The art of political speechwriting has seemed dead for so long that it is our automatic instinct to be skeptical when it seems to have arisen from its crypt. So it is especially welcome to see that Barack Obama, the junior Senator from Illinois who went to Washington to such great acclaim, may have revived it. On June 4, at Knox College’s graduation in Obama’s home state, he gave a wonderful address that managed somehow to evoke three of the finest political speakers in the last twenty years: Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and Mario Cuomo. This is the sort of writing and speaking and thinking that might just be able to wake liberalism from is somnolence. (For the take of former Clinton speechwriter David Kusnet in The New Republic, see here.)

Obama explored themes that should be part of a new liberal century: A belief in America’s inherent greatness coupled with an awareness of our shortcomings; a belief that people and government can work together to improve all of our lives; a sense of shared burdens, rights, and responsibilities; a sense of the past linked with the present. But it was also a speech characterized by: a lack of vitriol and recrimination; an overarching sense of hope; an inspiration driven by a shared sense of what we are as Americans; humility, humor, and self-deprecation. It is far too early to label this young man with greatness; too many prematurely anointed such people have disappointed us profoundly. Nonetheless, if Barack Obama represents the future of liberalism, we will be in good hands.

Ed Schmitt - 6/25/2005

Derek - I actually meant to say that I thought Obama's speech is rhetorically better. I agree that cross-aisle linkages are important and sometimes refreshing, but that one strikes me as a bit too transparently political.
On another note, and I know you're an ocean away now, but do you know how the Oil Can is faring in Brockton?

Derek Charles Catsam - 6/25/2005

Ed --
I think the New Republic folks are right, though, that Obama will probably hone this speech to the point where it seems Edwardian. Indeed, doesn't Edwards-Obama sound like a possible 2008 ticket? While I am not certain how I feel about Hillary-Newt, there is an element where such cross-aisle linkages might even be refreshing. She is the one to be watching, and so far, she is diong better than just about anyone expected. Obviously Dean is just becoming more and more of an embarrassment. Hard to believe that there was a time when he was solidly a centrist. Careerism does strange things to people.
dc

Ed Schmitt - 6/25/2005

I agree Derek, a very good speech. While it's not in the same league rhetorically, I think this address John Edwards delivered at the London School of Economics demonstrated a similar optimism and generosity of spirit.

http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/LSEPublicLecturesAndEvents/pdf/20050525-JohnEdwards.pdf

Both speeches cheer me much more than Howard Dean's Manichaean brawling or Hillary's arm-linking with Newt.