Throughout the campaign, Hillary has had to play rhetorical catch-up with Barack Obama. Used to equating a speech with a recitation of programs, hopefully punctuated by applause, she has always been about as inspirational as was Leonid Breshnev and her speeches just as scripted and predictable.
But she has lately retooled and once again tried to follow Obama’s charismatic style. Her new message is “the America I see.” She invokes Robert Kennedy (now the Hillary Kennedy) in an effort to counter the devastatingly effective use of JFK (the Obama Kennedy) in Caroline’s endorsement of Obama. She speaks of the “next generation” and says that she is running for president “because I will not stand by and see our country break faith – that we would leave America worse off than when we found it.”
There could be no greater testimonial to the effectiveness of Obama’s inspiring generational appeal. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Obama is getting the praise he deserves from his rival.
But watching Hillary try to be inspirational is a bit like watching Nixon having a try at it. Her soaring rhetoric somehow falls as flat as her Midwest accent and her generational appeal sounds as contrived as it is.
Is there no limit to how gullible the Clintons think we are? Don’t they realize that we will see through her attempt to “me too” Obama? Won’t we realize how contrived the Kennedy references are (a bit like the GOP’s ritualistic invocation of Reagan)?
No matter how she tries to dress it up, Hillary’s speeches are still basically laundry lists of legislation. Mired in detail, subsumed by ideology and programs, she is quite incapable of inspiration and charisma.
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“Is there no limit to how gullible the Clintons think we are?”…sure, i’m gullible…but i’m also looking forward to hillary taking credit for the internet and giving tipper a big kiss…why stop at imitating obama?
The reference to Leonid Breshnev in regards to Hillary Clinton really hits the mark. I am old enough to remember that time period. I got out of the Army in 1974. I feel Mr. Morris is correct in his references and when considering that time period and such thinking, not much has changed in our National Political thinking when it comes to solving our nations problems. Frankly, as a Registered Republican both Sen.Clinton and Sen. McCain are really not that much different (putting their positions on Iraq aside). Both are locked into 1970’s and 1980’s thinking and the resulting mind set of that era of the 20th Century; when we as a Nation need 21st Century thinking and solutions to solve 21st Century Problems. Neither has them. We need to consider that as a Nation and Society we must position ourselves for the 21st Century.
C.A. Bridges
Temecula, CA