What’s a bit astonishing is that Obama and his advisers still seem to believe that he has the capacity to work magic with a speech. So, to judge by their disappointment, do journalistic admirers like Alter and Milbank. But has he ever actually done so?
He made a good first impression with his uplifting 2004 Democratic National Convention speech. Since then, what? His “race” speech drew extravagant praise at the time, and it succeeded in diverting attention from his association with his hate-mongering “spiritual mentor,” Jeremiah Wright. But no one remembers what he said in it. We liked his Tucson memorial speech last year, but apart from that the Obama presidency has been a long series of supposedly crucial speeches that amount to nothing.
Obama’s admirers sometimes describe him as a “rock star.” If so, he’s a one-hit wonder. They thought they were getting the Beatles but ended up with A Flock of Seagulls.
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