bobquasit | (no subject)

Salon had an interesting bit this morning. A Democrat made a response about the Iraq war, and it was truly painful to read. A textbook example of how to speak if you DON'T want to reach the public. Salon called it "Democratese".

I couldn't resist writing a response.

Here's my translation:

"I had Jello today. I like Jello."

Seriously, is there a SINGLE Democrat left (apart from Al Sharpton) who understands the basic principles of oratory? Short, "gutty" words and short, declarative sentences work. Polysyllabic agglutinates that run on for paragraphs without reaching a period don't. Senate-speak equals death, as John Kerry so ably proved in 2004.

Like it or not, when the majority of Americans hear a word above the third-grade level, it's instantly translated in their minds into the voice of Charlie Brown's teacher:

"Mwaaa whaaa, whaaa whaa-whaa, mwaaaa."

I have to wonder, have the Republicans been running a long-term stealth campaign to secretly recruit all Democratic speechwriters? Or is it simply blind arrogance? Perhaps it's actually classism, a refusal to speak "beneath" themselves. Or is it a feeling of inadequacy, a fear that if they don't "talk smart", people will think they're stupid?

I don't know. But as long as they keep this crap up, they're never going to be able to connect with the American people.

Yes, I know I've used that Charlie Brown line before. It's one of my favorites.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh God, is that what effective oratory is down to? Shore "gutty" words and short, declarative sentences...

We are doomed.

Kiralee

The Salon person seemed to view Bush's speaking style as a positive, but when I've seen him lately he comes across as either an idiot or a liar or both. Sure, yeah, he speaks in a fashion that drunk guys in a bar might well comprehend but does the American electorate really consist of just clones of Norm from "Cheers"? :)