RMN: When Obama speaks tonight, the words will be largely his own

[sabra]

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/27/obama-speech-molded-campaign-trail/

The speech of Barack Obama's life started with scribbling in a notepad and echoes of previous presidents.

During rare quiet moments on the campaign trail, the Illinois senator jotted down ideas of what he wanted to say at Invesco Field tonight.

He read the acceptance speeches of previous nominees, taking particular interest in three: John F. Kennedy in 1960, Ronald Reagan in 1980 and Bill Clinton in 1992.

Sitting at his computer, Obama knocked out a draft about a week ago and gave it to his speechwriter.

Since then, campaign staff have tweaked the copy.

But when Obama speaks tonight, the words will be largely his own — a personal message to Americans about the choice they will make in November.

"It is now, and probably always will be, that he's the best speechwriter in the group," chief strategist David Axelrod told reporters Wednesday as the candidate traveled to Denver.

"He knows what he wants and he generally says it better than anybody could."

[Mabus]

1. so are the ideas

McCain's speech won't be written by him or contain many of his own ideas.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

5. He always sounds like he didn't even read through it before he said it.

[TooBigaTent]

2. There are some here who think Richard Milhaus Nixon when we see those intials. My first reaction

was that the pukes were going back to their last POTUS with a brain.

Yes, he was evil, but not a moron like Raygun, George Sr. and the current idiot-in-chief.

[Alter Ego]

4. If only Dick hadn't been evil and paranoid--he could have been a pretty good President.

[TooBigaTent]

3. There are some here who think Richard Milhaus Nixon when we see those intials.

My first reaction was that the pukes were going back to their last POTUS with a brain.

Yes, he was evil, but not a moron like Raygun, George Sr. and the current idiot-in-chief.

[BlooInBloo]

6. IWTSMFITR!!!

I Want The Smartest Motherfucker In The Room!

[eshfemme]

7. I really love that Obama's not a product of ghostwriters and image consultants.

I mean, he's actually fairly colloquial when he talks and it's not some product of the campaign or PR people but him. His speeches aren't the words of someone else-- I think the last time any president wrote his own speech, it was probably JFK but anyone who knows more about the history of presidential speeches should correct me on this if I'm wrong. So I really like that about him because he is the real McCoy.