He said/She said: Rhetoric and the Democratic campaign
Rhetoric, the technique of persuasion through the use of the spoken word, has been in the news as the contest between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton heats up.
It’s refreshing for speechwriters and public speakers to see this. Under the current administration there’s little need to ponder issues of rhetoric, any more than bald men need concern themselves with the hairbrush and comb. But now we have two equally passionate and articulate contenders debating, the nuances of public speaking are getting an airing.
There are points being scored on both sides.
Is Hillary hoist by her own petard?
Consider the first lady and her claim that:
“Speeches don’t put food on the table,” she said. “Speeches don’t fill up your tank or fill your prescription . . . That’s the difference between me and my Democratic opponent. My opponent gives speeches, I offer solutions.”
Yes, but both candidates give speeches. That’s their day jobs. These are not pictures of Hillary filling a prescription or pumping gas. Other people engage in these activities.
In offering this observation she is attempting to lay claim to a level of technocratic competence which she thinks Obama lacks. However, the weakness in the argument is how she proposed it…in a speech.
This is a picture of Hillary delivering a speech. She is a fine public speaker. Her husband is a masterful one. It’s best for those who have mastered a craft not to denigrate it.
Does Obama Xerox his speeches?
When Hillary accuses Barack of Xerox’ing change, she is alleging plagiarism in the content of speeches. Obama recently acknowledged that sections of a speech he gave should have been credited to his friend Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts. He also claimed that Senator Clinton had borrowed some phrases he used.
This is just silly.
The English language is a rich source from which to construct original speeches. What probably happens is that the communications professionals, legions of advisor’s and, indeed, speechwriters, encourage the candidate’s to use a limited choice of “hot button” phrases. There’s a whole industry which uses focus groups to test certain phrases over others. Republican strategist Frank Luntz’s book Words that Work advises politicians as well as corporations about the persuasive use of language. Nothing wrong with using words to persuade (the definition of rhetoric) but the effect of this approach when combined with the repetition of the TV ad and the sound-bite is to limit the range of discourse.
Neither candidate should risk repeating speech content used by another. In a pre-Google era it might have escaped notice. Benjamin Franklin is credited with saying “Originality is the art of concealing your sources”. Such concealment just ain’t possible today.
The Code of Professional Ethics of the National Speakers Association states:
Article 4:
The NSA member shall avoid using – either orally or in writing – materials, titles or thematic creations originated by others unless approved in writing by the originator.
It may be time for these candidates to join our Association?
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Public Speaking Blogosphere: Week in Review [2008-02-23]…
Saturday signals a scan of the best public speaking articles from throughout the public speaking blogosphere.
Just a few of the topics featured this week are:
Pauses and pause fillers;
Public speaking in the mainstream news;
Visual aids; and
Toastmast…
By Six Minutes on 02.23.08 4:01 pm
Hillary is struggling to stop the Obama freight train before Texas and Ohio’s primaries–hence, the attack on this “Xerox” speeches. The truth is most people know these are “just words” and have to be backed up by real execution and action, but they buy into them anyhow; people want to have something to hope for and be inspired, and Oback is a brilliant orator. Look at the millions of younger people who he is galvanizing, and his eloquent speeches are the lightning rod events. We spend so much time in front in front of the computer that we forget that the power of speech can still move people to action, even in the Internet Age–particularly in the Internet Age. The whole debate over his lifting those phrases may be healthy and remind everyone to stick with original material. But in the end it won’t shift many votes. Hillary needs to come up with another angle…fast..
By mark ivey on 02.25.08 8:30 am
Gideon Rachman writes in the FT that
By Ian on 02.27.08 5:45 pm
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