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Update added below
After I turned in my story about Obama and McCain’s speeches on election night, I received an e-mail from Al Gore’s former speechwriter Bob Lehrman. It said:
One thing I wanted to mention. When [Obama] uttered that line about how we’re encouraged to ‘put our hands on the arc of history and bend it once more towards the hope of a better day.’ I was thrilled that a President would want language that precise, poetic and full of nuance—not just history but the ‘arc’ of it, not just bend but ‘bend it once more,’ not just ‘a better day’ but the ‘hope’ of a better day. Amazing.
I couldn’t agree more, although I also couldn’t capture it quite the way Lehrman does. As a writer, it was my favorite line from Obama’s speech. Here’s the full text of that portion:
It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.
One thing I’d add to Lehrman’s observation is Obama’s use of ambiguity—“all those who have been told for so long to be cynical.” He made sure anyone can fit themselves into that category.
From McCain’s speech I had two favorite lines: “Today, I was a candidate for the highest office in the country I love so much. And tonight, I remain her servant.” And, “I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president.”
I’m not sure John McCain’s oration has ever given me chills, but those lines did last night. All in all a great night for speechwriting.
Update: Ragan's roving video producer Justin Allen put this 1 minute 33 second video together of the Obama rally in Grant Park. Good stuff.
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um, can I just remind folks that this guy was a flippin' pedophile?!? A hugely talented one, but a pedophile nonetheles...
Comments (21)
I enjoyed the speeches of both men on a historical night.
I liked that Obama gave a subtle nod to the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson. At two different junctures he mentioned "living rooms in Concord" and "self-reliance".
Emerson was the Sage of Concord, and his essay Self-Reliance is listed among Obama's favorites on his facebook page.
Emerson was also godfather to the philosopher William James. Obama will rely heavily on Emersonian self-reliance and James' pragmatism over the next 8 years.
And that's a good thing.
Posted by Sue | November 8, 2008 12:48 PM
Posted on November 8, 2008 12:48
I didn't take it as sarcasm or a potshot. I just assumed you were asking me a serious question because Rush might have said something similar on his show.
But to answer your question...No, I don't listen to Rush. Not really because I dislike him, but because I'm too busy during the day (save the precious moments I wax poetic on PR Junkie). I have listened to him in the past, and would listen again if my days were free.
Did he say something similar to what I said?
Posted by Jon | November 7, 2008 12:27 PM
Posted on November 7, 2008 12:27
And Justin is absolutely right, as soon as David Brooks and Mark Shields start flapping their gums too much on PBS I'm off to C-SPAN.
Posted by Michael Sebastian | November 7, 2008 11:47 AM
Posted on November 7, 2008 11:47
Anonymous, thank you, and I know this might be hard to believe, but my question to Jon about whether or not he listened to Limbaugh wasn't sarcastic or mocking. I was serious.
Of course, had he said yes, then perhaps there was a potshot on the way. But I can also guarantee Jon would have--and still might--let me hear it.
Posted by Michael Sebastian | November 7, 2008 11:44 AM
Posted on November 7, 2008 11:44
Justin,
My last post directed at Michael was in response to his comment to Jon about possibly listening to Rush Limbaugh as though if Jon does, that's a bad thing. My point was that Michael is a very good moderator who doesn't have to stoop to taking such potshots.
That said, based on your post, I am to assume that since you view Jon Stewart as a credible news source and this is indeed a free country, you'd have no problem with Jon perhaps getting his worldview from a Rush Limbaugh. Nothing "to shame" as you say.
What I did not make clear, or perhaps you may have missed, is that I actually agree with you. I would venture that most people on this board get diverse points of view from various sources in print, on television and on the internet.
Posted by Anonymous | November 7, 2008 10:37 AM
Posted on November 7, 2008 10:37
"Anonymous" -
You've got Michael all wrong. I can vouch for his disdain for punditry of any kind. He once said to me, "I prefer watching the returns on PBS, but if they get all opinionated on me, I'll switch to C-SPAN."
I, on the other hand, attend nightly sermons at the First Church of Countdown with Olbermann and often get my news from--gasp!---Jon Stewart.
But isn't that what's great about America, Anonymous? You get that choice of where you get your news and how it's slanted, which, as far as I'm concerned, will never be a bad thing or something to shame.
Posted by Justin Allen | November 6, 2008 4:41 PM
Posted on November 6, 2008 16:41
Michael,
Do you read the New York Times or listen to Keith Olberman (sp?).
Please Michael. You're better than that.
Posted by Anonymous | November 6, 2008 3:54 PM
Posted on November 6, 2008 15:54
Yes, it would be a shame to have Obama handle our finances since the current administration has done such a stellar job. Give me a break!
Posted by Susan | November 6, 2008 3:26 PM
Posted on November 6, 2008 15:26
None of them? I thought both men did an admirable job, especially given the often nasty tone of the campaign.
Posted by Susan | November 6, 2008 3:23 PM
Posted on November 6, 2008 15:23
"Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope." --Barrack Obama
Posted by Bree | November 6, 2008 3:15 PM
Posted on November 6, 2008 15:15
Jon,
By chance do you listen to Rush Limbaugh?
Posted by Michael Sebastian | November 6, 2008 2:30 PM
Posted on November 6, 2008 14:30
I liked the line in which he said (paraphrasing, here): It might take a while to accomplish what we want. It might even take more than one term.
Brilliant. That's what you want in a leader. Someone who asks for a do-over right from the start.
It almost tops his statement from a week prior when he was asked how America could afford a national health care plan with a $10 trillion and rising deficits (again, paraphrasing - "We just gave Wall Street $700 billion. When we need to, we always seem to find the money."
This is the man who's going to turn our economy around. I can't imagine where I'd be if I handled my personal finances with that philosophy. This should be good.
Posted by Jon | November 6, 2008 2:21 PM
Posted on November 6, 2008 14:21
I agree that it was a great night for speechwriting. I did not vote for McCain, but I believe that his concesssion speech was the best of his campaign. It reminded me of the McCain that so many of us respected before he went for the right wing base, instead of following his own ideals. He sounded like a true patriot, truly putting country first, ahead of partisanship and the angry mob. I believed him more that night than any other time in the campaign.
Posted by Nona | November 6, 2008 12:22 PM
Posted on November 6, 2008 12:22
If Obama is hearing my voice, he knows I don't believe his promise that he will be my President too.
Posted by Anonymous | November 6, 2008 11:50 AM
Posted on November 6, 2008 11:50
They were both very good speeches and concluded the campaigns with a needed upbeat of class.
When Obama was talking about the 106 year old woman who'd voted that day it would have been fun if he'd added "I hope she voted for me!"
Posted by N Quesnel | November 6, 2008 11:28 AM
Posted on November 6, 2008 11:28
This really got me: "To those Americans whose support I have yet to earn -- I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your president too,"
Posted by Paul J. Thomas | November 6, 2008 5:06 AM
Posted on November 6, 2008 05:06
I surgically removed a single word from McCain's speech, "compromise." Both sides feel like that's a bad thing. It's the only thing!
Posted by Joanne Wright | November 5, 2008 2:49 PM
Posted on November 5, 2008 14:49
But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree.
(Now that's the beginning of true communications.)
Posted by Karren @ Primum | November 5, 2008 1:08 PM
Posted on November 5, 2008 13:08
"Although I might not always agree with you, I will always listen to you."--Obama
Posted by Darcey | November 5, 2008 12:39 PM
Posted on November 5, 2008 12:39
None of them.
Posted by Lynn | November 5, 2008 11:45 AM
Posted on November 5, 2008 11:45
McCain proved one thing, he's a better follower than a leader. Obama's words, as beautiful as ever, reinforced the success of his whole campaign - nonspecificity, allowing the electorate to project their dreams and desires on his blank slate - "He made sure anyone can fit themselves into that category."
Now Obama will have to govern and he will be tested well beyond where his oratorical skills can take him. The pendulum has swung once again to the left. The big question is whether Obama can keep it swinging too swiftly back to the right before his bid for re-election. To do so, he knows he will have to govern more from the center than he'd like.
Posted by Anonymous | November 5, 2008 11:28 AM
Posted on November 5, 2008 11:28