Obama in TV command for speech to Congress
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In case anyone was wondering whether President Barack Obama heard Bill Clinton say last week that he needed to put some bounce in his stride, they got their answer last night. Obama was all swagger as he entered the hall and strode down the aisle on his way to deliver his first speech to Congress and a prime-time audience. On his way to the podium, Obama shook hands with the members of Congress like a supremely confident quarterback greeting teammates as he took the field for a big game. He didn’t just reach out to the extended hands, in almost every case, he swung his right arm back and brought it forward in an arc until he made contact with the extended hand. It was a locker-room, I’m-the-man-here kind of greeting, and in TV terms, it instantly identified him as the person on-screen who was in control. |
The winning body language set the stage for his address – a perfectly pitched warning to Americans that the time for self-indulgence was over, leavened by a vote of firm confidence that Americans can and will meet the crisis no matter how bad things get.
"While our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken; though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this: We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before," Obama said.
"The weight of this crisis will not determine the destiny of this nation," he continued. "The answers to our problems don’t lie beyond our reach. They exist in our laboratories and universities; in our fields and our factories; in the imaginations of our entrepreneurs and the pride of the hardest-working people on Earth."
I’ll leave an extensive critique of his words to the political writers, and just say one more thing about his TV persona. Last night, for the first time since his speech in Chicago’s Grant Park, Obama spent most of his time at the podium in a pose that featured his chin held high, his head tilted slightly back and his eyes looking out over the crowd as if he saw something that others did not see.
It is his version of the classic Franklin Delano Roosevelt public pose characterized by FDR’s chin held high while a long cigarette holder extended from his mouth at a 45 degree angle to the sky.
Jaunty and confident was the way reporters of Roosevelt’s day described the attitude suggested by FDR’s pose. Obama, too, radiated confidence last night. Once again, he was the guy the nation feel in love with and elected in November – not the guy who seems to have been under fire since Jan. 20 for a bunch of bad cabinet appointments and a failure to understand how angry the public had become as a result of hundreds of thousands of Americans losing jobs each month.
This is the first time that Obama has shown he can use TV not just to get elected, but also to govern. You can call it theater, because that’s what it is. But that’s still an important part of being President in the final days of this TV age. And nobody since Ronald Reagan in the 1980s has commanded the main stage like Obama did last night – even if it did take a little help from Bill.
(Above: Associated Press photo of Barack Obama greeting members of Congress by Ron Edmonds)
Comments
...Judge a man by his actions. For the past 2 years we've heard a phenomonal orator. It's only been a month under his watch and America is fed up with theatre bro. He just dipped 60% in Gallup. I'd be interested to see his ratings after CNBC's town hall on Wednesday.
Lets see the wheels turning, and some action-----aside from the largest spending bill in our great Nation's history. I'm glad you felt better after his speech David...
The guy that's been laid off and listening to his message of hope is done hearing jibber jabber. He's ready to go back to work. What you got to say him Mr. Z?
Posted by: Ballz Mahoney | February 25, 2009 12:42 AM
Wow... We actually have a president who learns from his mistakes! He must have read your blog from the last time you wrote about his TV appearance.
Do I detect a note of sarcasm, Michael? Just a note? Thanks. Z
Posted by: Michael Karelis | February 25, 2009 3:39 AM
Vance Packard was right back in the 60's: the media is the message. I don't pay much attention to his swagger, theatrics, and stage persona. I listen to what he says, and it's same old same old campaign rhetoric....
Posted by: Norris | February 25, 2009 6:51 AM
The stock market is off 2% in the first 40 minutes of trading since Barry gave his speech. Barry might want to focus more on appealing to the Wall Street trader, who directly impacts the economy, as opposed to TV critic guy at a newspaper whose parent company is in Chapter 11.
Hi, thanks for the comment. Don't you think one of the reasons the economy is in such bad shape is that the previous administration played ONLY to Wall Street? Just a thought on what has happened time and again in this country when we worshipped Wall Streeet instead of protecting the citizenry from Wall Street greed. Thanks. Z
Posted by: Smith | February 25, 2009 10:17 AM
Take it easy on Barry! Remember his only experience in leadership was a community organizer. Or ACORN lawyer.
Posted by: Bob Walsh | February 25, 2009 11:40 AM
It is amazing if the press likes you you are great (even if you have only been in office 5 weeks) if they don't no matter what you do they hate you. Guve the man a chance to be good or be a screw-up. We have a tough time right now caused by a liberal congress thinking everyone should get credit whether or not the could afford it...with this spending spree who knows...most economists (and I am one) don't believe it will work but we all are hoping we are wrong.
Posted by: Lou | February 25, 2009 12:33 PM
President Obama may have delivered one of his most poignant speeches ever last night. I initially tuned in with high expectations, and some trepidation that our leader would not be able to meet them. Thankfully he proved me wrong, the message that President Obama delivered was one which we all desperately needed. Our president was candid, to the point, and inspirational by turns. I was left with more hope and determination to succedeed then even during the campaign...I know we have a leader at the head of the government, finally. President Obama continues to uphold our values, while showing respect to the ideals of others, he has single handedly restored the proper use of the English language in the eyes of American's if not the world at large, and has shown a dim, but present light is at the end of this tunnel of distrust and dispair. If I was doubting the probability of us fully recovering from this economic crisis as a unified nation, the audicity of hope has been reignited in my heart for months to come. Thank you Mr. President, I believe in you, in myself, and in this great nation!!!
Posted by: Haitiana4Obama | February 25, 2009 12:35 PM
keep on eating the grass, sheep.
Posted by: brandon | February 25, 2009 12:58 PM
So an approval rating dipping into the 60's is a bad thing? It's double his predecessor, who was setting records in low approval ratings at the same pace he was for economic destruction.
As for Smith.... I'm just at a loss. Wall Street artificially pumped up the economy and to make profits, without a care for when the floor would fall out. Companies are doing bad business, why should the DJ go up right now? Most companies that are struggling, are doing so because they were catering to short term goals set by the irrationality of traders. Yet catering to them is the answer? We played that game already.
Hi James, Thanks for this comment. It is not so much that I agree, but tit is so keenly focused and clearly explained. I wish the economic correspondents on the cable channels were as good as you. Z
Posted by: James C | February 25, 2009 2:57 PM
I am PROUD of our President's speech tonite AND proud of what he has been able to accomplish in this short time, especially with all the RESISTANCE he has been experiencing! I am especially disappointed in many of the "Bloggers" and media out there in their "reports" on tonight's speech-- Were they listening or simply "responding" in the negative, mechanical manner inwhich the "Republican response" is done-- ? Pre-written/pre-decided without truly listening--:(
When will we actually funtion as ONE supportive country, beyond the stupid, juvenile politics-?!?
Posted by: Deborah | January 27, 2010 11:54 PM