Obama's Use of Complete Sentences Stirs Controversy

[Guest]

Obama's Use of Complete Sentences Stirs Controversy:
Stunning Break with Last Eight Years


In the first two weeks since the election, President-elect Barack Obama has broken with a tradition established over the past eight years through his controversial use of complete sentences, political observers say.
Millions of Americans who watched Mr. Obama's appearance on CBS' "Sixty Minutes" on Sunday witnessed the president-elect's unorthodox verbal tick, which had Mr. Obama employing grammatically correct sentences virtually every time he opened his mouth.
But Mr. Obama's decision to use complete sentences in his public pronouncements carries with it certain risks, since after the last eight years many Americans may find his odd speaking style jarring.

According to presidential historian Davis Logsdon of the University of Minnesota, some Americans might find it "alienating" to have a President who speaks English as if it were his first language. "Every time Obama opens his mouth, his subjects and verbs are in agreement," says Mr. Logsdon. "If he keeps it up, he is running the risk of sounding like an elitist."

The historian said that if Mr. Obama insists on using complete sentences in his speeches, the public may find itself saying, "Okay, subject, predicate, subject predicate - we get it, stop showing off."

The President-elect's stubborn insistence on using complete sentences has already attracted a rebuke from one of his harshest critics, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska.
"Talking with complete sentences there and also too talking in a way that ordinary Americans like Joe the Plumber and Tito the Builder can't really do there."

[Guest]

As long as he has the teleprompter Obama does fine.

[Guest]

As long as he has the teleprompter Obama does fine.

Geez...I didn't notice the teleprompter during that interview nor during the Q&A at the press conference. Do you have a link showing that?

[Guest]

I do not understand the mentality of folks who must make fun of others on a personal level and especially a President of the United States.

Talk about and criticize someones policy decisions, idelogy but to take personal "shots" at any President or someone in public life makes no sense to me.

That applies to both parties, both men mentioned here.

[Guest]

Millions of Americans who watched Mr. Obama's appearance on CBS' "Sixty Minutes" on Sunday witnessed the president-elect's unorthodox verbal tick, which had Mr. Obama employing grammatically correct sentences virtually every time he opened his mouth.


Sister Philothea would be so proud:bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:
The Good Sisters of St. Joseph just loved grammar and the proper use of the English language.
:angel:

[Guest]

I guess the use of proper English is going down the tubes just like morals, manners, etc., etc. What next?

[Guest]

I guess the use of proper English is going down the tubes just like morals, manners, etc., etc. What next?

Appropriate dress.

[Guest]

Appropriate dress.

I agree with you again Coconuts.

I also have a secret aversion to glitzy, tawdry, sentimental wedding invitations.


Go on JUMP ON ME!:shrug:

Here comes Tony. I have a ticket for hijacking this thread. What a way to start this day.

[Guest]

Open your horizons....when trying to elevate the eloquence keep in mind the prepared agendas VS a stand up, unprepared environment.

Also don't forget to mention that most good speakers do not necessarily speak in complete sentences. For those that do, it is an indicator of too much preparation. The only response is the learned one. So don't be too hasty to give out good marks to a practiced orator!

Talk is cheap. Let's see what he accomplishes and when.

BTK

[Guest]

I guess the use of proper English is going down the tubes just like morals, manners, etc., etc. What next?

??? prpr engl?? Y? txt msg engl is ok 4 me. U 2?

It is always refreshing to hear the National Language spoken in a clear and concise manner.

[Guest]

rekop....
Great Post!!! I know it was tongue in cheek and although not an Obama voter, I have always been impressed with his statesman-like manner and speech.

It's also refreshing that he has had several news conferences discussing his plans and appointments.

One of the biggest downfalls of the Bush presidency has been his utter failure to effectively communicate with the electorate.

No communication=No support.

Hopefully Obama will be a good communicator and apprise folks of the real challenges ahead instead of sugar coated platitudes. Americans always rise to the occasion when presented with the facts.

[Guest]

It is sad to say that there was one time when we know for sure that President Bush communicated quite clearly with far too many Americans.

"Go to Disney World."

And they did. And to the mall. And on other vacations they could not afford. And home to order all kinds of things they did not need, from those television shopping networks, and, and, and.....Livin' large in a house of plastic cards.

"Go to Disney World." (Subject/Predicate? Sure enough. Imperative Sentence. Subject? The understood (you.) "Go" is the verb, at the start of the predicate which includes the adverbial prepositional phrase "to Disney World." (That's the part of the sentence where he told Americans where to go.)

Hey, I can be snippy this morning if I want to. I voted for him twice. But I did not go to Disney World.

Boomer

[Guest]

Obama's Use of Complete Sentences Stirs Controversy: Stunning Break with Last Eight Years

In the first two weeks since the election, President-elect Barack Obama has broken with a tradition established over the past eight years through his controversial use of complete sentences, political observers say.

The President-elect's stubborn insistence on using complete sentences has already attracted a rebuke from one of his harshest critics, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska. "Talking with complete sentences there and also too talking in a way that ordinary Americans like Joe the Plumber and Tito the Builder can't really do there."

Rekop, thanks, your post was really funny. Especially the Palin bit. Glad that we can still laugh about politics.

Even though I wasn't an Obama fan, I now greatly admire his communication skills and his presidential demeanor. His intelligence and elegance shine through.

[Guest]

...in his New York Times column a few days before the election. He said..."we need a president who can speak English and deconstruct and navigate complex issues so Americans can make informed choices. We have paid an enormous price for having a president who could not explain and reassure us..." on any of the important national issues we've experienced in recent years.

What a refreshing change.

[Guest]

Lest we become all dewy eyed over our president-elect's grammatical abilities, I think we need to realize he also misspeaks and is just as human as the next person when "a opportunity" arises. (He used that clunker in one of his latest off the cuff statements), and if one googles, "Obama's grammatical errors", more examples are available. His ace in the hole in regards to grammar is the slack the media affords him.

I'm with BTK on this one, "Talk is cheap. Let's see what he accomplishes and when". I have been impressed with some of his latest discussions regarding staff selections, (grammar aside and the emphasis on CONTENT). My wish is to see him follow through on the proposals he has made since the election.

[Guest]

It is sad to say that there was one time when we know for sure that President Bush communicated quite clearly with far too many Americans.

"Go to Disney World."

And they did. And to the mall. And on other vacations they could not afford. And home to order all kinds of things they did not need, from those television shopping networks, and, and, and.....Livin' large in a house of plastic cards.

"Go to Disney World." (Subject/Predicate? Sure enough. Imperative Sentence. Subject? The understood (you.) "Go" is the verb, at the start of the predicate which includes the adverbial prepositional phrase "to Disney World." (That's the part of the sentence where he told Americans where to go.)

Hey, I can be snippy this morning if I want to. I voted for him twice. But I did not go to Disney World.

Boomer

Boomer, in advertising we would have called "Go to Disney World" a "call to action." Just the same as "Buy one today!" Good for you for not falling for it. I agree that, sadly, many did. :(

[Guest]

Rekop, thanks, your post was really funny. Especially the Palin bit. Glad that we can still laugh about politics.

Even though I wasn't an Obama fan, I now greatly admire his communication skills and his presidential demeanor. His intelligence and elegance shine through.

The post was just meant to be a light hearted, poke fun at the candidates type of thing, nothing more, nothing less. As you said, we were all so serious during the campaign, its nice to have it all over and just be able to sit back and have a few chuckles.

[Guest]

The post was just meant to be a light hearted, poke fun at the candidates type of thing, nothing more, nothing less. As you said, we were all so serious during the campaign, its nice to have it all over and just be able to sit back have a few chuckles.



One of my biggest fears as this campaign rolled along was....AND IT STILL HAS NOT SHOWN TO BE THE CASE SO DONT COME AFTER ME.....it seems that we might not ever be able to criticize President Obama, even in jest !

I hope it does not happen, and again...I am NOT saying this is the case..just one of my "concerns" :)

I am open to anyone criticizing our President on policy or idealogy, but have trouble with the personal stuff.....just think it is mean spirited and tacky !!!

Having said that,one of my critiques of President Bush was his poor presentation of ideas and events, but I also want our President to be himself, and President Bush campaigned twice and won twice being himself.

[Guest]

Having said that,one of my critiques of President Bush was his poor presentation of ideas and events, but I also want our President to be himself, and President Bush campaigned twice and won twice being himself.

One of my critiques of President Bush was his lack of ideas and disinterest in events. Honestly, I don't think I'll ever figure out what people saw in him. Yes, he was voted in twice. :ohdear: Amazing. The kind of guy you'd like to have a beer with? I never voted for him. Maybe it's because I don't like beer. :shrug:

[Guest]

One of my biggest fears as this campaign rolled along was....AND IT STILL HAS NOT SHOWN TO BE THE CASE SO DONT COME AFTER ME.....it seems that we might not ever be able to criticize President Obama, even in jest !

I hope it does not happen, and again...I am NOT saying this is the case..just one of my "concerns" :)

I am open to anyone criticizing our President on policy or idealogy, but have trouble with the personal stuff.....just think it is mean spirited and tacky !!!

Having said that,one of my critiques of President Bush was his poor presentation of ideas and events, but I also want our President to be himself, and President Bush campaigned twice and won twice being himself.

All I can say is


1.9 million jobs lost this year and 533,000 this month alone. Its not about the Housing Market anymore.

I think we could have done better without himself.

[Guest]

One of my critiques of President Bush was his lack of ideas and disinterest in events. Honestly, I don't think I'll ever figure out what people saw in him. Yes, he was voted in twice. :ohdear: Amazing. The kind of guy you'd like to have a beer with? I never voted for him. Maybe it's because I don't like beer. :shrug:
The ability to communicate to the masses the ideas of others in a convincing manner, especially to give the impression - intentionally or not - that the ideas are actually yours is a skill that a Harvard Law graduate should be expected to have.

Some of the smartest people I have ever known were lousy public speakers, and some of the best confidence games ever played on folk were done by the slickest-sounding, oh-he-just seems-so-trustworthy guys. Enron and most "financial" companies like it were built by such "trust-building" tactics, and a lot of folk now in hindsight still can't believe how they got duped.

Whether President Bush (a not-so-skilled public speaker) or Pres-elect Obama (an adept public speaker) is the better Chief Executive - time will tell, and it will be based on performance, not rhetoric or promises.

[Guest]

One of my critiques of President Bush was his lack of ideas and disinterest in events. Honestly, I don't think I'll ever figure out what people saw in him. Yes, he was voted in twice. :ohdear: Amazing. The kind of guy you'd like to have a beer with? I never voted for him. Maybe it's because I don't like beer. :shrug:


I am not going to be put into the position of defending President Bush...it is soon going to be President Obama....but I recall vividly President Bush saying shortly after his second election that he wanted to talk about SS...said he had a idea about privatizing it....BUT also said he was open to ANY suggestions that anyone had on what to do. Sen Reid and Speaker Pelosi actually mocked him on this...I mean mocked him. They said there was no problem with SS and if there was the Democrats would come up with a plan to address it with Charles Rangel leading the charge. They completely ignored his call for OTHER IDEAS and talked exclusively about his plan and how there was no problem.

I have never forgotten that...seems the Democrats have forgotten....no plan..no alternative...now there is a problem they say...and of course we all know what is important to Mr Rangel. I mention him because I recall Speaker Pelosi touting him at the time.

President Bush did a lot of good things and also a lot of bad things but you folks seem to be taking a thread about his problems in presentation and making into yet another bash Bush thread.