Reply #58: And it was fully his choice & leadership - not a campaign ploy

[sloppyjoe25s]

In fact, the word is some of his advisors wanted to have him wait on any speech to see if things would
simply "blow over" - and then try to make up the damage with gains elsewhere.

The fact that Obama chose this courageous path - wrote the whole speech himself - did not poll test it or
run it by a bunch of consultants - but spoke from the heart - with a clarity, and authority that perhaps he alone
in modern America could - was nothing short of remarkable.