Sara Palin's speech at the 2008 Republican National Convention significantly impacted voter sentiment, reportedly swaying millions. While some praised her delivery and timing, others criticized the reliance on speechwriters, arguing that candidates should express their own views authentically. The discussion highlighted the historical context of speechwriting, noting that effective speeches often require professional assistance due to the demands of modern political communication. Ultimately, opinions varied on the effectiveness and authenticity of Palin's message.
PREREQUISITESThis discussion is beneficial for political analysts, speechwriters, communication professionals, and anyone interested in the intersection of politics and public speaking.
Since when does a candidate write their own speech?Nesiox said:I didn't really think her speech was all too good. Who would have a speech writer? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of you as a possible candidate? It should be her views, her opinion, not the writers.
castlegates said:Since when does a candidate write their own speech?
They don't have time to write a speech. A good speech takes a lot of time. Obamas speech was probably worked on for weeks, if not months. At this stage of the process, every word is carefully chosen. Thats also why debates are few, because you can lose an election just by using the wrong word.Nesiox said:I would if I were running. Isn't that what they're suppose to do? They are running for high positions, they should at least assert every situation with their own work. Why else are we voting for them?
castlegates said:Since when does a candidate write their own speech?
I'd like them to write their own speeches too, but how you going to know they wrote it? A speech writers job is to write a speech around the person, so for the most part that speech is the person.Nesiox said:Voting based on popularity. I want people to mess up, I want people to choke up on a few issues being presented. I want to make sure that who I'm choosing is the best choice, and not a facade. I see the point though, but I disagree with it.
An analysis I heard this morning was that she (and the GOP ticket) don't have a message, so they end up blaming (or bashing) the media, and other people, rather than provide a substantive discussion of issues, like taxes, government, education, national security, trade, . . . . I heard excerpts, and it sounded like the same old empty rhetoric. McCain and Palin sound like they are offering 4 more years of the current situation - especially if they want to cut taxes even more.castlegates said:She delivered her speech quite well. Half way decent timing, speech writer had some good zingers, and the newborn turned a couple million votes in an instant. All in all ... I was impressed. All the piling on over the last few days just got tossed out the window. We have a race!
PALIN: "I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending ... and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress 'thanks but no thanks' for that Bridge to Nowhere."
THE FACTS: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. In her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation. While Palin notes she rejected plans to build a $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents and an airport, that opposition came only after the plan was ridiculed nationally as a "bridge to nowhere."
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TheStatutoryApe said:Its been too long. They ought to write their own speechs. Maybe we could make it a law or something.
For what its worth: I saw some political historian discussing this issue: he made the point that one of the reasons speech writers are required in modern times is that political leaders, esp. Presidents while in office, appear and speak in public much, much more often today, up 2-3 times a day every working day on unrelated events, than say one hundred years ago. Its impossible for an individual to maintain that pace w/ any coherency.TheStatutoryApe said:Its been too long. They ought to write their own speechs. Maybe we could make it a law or something.
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/09/04/biden-praises-palin-for-amazing-speech/...Instead, in a round of television interviews, Biden praised John McCain’s vice presidential pick for delivering an “amazing speech.”
Except when you read the article he is criticizing her speech. It was a "backhanded" compliment.mheslep said:So back on topic, Palin's speech:
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/09/04/biden-praises-palin-for-amazing-speech/
There have been plenty of politicians and public speakers that have written their own speechs in the past and most of the more memerable have been written by the person delivering them as far as I know.f95toli said:Speech writers have been around for over 2000 years; there were professional speech writers even in antique Athens and most of the techniques used today were developed in Greece and later Rome (by e.g. Cicero).
The only modern politician that I know of who (successfully) wrote most of his own speeches is Churchill.
Writing a good speech is very difficult and most politicians would be very bad at it.
No I think his remarks were clear enough: critical on issues, that the Gov. didn't address them, praise for the speech.Evo said:Except when you read the article he is criticizing her speech. It was a "backhanded" compliment.
She didn't write the speech, she just read it, Bush's speechwriter wrote it.mheslep said:No I think his remarks were clear enough: critical on issues, that the Gov. didn't address them, praise for the speech.
f95toli said:The only modern politician that I know of who (successfully) wrote most of his own speeches is Churchill.
Pythagorean said:As an independent Alaskan, I found myself rolling my eyes a lot
f95toli said:The only modern politician that I know of who (successfully) wrote most of his own speeches is Churchill.
Pythagorean said:As an independent Alaskan, I found myself rolling my eyes a lot