Now don't get me wrong. I do realize that this was done deliberately to make Obama look bad, since normally those sort of "pause sounds" aren't included in a speech transcript. And I also know that when he does that it means he's thinking, and I'd much rather have a president who says "uh" and thinks than one who does neither.
But it sounds bad. It makes Obama seem not so much thoughtful as unsure. I really hope this is something he and his team are working on in prep for the debate this Friday.
4 comments:
And what evidence do you have to indicate that he is thinking?
Obama uses "uh" the same way that a lot of people use "you know." It's just a bad habit, and one that could be corrected by joining your local Toastmaster's organization.
Some people speak well "off the cuff" and some don't. Clinton spoke well without the teleprompter, and Reagan did not.
"And what evidence do you have to indicate that he is thinking?"
The fact that, unlike McCain, he gives thoughtful, intelligent answers to difficult questions.
The fact that, unlike McCain, he gives thoughtful, intelligent answers to difficult questions.
You mean comments like:
That's Above My Pay Grade
"You mean comments like:
That's Above My Pay Grade"
Of course that was only 5% of his answer. You know that, but are mischaracterizing the complex answer he gave and instead focusing on a 5-word sound bite.
Sort of makes my point.
And by the way, if you bothered to actually think about what he meant, there was nothing wrong with him saying "above my pay grade". His mistake was overestimating the intelligence of the people watching him.
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