Hearing Obama Speak from another room while TV was on last night...and I'm doing chores...

[KoKo]

Hearing Obama Speak from another room while TV was on last night...and I'm doing chores...

I couldn't help but think: he has an incredible speaking voice, part Martin and Part John...but sadly, to me, missing the intensity of priorities and sharpness of speech of Bobby. I did, though, have the chills that one gets from listening to an incredible Evangelical Preacher...who makes me feel good...whose voice is so resonant that it Dominates the rooms of my house...about Hope and Change. My mind goes back to the incredible speeches of the young Bill Clinton...The Man from Hope, Arkasas so many years ago...when I thought Bill Clinton would bring "the Change" that Jimmy Carter promised butgot bogged down with Iran Hostages and Boycotted Olympics and couldn't deliver...because the Right Wing went after him from the time, he too, the oath of office...just like what happened with Clinton and Vince Foster and that Plane flying into the White House within the first weeks of his Presidency.

I understand, being an older American, that the "Preacher Man" is always what America longs for, (it's in our souls as immigrants to this new country, most of us escaping for religious or thought freedom), and has been longed for so much than I , and others in our youths, have listened to and been seduced by that voice. In our culture and in our American History literature, the great preachers whom millions of Americans have already donated and given money to, build palaces for the really good Preacher Men...and folks lay their hopes for change at their feet and go and worship at their altar, accepting what they offer as the "true way," for CHANGE. And, isn't that what we've been dealing with in our House and Senate Leaders, after they were elected to positions of power running on Hope and Change?

I want to listen to this wonderful Harvard Graduate, Illinois State Senator and US Senator, "Preacherman" who doesn't have the baggage of growing up in segregated America who had the advantage of the legacy of those who fought in Mississippi and Alabama and all over the Southern States of the US to allow an African-American to be able to go to Harvard and be the NEW FUTURE for America. Obama is young enough to have not had to deal with the ugliness of that time in America. In many ways he is more International and therefore has an "edge" that he might be able to forge that "new coalition."

But, since I live in an area with many fundamentalists Christians...I am worried about what this means. He's a Harvard Graduate Preacherman...but he still sounds to me like one of those who could build a Chrystal Palace where thousands of faithful come to worship and donate to the cause, investing their hopes and dreams to place at his alter...But it could be just that...a Chrystal Palace that crumbles into shards of fallen glass.

Tell me why I'm wrong about him being just another NEW "Preacherman?"....:shrug:

[Unsane]

1. He has a great baritone speaking voice.

Great for speech giving. Not grating or annoying.

[Rageneau]

22. But what does he say?

I hear 'change' and I hear 'hope" from Obama, but I also hear both those words from everyone from Gravel to McCain. But what do these hollow words mean? What gets changed? Or, even better, what is the unique, overarching phrase that sums up what Obama is all about? What is he for? It can't just be: "change" because every Jiffy Lube offers those.

When Jesse Jackson speaks, he rattles the rafters and exhorts us at the top of his lungs (and heart) to "Keep hope alive!"

What does Obama exhort us to do?

[babylonsister]

2. His voice suggests to you he's a preacherman, but nothing in his

past suggests that. How can you just ignore what he's actually done with his life, from years of community service to his involvement in state and national politics?
No, I don't envision Obama building a Crystal Palace. If he doesn't get the nom, I see him going back to the Senate and working for us.

[KoKo]

4. How would he differ from other Dem candidates, then?

:shrug: years of community service and involvement in state and national politics? Dems are always involved in those causes... How is he different...and why should we vote for him beyond..."Hope and Change?"

[babylonsister]

8. All I can tell you is to review their platforms and go with your gut; that's

what I'm doing, and my gut is screaming "GOBAMA"! I have many issues with Clinton which I've enumerated on here, and Edwards just doesn't inspire me the way Obama does. So, my mind is made up and I'm very comfortable with that.

[ecstatic]

3. All of them have irritating accents, particularly Edwards

Your preacherman analysis is born of prejudice. That's it.

[Jane Austin]

9. When Edwards gets going, he's the one

who sounds like a southern preacher to me.

I don't hold that against him, but that's what he sounds like to me.

[KoKo]

11. Edwards "Accent" is his hardest thing to overcome. Obama sounds better...

but why did so many love Chimperor's Fake Texas Twang? They "eat up" when he does his "belly up to th' Bar Texas THANG!" It's always amazed me that Tweety got off on that...after all...Tweety's a "BeltWay Boy and Fineman and Fox News Crew and PBS shouldn't have fallen down the "Texas Twang Hole" of accents that can be "put on."

Edwards can't fake his accent...and I know it's a turn off.......

[NastyRiffraff]

5. I love his voice, but it's not enough

I agree with the OP about "Preacherman." It's one of the things that make me uneasy about Obama. Yes, I know that all politicians use the "preaching" device at times, because it can be very effective. Clinton does it, so does my own favorite, Edwards. The difference is, I think Obama really is a preacher, particularly when he brings religion into it, as he frequently does. Haven't we had enough of that?

No, I don't think Obama will try to force this country to be a "Christian nation," nor do I think he has the religious narcissism that allows Bush to say without irony that God wanted him to be president. But to me, the preaching instead of talking is off-putting. It's why he sometimes stumbles in debates; he's one of the best speakers I've ever seen when in comes to giving a prepared speech. Extemporaneously, not so much.

[monmouth]

6. I feel a "comfort" zone when Obama speaks. Of course, we have been

almost eight years listening to a nimrod. There is something comforting however when I hear his voice. I definitely get what you mean..

[zulchzulu]

7. Would you have listened to the Gettyburg address while out in the fields?

You should give Obama's speech a fair listen by WATCHING IT, not listening to it in another room doing chores... that seems an odd way to judge someone's speech to me.

[KoKo]

10. I've been watching Obama from YouTube and I'm a Cable Subscriber so I've

seen alot of him as a "DU Political Junkie." What got me was when I was "doing something else and I heard the timber and resonance from his voice in another room ...and realized what bothers me about him.

He's a Preacher!...It hit me that he just "Speaks Well" but where's the "there, there." That's why I posted. I just got this "wake up call" that Obama struck me as the Dems Answer to the Religious Right!

It's disturbing.......to hear that..

So..I'm looking for folks who will give me WHY he isn't the Dems Answer to the Religious Right?

[polichick]

12. Anyone who claims Obama is not purposely being part preacherman...

...has never been to a Southern tent revival. I'm not religious, but I'll go out of my way to get in on a tent revival if I'm on the road just because of the energy of the crowd. It's very uplifting and lots of fun ~ and all the folks chiming in with short bursts of exhuberant phrases during Obama's speeches remind you of the "amens" and "hallelujahs" people call out at revivals. He knows exactly what he's doing in creating that atmosphere, and it's very powerful stuff.

[KoKo]

13. Your post is Exactly what My Post is about...........thanks........

but, I'm more cautionary than you about Obama being a "Tent Revival." Is this good for America? Good for Obama? Good for Change that Obama says he's for?

That's the question...I'm asking.... :shrug:

[polichick]

14. I've asked that too, but the more I watch him the more I think...

...he's using the preacher technique to energize and rally people, rather than to sell them something outside themselves. He's going for a different kind of "revival" ~ a revival of Americans' belief in ourselves and our belief in the promise of the country. He is manipulating us the way all preachers do, with heightened emotion ~ but he's not doing it with fear. Is it good? It may be what's needed right now to revitalize voters ~ or he could be a smooth talking con man. I guess time will tell.

For now, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt because I think he can rally enough people to beat the Republicans.

[KoKo]

17. I understand....

Because I'm older...I guess I feel time is wasting...and I feel the country is in such peril..I can't watch another Dem go down....if we were snookered.....and he's just one of those "Chrystal Palace" folks who is honest and sincere but he's open to the "Powers that Be" manipulation.

As I said in my post...I've heard this all before from all Dem Candidates. I haven't yet seen how Obama isn't taking slogans and rhetoric and poetry and prose from all Dems who have gone before. It's like a script our Dems follow ALWAYS OFFERING "Hope and Change" and not delivering much when the inevitable Repugs come in and tear it all away and desconstruct any Dem Legislation that takes place in the interim. That's all I'm trying to point out. :shrug:

[polichick]

19. I'm just being strategic at this point...

All three candidates we have left would be far better in the WH than any of the Republicans ~ so the question really is, WHO CAN WIN?

I've been supporting Edwards for the last couple of months because I like his hard line on fighting corporations, but when he finished last in his home territory of SC it seemed pretty clear that he's just not resonating with enough people.

Like you said, we can't afford to lose. If Obama can energize voters the way it seems he can (including bringing new people into the process), the Dems could win a lot of the open Congressional seats ~ and have a solid majority that CAN get things done.

[KoKo]

20. I think we have to wait until after Super Tuesday...

The MSM keeps making these very small state vote like they are the DECIDERS...when in fact three were "caucuses" (really weird voting that isn't what the big states do) and SC which was thrown out as a test case. Front Loading...messing with Michigan and Florida voting and the rest...is not making this election "fair at the first."

I'm hanging in with Edwards to see what happens after Super Tuesday. (I was Gore, Kucinich and now Edwards...so you know) I'm hoping the Dem who wins will UNDO BUSH VIOLATIONS of the CONSTITUTION on Day One...and will INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE Bush/Cheney War Crimes. John Edwards is a Trial Lawyer...I believe he and Elizabeth would honor our wishes..but it might just be wishful thinking on my part, too. If ever we needed a TRIAL LAWYER...who has good connections with Dem Lawyers "inner circle" that TIME IS NOW....if we are going to CLEAN UP the abuses. But, only a PRESIDENT can start the ball rolling...and who will step up to do it and not tell us just to "Move Along" for "bi-partisanship?"

[polichick]

23. Have any of them said they would investigate and prosecute...

Bush and Cheney?? I'd love that too, but I think we have a far better chance of having the Constitutional violations corrected than we do prosecution.

[KoKo]

25. None of them...that I've heard...and sadly

what you say is probably the truth...

Quote from you:



And...that's what's wrong with this election. Why is everyone Afraid...of saying: "Restore the Constitution" that Bush/Cheney have violated...and prosecute what goes back to Richard Nixon that was covered up!

That's the worry. Is it more of the same old same old..with charming voices...and speeches about "Hope and Change" that really are a "cover" for more of the same? It's time for a house cleaning and why are Dems so reticent to step out and CALL OUT the Fowl Bush/Cheney back to Nixon Regimes the "Criminal Enterprises?" Are they afraid like Pelosi and Reid? Or, is it something else?

[marions ghost]

15. good post

getting at why we are attracted to the person behind the rhetoric...

But it's funny--after 7 years of Bush regime brutality, the agony of the stolen elections and the disappointments of the congressional Dems...I'm not very susceptible to any politico speak anymore.

I still follow the campaigns, but just can't get into the cult of personality, needing to "feel it" for a candidate, or any kind of gut-level response. At this point I'm not sure there would be anybody's personal charisma that could impress me (Al Gore might get the juices up if he had run). I'm focused only on the practicalities.

We need a BIG correction and change of course--but there are many forces against it. Until somebody gets into government and starts to ACTUALLY do that...I'm not getting my hopes up. No preacherman or woman can sell me anything at this point.

[Levgreee]

16. He emphasises change from the bottom-up more than any other candidate

and about mobilizing and inspiring the people. He knows he will not bring the changes about if he doesn't get people together, behind a cause. He consistently claims he is only winning because of what the American people want. I don't think his ego is big, or that he feels he is some sort of saint.

I don't know if that makes you feel better about his preaching, but you might think it's relevant.

[marions ghost]

26. Obama could be a saint or the next knight in shining armor

for all I know. But you know what--I'm tired of needing saints and knights to rescue us. The system is broken if you're looking for superheroes to maintain it.

I have no idea how big Obama's ego might be since I don't know him--but it certainly takes a healthy one to run for president. I don't have a feel for that either way. It wouldn't matter to me if he has a big ego if he did a fabulous job as president.

When you have been victimized by your own government it's hard to feel anything positive...we had hope for Gore, we had hope for Kerry, we had hope for the Dems in Congress...we had hope that the Bushites wouldn't damage the country too badly...we had hope, we had hope.

You run out of hope. You just want action.

Re. mobilizing & inspiring people--I don't think Obama emphasizes 'change' any more than Edwards does. And as for getting people behind a cause...there are so many causes. And why is just getting decent government a matter of turning everything into a "cause?" That tells you just how far we have been beaten down.

I don't feel bad about Obama's preaching, or Edwards preaching, or the Clinton's preaching for that matter. They have different styles. But none of it gets to me really. I don't ask for a politician to be a cheerleader at a pep rally.

I just hope all three of them will work their nubs off to roll back the mess that this country is in...

[KoKo]

27. Hope vs. Action....One hopes for hope...until one has the Information one needs to Take ACTION...

that's what I'm thinking that many of us are thinking these days, who've been "up on" what's been going on for a decade or two. It took Bush II and the Imperial Presidency to put it all together..and I agree with you... How long should we "Hope" before we expect "ACTION" when there's now overwhelming EVIDENCE that ACTION needs to be taken as the next step for Justice to be fulfilled? :shrug:

Where is JUSTICE and the "RULE OF LAW" our Repugs keep running on and touting as the testament to why folks should keep voting for them?

[marions ghost]

30. Good Question

Where is justice and the rule of law re. the federal government? Since the hijacking by the Bushites there has been none. The illegal war grinds on, civil liberties are lost, white collar criminals in the highest offices go free...and rich scammers get richer at our expense.

We're really in bad shape. I can understand hoping for a savior or a superhero...but I really don't want to hear about anybody's dreams and fantasies. I just want a damage control team to get in there and start turning the Titanic around...

[mopinko]

18. cuz he buys his own lunch. no matter who he is eating with.

being from obama country, i know people who know people, and i can tell you the man is decent. just plain decent. and works hard for other dems.

[2hip]

21. My assistant made the same observation

I recently posted this on another thread. She was commenting on the candidate's speaking styles. According to her:

"Hillary talks...the way...politicians talk...with that slow...staccato... cadence...they use...when they think...we're stupid."

"Obama talks like a minister preaching from the pulpit - glory halleluia, praise be. I hear the cadence of MLK when he speaks."

"Edwards talks like a normal person would if we were BSing on the street. He talks TO me, not AT me."

I can't honestly disagree with her.



          Edwards '08 tees!

[polichick]

24. This morning my husband and I heard Hillary speaking to a crowd...

...in a more preacherly tone ~ and we both said, "What is she doing?" at the same time. Wonder if she's taking a page from Obama.

[adapa]

28. thanks for putting into words why I am so spooked by Obama

I've never been a joiner, almost pathologically the opposite in fact. And definitively *not* a church person, I enjoy the mythology of religion but the blind faith thing is *way* past what I'm capable of giving. Maybe it is the 40 odd years I've been on this earth or my affinity for the scientific method but I simply can not look at Obama's record & see enough proof he can navigate the bureaucratic nightmare that is Washington to accomplish the stated goals.

We don't have the luxury of 4 more years of a glass house.

[cooolandrew]

29. Barack on one to one interviews goes into far more detail. He can't rally troops with nuance, link.

video link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1MGi12RspA