Slate editor calls Obama speech style 'fascistic'

[billbuckhead]

Slate editor calls Obama speech style 'fascistic'
Michael Roston
Published: Monday February 4, 2008

While the speaking style of Barack Obama has been called inspirational by many observers, a top editor for a major opinion leading publication in Washington issued a serious criticism of the senator's public persona last Friday. The deputy editor of a major online magazine spent time in a weekly podcast explaining how the style of Senator Barack Obama shares much in common with the speech of fascist dictators like Benito Mussolini.

"That's slightly fascistic," David Plotz, the deputy editor at Slate.com said in the magazine's weekly podcast when one of his fellow editors brought up Obama's style. "That's a very, like, let's rally the nation. I don't want to be rallied."
----------snip----------------
<http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Slate_editor_calls_Obama_speech_style_0204.html>

Oh my! :spray:

[kurth]

1. Il Duce Obama?

"Crowds act independently of rationality"

[psychopomp]

43. I don't think so

I think he is running a full-bore, marketing campaign in order to control the dialog and keep the issue of his race off the table. I am a bit unnerved because it is precisely the kind of movement politics that appeals to Americans.

His signing of this commitment makes me feel a bit better about his style on the stump:

CLINTON WON'T COMMIT TO RENEW CONSTITUTION...
Illinois Senator Barack Obama has finally signed the American Freedom Pledge, joining his fellow Democratic presidential candidates in encouraging the restoration of basic Constitutional principles after the battering they have taken during the Bush-Cheney era.

All the Democrats, that is, except New York Senator Hillary Clinton.

The effort to get presidential contenders to sign on the American Freedom Pledge has been promoted by organizations ranging from the Center for Constitutional Rights to Human Rights Watch, MoveOn.org , Amnesty International USA, the Brennan Center for Justice, the Campaign to Defend the Constitution, the Electronic Frontier Foundation and True Majority.

The pledge is anything but radical. It simply asks candidates to affirm a statement that reads: "We are Americans, and in our America we do not torture, we do not imprison people without charge or legal remedy, we do not tap people's phones and emails without a court order, and above all we do not give any President unchecked power. I pledge to fight to protect and defend the Constitution from attack by any President."

edit: forgot the link http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=239574

[cooolandrew]

2. This writer must look up facistic, the power of the people is anything but that. They do try.

[pauldg0]

38. Folks....................

I have been saying it over and over and over and over again. The young and the naive are being taken advantage of.

Obama gives a great speech, but has very very empty rhetoric.

Young ones, please listen to Obama closely.

FOR YOUR COUNTRY !!!

Vote tomorrow for John Edwards. He still in on most ballots.

Go over his speeches, then I challenge you to listen to John Edwards speeches on his site.

I pray you don't vote for Obama.

[ursi]

57. Wow, I thought Bush was the facist speaker! How did I get it so wrong?

[robbedvoter]

70. W is a fascist. But no speaker.

[Ediacara]

75. What's a facist? Is that someone who discriminated based on faces?

If you're going to slam someone for not knowing what a fascist is, learn how to spell it first..

[Azathoth]

3. "I don't wanted to be rallied"

I guess he wants to remain cynical and disillusioned.

[BlackVelvet04]

23. More like sane,

rational and grounded in reality.

[Azathoth]

25. No, I mean calculating and emotionless, the essence of the Hillary campaign n/t

[BlackVelvet04]

40. As opposed to goosebumpy and immature....

the essence of the Obama campaign.

[Azathoth]

42. Ah, so hope and inspiration are "immature" -- someone better tell MLK, JFK, Ghandi, etc.

n/t

[BlackVelvet04]

44. I think you are being deliberately obtuse....

hope and inspiration are wonderful but they don't trump reality. The reality is Obama is unvetted and the republicans are just waiting with stuff like this: http://www.obamatruth.org/

Yes, Hillary has negatives but we know the negatives. She has fought and won against the republicans. Obama is fresh meat for them.

I DON'T HATE OBAMA. His supporters are on my last nerve but I don't have them either. I'm frustrated that they will not look at what's out there to be used against him and realize that this isn't a game, this isn't about who talks the best. Why would I WANT to see a Democratic candidate go down in flames? I don't want that, but I've seen this before and the crash and burn is coming. Support him but give him time to fight the fights and be ready. I know, I KNOW, you guys think he's ready and you're ready and it's exciting. I KNOW. Been there and done that. It's not about lack of hope, it's about knowing and having experienced this kind of thing before.

You guys are gambling with 4 - 8 mores years of the republicans.

I'm done. Good night.

[Indenturedebtor]

47. Done reading the thread when I read your post

well said. Over and done with.

And I normally read all the way to the bottom.

Lead, follow, or get out of the way. It's time.

[rodeodance]

55. good, lets never talk again about her sentimental moments!

[Radical Activist]

4. Yes, all Democrats should sound boring and fake. Like Hillary, Kerry and Gore.

That has been working very well for us.
:eyes:

[chascarrillo]

5. My short, scary career as a sperm donor.. - David Plotz

http://www.slate.com/id/2119998/

Just so we know the level of journalism we're talking about here.

[Mojambo]

6. It would be more nationalistic than fascistic, IMO

I don't think it's either, btw.

[stevietheman]

7. And Plotz is "slightly racist". n/t

n/t

[in_cog_ni_to]

13. Flinging that race card at the drop of a hat is NOT going to help your candidate.

I suggest you knock it off.

[stevietheman]

32. It's not at the drop of a hat.... calling Obama fascistic is RACIST and...

you know it!!!!!!!!

[in_cog_ni_to]

45. It is NOT! FUCK! BUSH is the fascist Mascot of DU! WTF are you talking about? Do you even know?!

:crazy:

[gaspee]

51. How the hell

Is calling someone a fascist racist? Do you even know what that means? Do you even know who the most powerful fascists were?

Let me give you a hint. Three white guys. Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini. Let me say it again. Three white guys.

So, are you genuinely dumb and uneducated or are you being facetious? I seriously want to know.

If you are the product of the American public educational system and you're serious, then I am very, very scared.

How can you think fascist is racist? WTF?

[Usrename]

71. Because the writer would NEVER call a white guy a fascist.

It's very simple, really, and it has more to do with xenophobia and bigotry than you want to admit.

All things being equal, the writer would never call a white guy who believes in hope for America's future a fascist. NEVER.

It's like trying to make sense of the term Islamofascism. It's the exact same thing.

I know these hood-wearing fools, I grew up with them. I'm related to some of them. These racists do exist.

If you don't acknowledge the racism, then how else do you explain it? Is Obama speaking German or Russian or Italian? It's racist to it's core, and it would NEVER be tolerated if it were said about ANY white guy with the exact same message. You are just wrong about this one.

[gaspee]

72. Huhwhah?

You make ZERO sense. None. Screaming racism about everything is ridiculous. Racism is real and pernicious - this is not it.

You're so very very wrong that you make no sense what so ever.

So, who are the two biggest fascists in this country? Who is called a fascist all over this board? Cheney and Bush. Ever heard of them? White dudes.

You crazy.

[Usrename]

73. Is that the criteria for identifying a racist statement? That it be true?

You are in serious denial here. It's not racist as long as it isn't true. Right? Is that your argument?

The editor, Plotz, wasn't calling Bush or Cheney a fascist, that would be a correct usage of the term, and of course that wouldn't be racist. Do you really think that he was trying to compare Obama to Bush or Cheney? Seriously? Is that what you think this is really about? Is anyone really that stupid? I don't think so, not if they can read and write, but I do know people who are that bigoted.

You are the one who maybe needs to get a grip.

[gaspee]

78. Yeah, right

Idiot. Every white person's a racist, you're right. Moron.

[Usrename]

82. So you think someone was honestly making that comparison?

Comparing Obama to Bush or Cheney or Mussolini or Stalin? And why? Because he's well-spoken! Right! Move along!

I still think you're kidding yourself.

[lumberjack_jeff]

65. Give us a break. Really. n/t

[Hawkowl]

69. Que?!?!?

Explain?

[ArkySue]

17. There you go again....

:eyes:

[stevietheman]

33. Yeah, go ahead and defend the radical calling Obama a fascist. n/t

n/t

[Jamastiene]

56. How the fuck can you claim that?

Fascists have always gone after people of color.

[AX10]

8. It is more nationalistic.

Still, it is bothersome to me.

[BootinUp]

15. It just doesn't appeal to me.

I can enjoy his speeches taken in limited doses. But it is not the style that gets me fired up really. I think I prefer policy wonks, and something a little more natural conversation sounding.

[AX10]

20. Same here.

[gaspee]

50. The preachy

Style does not appeal to me AT ALL. I can't listen to his speeches because he sounds like he's preaching. Haven't we already had a preacher in chief in the Whitehouse?

I sure don't want another one.

Sometimes, I think I'm more discriminated against for my atheism than for being gay.

His style really grates.

[LittleBlue]

9. The Slate Editor sounds like a Nazi

See! I can do it too!

[MadBadger]

10. 5 rec's for Obama is fascist in his speaking...wow.

[Skip Intro]

11. Now that you mention it...

The fact that he's been so vague on so many issues, the fact that his entire campaign seems built on hard to define words like "hope" and "change" and "believe" with slogans like "yes we can" does leave one wondering what he really would do as president.

Some may not like where Hillary stands on some issues, but at least she takes stands, and you don't have to guess about what her goals are as president.

Interesting - hadn't considered this take on Obama, but now must ponder it.

[billbuckhead]

18. I always thought he was like Joel Osteen with a much darker edge

I hate preacher style speakers with a passion.

[Didereaux]

12. not fascistic, but definitely evangelistic! just as scary when you think about it.

[Neshanic]

14. Wow. That one is going to leave a mark.

[BootinUp]

16. Yeah, that may haunt the Editor too at some point. lol.

[billbuckhead]

19. Just a job interview for Fox News

I guess some of the RepuKKKes propagandists couldn't help themselves and just had to break the embargo.

[BootinUp]

21. lol. I guess youre right.

[southern_dem]

22. He should have gone all the way

and played the Hitler card too. :eyes: For God's sake, how much do idiots like him get payed to spout this crap?

[Redstone]

24. And we should give a flying fuck what a "Slate Editor" thinks, exactly why?

Redstone

[billbuckhead]

26. It's at the top of the page of rawstory is why

I guess some of the RepuKKKe propagandists had to show off and break the embargo and tip their hand on some meme's.

[Occam Bandage]

27. OMG OBAMA IS THE FASCIST

[billbuckhead]

28. Just like the Clinton's are racists!

Welcome to swiftboating 101!

[Azathoth]

30. Give it up. Bill is running around apologizing in black churches for his behavior

Stop trying to defend the indefensible.

[Occam Bandage]

31. "Welcome to swiftboating!"

I particularly enjoy the type of forum troll who acts like his trolling is actually some sort of initiation ceremony, or perhaps some sort of righteous turnabout.

You're being a cock. The fact that some Obama supporters have been cocks does not change that.

[billbuckhead]

34. Obama supporters like this?

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESsaVSTSYxQ>

[Occam Bandage]

35. I much prefer this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0

[gasoline highway]

29. I love how you leave out the modifying "slightly" fascistic...Typical and dissapointing

[Scriptor Ignotus]

36. that's a typo

he meant "fantastic".

[billbuckhead]

41. Yeah, somebody pushed the wrong button!

:rofl:

[gaspee]

52. LOL!

You crack me up!

[blogslut]

37. meh

...

[ProSense]

39. Come back to

reality

[ErnestoG]

46. Slate has their good days, and bad days.

Mostly they like to shit on popular perceptions...whether they are correct or not.

[smalll]

48. It's a fair comment, believe it or not. No, the O-man's not Hitler,

but he does share Mussolini's political aesthetic and rhetoric. By the way, here's something that popped up quickly in a Google image search - from the O-man's own site:

Very Benito-like: Barack even looks like a young, slim Benito in that poster. Also note the sans-serif lettering: usually very rare in the United States. Much more commonly found in Britain, maybe elsewhere as well. It's all part of the kind of streamlined (yet retro) 21st century pseudo-fascist ambiance you get from Obama's campaign. That kind of font makes me think of the 20s and 30s in Europe. It's redolent of railway signs and railway stations (the trains will run on time!) Or Oswald Mosley. Or Ian McKellen as Richard III played as a between-the-wars fascist usurper (anyone else see that movie?)

[Stand and Fight]

49. I call this editor's words a bit "bullshitastic".

However, I do feel that a lot of people are being pulled into an obvious cult of personality with Obama. We've seen this before....

[gaspee]

53. Agreed

I wouldn't use fascist to describe his style. More Evangelical (which I have a real problem with) preaching. Snake oil salesman, maybe. I can't stand that preaching style of speechifying. It bothers me when any of the candidates slip into it.

[Stand and Fight]

54. My wife isn't at all political, but...

When an Obama clip was played on the radio today and I emulated his method of trying to speak like a down-home black preacher -- both my wife and our four-month old laughed it up pretty big... :D

[aquart]

58. It is.

Is Sieg Heil! all that different from YES WE CAN! ???

[PerpetuallyDazed]

59. I think there's a fine line between fascist speech and political rhetoric...

It's all very similar, just like Obama & Clinton! Truly, they are two peas in the same pod.

[KaptBunnyPants]

60. Also, Obama doesn't smoke.

Just like Hitler.

[alcibiades_mystery]

61. Nice speech Hitler

;-)

[Elspeth]

62. I don't know about fascistic, but I DO feel like I'm being asked to buy a bad used car

Lots of smoke and mirrors, little substance.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

63. Ted Sorenson is a fantastic speech writer...he can make anybody sound like JFK'...oh wait....

HE WAS JFK's SPEECH WRITER

[aein]

64. I heard that podcast

It was a very off-the-cuff remark. Plotz actually supports Obama.

[lumberjack_jeff]

66. His style, his delivery and his appeals to "hope" and "inspiration"

Are calculated to obfuscate the almost complete absence of any substantive policy proposals. The Obama campaign is the popularity contest writ large.

The only time he rises from his moratorium on substance is when he attacks the indispensible parts of his opponents policy.

The hope he offers is a hope that the people he would appoint to key positions would have some effective policy ideas. Fairly slim hope.

[SOS]

67. This imbecile can't tell the difference between

an inspiring orator and a fascist.
What a disgrace.

[NashVegas]

68. Heaven Forbid the Masses Get Rallied

The elite class is horrified of the idea of another Reign of Terror.

[Perry Logan]

74. No way Obama is fascistic. But some of his followers seem to be authoritarian personality types.

This would explain their use of winger tactics, e.g., character assassination, constant false accusations.

[sniffa]

76. Ah, so nice to see you losing your shit

It makes me feel almost as good as last night's results. :spray:

[Sparkly]

77. I didn't realize Slate has editors who are idiots.

:shrug:

[Doctor_J]

79. "I don't want to be rallied"

I want to beaten into submission, to a state where I never question anything and swallow whatever Big Media shoots inot my mouth.

A fascist calling someone fascist. Ouch

[DarienComp]

80. So I read the article...

and i'm stumped. What exactly about Obama's speeches are fascistic? Because the article certain doesn't explain why and I can't listen to the podcast right now...

[Doctor_J]

81. I think this loser has nightmares of hoardes of the great unwashed Obamans carrying torches

and demanding workers' rights, health care, open government, and the closing of the School of the Assassins. The worst possible world for the elite in this nation.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

83. I think you have to think with your heart vs. your brain to appreciate Obama

n/t