by the "non-traditional media."
I think there's going to be a wide range of media reactions to the speech, and since very few media outlets do "sweep and scope" well, they're probably ALL going to pigeonhole it to some extent... in a wide range of different pigeonholes, good and bad. Perhaps the hostile voices will be drowned out... but I doubt it.
By
Anonymous, at 9:20 PM
News coverage.
The local Boston news market did a shameful job in covering the speech. Butchered 10-word snips (literally) followed by sophomoric blathering that missed the point. At least one station sold it as "an effort to save his candidacy." More highly edited clips of Rev. Wright strung together. (More clips of Wright than Obama). It was really bad.
As Americans, we never let ignorance get in the way of forming an opinion. It's clear to me that most Americans will never hear this speech; the broadcast/cable outlets will see to that. I know it's a little conspiratorial on my part, but is there a concerted effort to intentionally keep viewers ignorant..?
By
-epm, at 6:11 AM
This speech moved me a great deal. I don't believe I have heard any more honest sentiments from a politician before. I find myself very disappointed at the response - so many of the people who listened didn't hear.
By
Ptelea, at 2:03 AM
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