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By Jeremy | February 20, 2008
Just Words
Given the name of this blog, the Obama/Patrick "Just Words" controversy piqued my interest this week. In case you missed it, Senator/Presidential hopeful Barak Obama and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick are friends and share a political consultant. In response to Hilary Clinton's critique that Obama is all style and no substance -- "Just Words" -- Obama recycled a speech from the 2006 Patrick campaign. While the tone of the speech is classic Obama charm (although it begs the question how much of the packaging is manufactured by handlers rather than authentically Obama) the content is suspect. Yes, "I have a Dream," "Nothing to fear but fear itself," "Ask not what your country can do for you," and "we hold these truths to be self evident" are all timelessly evocative rhetorical phrases. But their power was rooted in substantive actions that moved both the speakers and hearers past rhetoric to meaningful, transformative action. The very act of signing the Declaration of Independence, for example, was an act of treason and put the signers' lives on the line. Dr. King's Dream speech endures because he lived and died to make that dream so; FDR exemplified fearless leadership when he took on the fascist challenges of World War 2; President Kennedy modeled "what you can do for your country" when he took an assassin's bullet. Indeed, the actions that accompanied the rhetoric made each of those classic lines much more than "Just Words."Topics: away with words, barack obama, blogging, life, news, politics, rhetoric, webcast, words | 2 Comments »
February 20th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Bush league (no pun intended) on Obama’s part. He’s in the driver seat right now, I can’t see why he’d open himself up for criticism. I don’t know why he stole Patrick’s words (words that Patrick also borrowed), but with the caliber of speech writers Obama has, and his speaking skills, it was bush league to steal a speech…
Words move me. I think the country is ready for good words, positive words, inspiring words. I recently blogged about the power of hope here: http://norcalurban.blogspot.com/2008/02/john-ortberg-on-managing-hope.html. ‘Just words’ can start a revolution. We need a revolution of hope, justice and Kingdom peace. Jesus is the answer. The Church is the vehicle.
Clean it up, Barak! You just might be our first Black president…
February 23rd, 2008 at 7:48 pm
I agree with John 100 %