Political Animal
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September 07, 2012 5:44 PM
Philosopher Kings
At TNR the linguist John McWhorter takes a comparative look at the rhetorical style of the Clinton and Obama speeches in Charlotte, and unsurprisingly, the Big Dog comes out ahead in his judgment. But McWhorter does offer one area in which Obama was very effective:
Heralding a return to an America all about “products stamped with ‘the three letters USA,’” emphasizing a strong military, charging that the Romney/Ryan philosophy is “not who we are,” he made all further claims that his approach to governance is somehow foreign and unpatriotic automatically qualify as nonsense. Dinesh D’Souza looks all the more a crank as of tonight.
Still, McWhorter, like many others now and in the past, marvels at Clinton’s ability to weave relatively detailed and complex facts and policy arguments into a fluid and compelling speech. I had to love this comment about Clinton’s accent:
His Southern accent only helped send the speech over the plate, lending an air of warmth and sincerity that was key in getting him elected 20 years ago. Many assume that a Southern accent signals stupidity, but in our era, vernacular cadences are an aural emollient to American ears. A twang reads “real.” In 2012, he who exhibits a command of facts in the accent of a country-western singer becomes the closest thing we have to a philosopher king.
That’s what I’m always reaching for.
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MBunge on September 07, 2012 5:54 PM:
I don't want to take away from Clinton's undeniable talents, but this is a guy who still couldn't get 50%+1 of the public to vote for him in a far less challenging environment than Obama. I think even Clinton admitted after his speech that he could say things Obama couldn't without sounding too defensive.
Mike
Tom Q on September 07, 2012 6:14 PM:
I'd also argue that Clinton laid on the drawl a bit more thickly in this speech that in either of his presidential acceptance speeches, where he went for a more stately feel. It was not just in content that Clinton could cover ground Obama couldn't; it was in cultural marks. Obama's speech last night was more befitting a president; Clinton's was one especially targeted to certain downscale groups.
c u n d gulag on September 07, 2012 6:30 PM:
Clinton + Obama.
Two great American story tellers - in the Southern style.
Clinton, a son of Arkansas, is a more detailed, and clearer, Willian Faulkner.
President Obama, though not a natural Southerner, is more like Martin Luther King Sr., in some respects, than his son.
But he can channel the son's rhetorical and 'speach-hifying' ability, when needed.
But, if either one of them is nearby, just sit as close as you can by the fire, grab an iced-tea, ask them a question - AND ENJOY!!!
Jeff Johnson on September 07, 2012 6:38 PM:
"he made all further claims that his approach to governance is somehow foreign and unpatriotic automatically qualify as nonsense. Dinesh D’Souza looks all the more a crank as of tonight."
Of course, all earlier claims that his approach to governance is somehow foreign and unpatriotic already automatically qualified as nonsense, and they always have. I guess in the minds of some very confused people this may be a new idea.
And how could Dinesh D'Souza look "more" like a crank than he already did from the moment that Kenyan Anti-Colonialist Forbes article was released? Again, I suppose there are some slow and confused people that were not already aware what a crank D'Souza is. But, nothing really new here.
You may be a redneck if you think "vernacular cadences are an aural emollient to American ears." I'm born and raised in America, California to be more specific, and such accents have always rubbed me the wrong way, and it takes much more effort for people who talk that way to get me to lower my guard and relax my natural suspicion of southerners.
I guess John McWhorter and I live in different Americas. In fact, I'm sure we do.
Decatur Dem on September 07, 2012 6:39 PM:
4 stars for "aural emollient".
"A twang reads 'real.' " Maybe--- unless you're a Philips Academy/Yale educated scion of a patrician Connecticut Yankee family, whose parents and illustrious brother* don't speak as though they're auditioning for Hee-Haw. (I say this as a white, senior, male Georgian.)*( Jeb is illustrious for comparison purposes only.)
Nancy Cadet on September 07, 2012 9:33 PM:
In my book John mcWhorter is hardly credible as a linguist though he is successful at getting attention in the media. In the past, he claimed that the continent of Africa / African countries had underdeveloped economies because African languages are needlessly complex!
He's a right winger, guys, and not qualified to analyze objectively the "aural emollient" quotient of anybody's accent, or of Obama's speechifying .
Kid61 on September 07, 2012 10:20 PM:
I think it is indeed true that Bill Clinton's Awe Shucks delivery got some people to drop their skepticism and let the "homespun" practical wisdom come in--I'll take it. But for many of us who don't originate from The South--and have moved about this country over the years--it's confusing that trailer-park linguistics is the new standard of sincerity. Why do we need to sound like country singers to be trusted? Is Larry the Cable Guy really that much more trustworthy than a guy from Chicago?
DG on September 07, 2012 11:03 PM:
If I recall correctly, Obama didn't say stamped with three letters "USA," he said stamped with three words "Made In America."
If I'm right, McWorter can hardly be described as a linguist. If he can't get one of the most memorable lines in the speech right, he doesn't know anything about linguistics or speeches.