Hillary’s Second “Moment”: Words Do Count

Some called it her valedictory, and it certainly seemed to acknowledge Obama’s frontrunner status. Yet she later maintained her final words in the February 21 CNN debate were “the recognition that both of us are on the brink of historic change. You know, I’m very proud that we have the two of us in this contest seeking the Democratic nomination, hoping to become our next president.”

Hillary’s problem with words is encapsulated here. What I just quoted is a tepid political justification of what she said in the actual debate. Different in intent, preplanned or not, her closure to the debate was delivered with emotion and sounded wholly sincere. She got a standing ovation. To put the problem simply: she doesn’t trust her own voice, and Obama does.

So we get ads tonally at variance with her debate performances, stilted rhetoric in her speeches, and a campaign which can’t decide on an effective way to present its candidate and her ideas. She’s lost the nomination race because she can’t connect.

But at the end of the debate her words clarified her feelings, as they did pre-New Hampshire, and for a moment let the audience in.

The candidates discussed plagiarism and the value of one’s own words. Others have noted the ironies here, mostly by relating Senator Clinton’s words to former lines by John Edwards or her husband. That, as Obama said, is silly. Campaign rhetoric always goes back to the same tired phrases: “ready on day-one,” “Washington is broken,” “my friends.”

People who respond to this sort of pap will gravitate toward John McCain, who mostly speaks straight from the cliché bank, as Romney did. Those who want to hear a different refrain will tune in to Obama (though his speeches are getting a little stale). I think this kind of preference moves more votes than policy differences, positions or the issues.

We listen to what the candidates say and respond to their language, gestures, style and delivery . . . and we respect their consistency. That’s a large part of what makes modern politics. It’s what has finally distinguished Obama from Clinton.

Comments

[EFein]

So have you jumped on the Obama bandwagon? I'm not there but in any case, I think he'll make a fine president.

[AHubbard]

Great point - one that we don't hear much about and should.