The Power of Rhetoric

Words matter. The way we say things matter. For good and for bad. They matter. Our ideas can only catch fire when we find a way to phrase them in such a way that people not only understand what we're saying, but that we're inspired by them

I watched Obama talk this morning and I will admit that I got a little teary. He spoke of higher things and higher callings and I was moved. I'm 37, born in 1969 and all the great speakers were dead by that time. King, RFK... I've listened to Cuomo in 1984 and Jackson in 1988 and they were good speeches but... they still lacked a certain je ne sais quoi. They felt like well said critiques rather than calls to higher action.

I'm no naif. I was an actor for a long time doing the "classics" and have had my fair share of speaking beautiful words. They're powerful indeed. I also spent my fair time around pastors who worked with words as well.

more...

There is a power to this thing we call rhetoric. It's certainly not a force for good or bad - those are subjective terms that apply to specific speeches - but it is a force.

And I can't help but think that here and now, in a country full of division, rancor and bile - you have been paying attention, yes? - that it's time for someone to step up and hit a goddamn homerun with words.

I await (eagerly) the white papers and the specifics. I'll pay close attention. But I want more than that. I want to be inspired. I want that ineffable something that puts a fire in my gut. A fire that is motivated by something other than outrage.

The better angels of my nature are eager for it.

Those metaphorical angels are crying out for some goddamn inspiration along with concrete ideas. I'm tired of being cynical, snarky and pissed off. It's too easy anymore. I want something more.

•  And... no.

  I'm not a big 'ol Obama fangirl. Really. John Edward is good with the words, too.

  And no - again - I'm no fool. I know that rhetoric without action is empty.

  by BettyPageisaBlonde on Sat Feb 10, 2007 at 09:01:32 PM PDT

  •  Thanks

    for your beautifully-written diary.

    You've saved me the time and effort to compose lesser version of same.

    When I listen to Obama, I think: He doesn't want your vote.  Not your money.  He wants your heart and soul.  And for something bigger than one date in November 2008.

    Corny, no?

    But I guess I'm not the only one.

    by vernonlee on Sat Feb 10, 2007 at 10:38:00 PM PDT

•  I'm glad to see you writing diaries :-)

  Happy you decided to stick around...

  I agree with you as far as rhetoric goes. I'm an English teacher, so of course I'm a big fan of words...and I wish more people were concerned about tone and audience when they speak out.

  I also like Obama and Edwards. I think I may lean more towards Obama at the moment, but I'm not interested in making a decision just yet...it's WAY too early.

  by Elise on Sat Feb 10, 2007 at 09:12:16 PM PDT

  •  Yeah

    I'm not interested in endorsing anyone. I am, however, interested in endorsing methods... And I think that it's important to point out when someone does the "word thing" well.

    And thanks for the encouragement!

    :D

    by BettyPageisaBlonde on Sat Feb 10, 2007 at 09:24:32 PM PDT

    •  I'm just happy to see you writing

      Because you do it quite well.

      And that's not just empty rhetoric.

      by Devilstower on Sat Feb 10, 2007 at 09:39:33 PM PDT

      •  *blush*

        Thank you.

        by BettyPageisaBlonde on Sat Feb 10, 2007 at 09:45:06 PM PDT

•  Clinton (Bill) is a good rhetorician

  He only lacks the concept of:

  Less is more.

  I haven't heard Obama speak enough to have a definite opinion on him in this department.

  Frankly, I think Clark has real rhetorical power. Some find him dry and unemotional. But I think he has a fair claim to be finding a 'new kind of political discourse' that is genuinely his own.

  by Demi Moaned on Sat Feb 10, 2007 at 09:15:01 PM PDT

  •  I haven't really been exposed...

    To Clark on the rhetorical level, but I certainly don't discount him. I find his ideas quite lovely.

    Do you have any links that show him off? I'd love to read it.

    by BettyPageisaBlonde on Sat Feb 10, 2007 at 09:28:45 PM PDT

    •  Television

      He did some commercials for midterm candidates that I liked. Also there have been appearances on Fox TV. You can find a lot of stuff atWes Clark's blog 'Securing America'.

      by Demi Moaned on Sun Feb 11, 2007 at 12:13:34 AM PDT

  •  15 Minutes into a Bill Clinton Speech

    I'm generally thinking "you know, this guy is pretty good."

    An hour later, I'm thinking "lord, won't this guy ever shut up?"

    Any good ideas in the speech are deflated because he can never seem to focus and build a sharp, cohesive, and concise discussion around one central theme.

    by Devilstower on Sat Feb 10, 2007 at 09:47:03 PM PDT

    •  Which is why...

      I prefer to see him speak extemporaneously versus his written stuff. He did an appearance on Letterman where I thought, "Oy. Did we really castigate this guy over a blow job? He actually knows what he's talking about!"

      But... he never moved me. He never, for lack of a better term, inspired my "better angels."

      by BettyPageisaBlonde on Sat Feb 10, 2007 at 09:50:10 PM PDT

      •  ex tempore

        No doubt about it. He's at his best ex tempore. It's then that he gets that:

        Brevity is the soul of wit.

        by Demi Moaned on Sun Feb 11, 2007 at 12:19:34 AM PDT

•  Edwards

  (Thanks Elise for pointing out the oversight.)

  Edwards has very solid rhetorical skills. He's very much from the Bill Clinton mold in my mind.

  by Demi Moaned on Sat Feb 10, 2007 at 09:16:46 PM PDT

•  On Rhetoric

  Browsing in Quintillian this morning I came on his assertion that the orator is ethically obligated to inspire lofty ideas; and thus he must have a noble heart. Oddly, I do think this is Obama's intent. He would have us bring back some measure of civilty and comity in public discourse.  He would restore that note in politics where, along with whatever else is being said, there is an underlying concern with the public good.
     But I don't think that this part of his message means that he would in the least foreswear his progressive politics.  He merely feels that moral as well as political leadership is needed today, (pace, David Sirota).  

  by arion on Sat Feb 10, 2007 at 09:21:30 PM PDT

  •  Agreed....

    Morality does not equal intolerance. That's one of those words I'd dearly like to see taken back.

    Morality, ethics, noble intentions. Surely these cannot be bad things in and of themselves.

    by BettyPageisaBlonde on Sat Feb 10, 2007 at 09:26:23 PM PDT

•  Democrats Welcome the Anti-Torture Christians n/t

  by bernardpliers on Sat Feb 10, 2007 at 09:23:55 PM PDT

•  the quality of wordsmithery has been poor

  of late, in these united states. some of it has to do with the television soundbite mentality that seems to drive popular opinion. mostly, i think, it has to do with diminished aspirations of rhetoriticians. (if that is a real word...)
  beyond that it is simply, as jon lovitz used to say, "acting!"
  the coolest thing i've heard about obama is that he writes his own stuff. if true, it is encouraging.

  by rasbobbo on Sat Feb 10, 2007 at 09:41:22 PM PDT

•  I'm an actor as well

  Cut my teeth doing Shakespeare, Chekhov and the Greeks.

  I couldn't agree more. Words have power. The judicious use of the right words has tremendous power.

  And delivery...that has power too. Not just what you say, but how you say it, when you say it, to whom you say it.

  And yes, it would really be something to see the kind of oratory you read and hear about delivered today. I used to read Cicero in prep school. I've listened to Dr. King on CD.

  If someone like that, with that kind of command over language, could step up and use language and rhetoric as a force for good...I'd melt, maybe.

  by brownsox on Sat Feb 10, 2007 at 09:43:38 PM PDT

•  Inspiration

  I watched Obama talk this morning and I will admit that I got a little teary. He spoke of higher things and higher callings and I was moved.

  The power of inspiration is often underestimated in some circles. We all want to feel like we base our choices on policy, that we are above being inspired in an intuitive way.

  Many believe Sen. Obama  possesses this power to inspire. They feel it when they listen to the man.

  However if Sen. Obama had been for the war in 2002, I would doubt his judgment, despite his rhetorical gifts. If Mr Obama had voted for the Bankruptcy Bill, I would be suspicious of his populism. If Mr Obama never mentioned gay folks, I would be doubtful of his language of inclusiveness.

  Its Obama's progressive policies and stances that seal the deal for me, that make me lean towards supporting his candidacy.

  His inspirational gifts however, are a very important factor. They are a tool which can get the progressive message out to a greater number of people.

  by assyrian64 on Sat Feb 10, 2007 at 09:45:22 PM PDT

•  You make a critical point,

  the ability to move people is key, and is why I supported Dean. People always pile on, attacking those who want a "savior"...and they go against human nature in so doing. We are a a group species, that is why we crave leaders we can really follow, and that's why the Repugs have beaten us time after time. They use PR methods to present cues people respond to intinctively, with no real substance. If we want to really wake up the masses we have to have a leader like FDR who can move them...and we can figure that out by who moves us.

  by PLS on Sun Feb 11, 2007 at 06:25:14 AM PDT