Bill Clinton gave a speech today at the Democratic National Convention. It is lengthy, but the speech is a reminder that, whatever his faults (and they are numerous), Bill Clinton is unrivalled as a speech-maker.
Here it is:
We don't really do good political oratory in this country, and any list of inspirational New Zealand political speakers would be a very short one, assuming we could think of a single person.
Admittedly Bill Clinton is one of a kind, but compare his command of the audience with a stumbling and earnest speech from one of our own politicians.
Perhaps its a peculiarly American thing, but when a politician like Clinton speaks about values, it's so easy to believe him, and to forget in an instant his mixed record in office and his deep personal flaws.
And so, despite the power of Clinton's words, are we in fact better off with a stumbling speaker like David Shearer? Listen to Bill Clinton talking for half an hour and he'd be able to convince you he was the son of God. We will never be seduced by David Shearer's oratory. The only way he will win our hearts and minds is if he makes good on his promises. And that's not a bad test for a politician to have to pass.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
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"I miss being lied to by that guy" is my favourite line of the day regarding Clinton.
ReplyDeleteOther than Lange I'm really struggling to think of any New Zealander full stop let alone a politician that's a great orator?
ReplyDeleteJohn Clarke. Obviously.
DeleteHowever I also remember Helen Clark being asked about this and she rather pointedly replied okay, we did have one great orator in my party, and look what happened.
I'd pick values and principles over oratory any day.
ReplyDeleteBut if you're offering a choice between saying nothing brilliantly (Clinton) and saying nothing badly (Shearer), then I'll pick Clinton.
At least he makes you want to jump off the couch and join the campaign. Plus, he's obviously smart enough to hire a quality speechwriter. Shearer hired Goff's.
OK - perhaps not in Clinton's class - but recently Russel Norman has spoken pretty well and dare I say it David Cunliffe is pretty good too. In his prime (?) Winston Peters was compelling - till we realised that's all there was.
ReplyDeleteBill Clinton was a poor President at home, but brilliant as a negotiator between any two world adversaries. He had the unique ability to be trusted by both protagonists, and he spoke bluntly to each, telling them what they could, and could not do, to meet compromise acceptable to both. His value on that front is underestimated.
ReplyDeleteThis will not be popular on this site, but Muldoon as PM on State occasions, speeches of welcome, eulogies, and such like, was an excellent orator. His massive political meetings in the run-up to the 1975 Elections suggest he was far from boring.