Shouldn't the Origins Put You Off?
By matersfish
@matersfish (6306)
United States
February 12, 2013 11:23pm CST
This isn't only about Obama. It's about every politician to ever employ a speechwriter.
We're supposed to be trusting of politicians and believe what they say. We're supposed to believe they're genuine. And while there are certainly enough people that loathe President Obama, there are just as many people who fawn over the guy and cling to his every word as if his pitch and tone vibrate inside the ear until climax is obtained.
But, seriously, wtf? How can you take anyone seriously if they have a speechwriter?
I don't care if they sit down and go over the material with a fine-toothed comb and make suggestions. And I don't want to hear that "busy" line.
One of my favorite singers ever is George Straight. The man has close to 60 #1 hit singles! He's the most successful solo act in history in that regard, surpassing the likes of Elvis and Frank Sinatra. When the Justin Biebers of the world finally go through puberty and fizzle out, King George will still be King George.
But he doesn't write his songs. You can say you love his voice and that he's a fantastic performer. You can fawn over his looks, his swag, melt when he hits a low note, and throw your panties on the stage if you can stave off the fainting spell. His delivery might make him seem very believable. But when he sings a song like "I Cross My Heart," he's not the one crossing it. It's the writer. George didn't write that. He's acting the part.
Does this bother anyone else but me? None of the stuff these bozo politicians say comes from the heart. It's a montage of different previously polled-well phrases and buzz words strewn together with a few fluffy adjectives, creating some luscious purple prose that they actually have to read off a prompter while keeping a straight face.
At least with a musician it's only for entertainment. With a politician, they're the ones charged with making and changing policies. And it's hard for me to buy that they're ever genuine in their words when "their" words aren't even their words.
1 person likes this
6 responses
@Christoph56 (1504)
• Canada
13 Feb 13
I was thinking about the King George part too, like others with him just being the tops of country music, blah blah blah... For that I think more of people like Brittney Spears, she's gotten awards, she's been huge for years and years, and everything is written for her, she just preforms it.
But for the President, it's a bit different. It is professional scriptwriters that write out what he says, but the message that he's getting across and the whole point of what he's saying comes from his personal team. He's a leader in politics and working with the country to do better, but he's not a professional speech writer. They take the concepts that the team comes up with, and work it together in a way that can really get to all the people listening. If it was just him doing the writing, there would be loads of flaws and errors, so why not get someone else to perfect it?
The singer is told, "Just sing this", the president is asked, "What do you want to say to the people?". I think the two are quite different from eachother.
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
13 Feb 13
To your point about a president having professionals just touch up their personal sentiment, that's something I wish I could believe. I'm too cynical to buy that these politicians actually mean even 5% of it at the end of the day.
I don't care about the flaws and errors personally. We're not reading the speech. We're hearing it. If a person said "that" instead of "which" or couldn't think of a multi-syllable adjective or add unique and touching phrasing to a thought, I'd feel even better knowing that it was from their heart.
I see the two as different from each other in one regard. Politicians actually create policy. 
Other than that, I see politicians as part of the entertainment industry.
Never forget: They have to win a popularity contest to hold office. If they can't be the Justin Biebers and Elvis' and Brittney Spears' of the world, they can't make a living and would have to actually use those fancy diplomas to work and spend their own money on vacations and private schools and security and housing and travel.
And they have to keep their popularity up if they're hoping to slip the ball with their left hand while grabbing money with their right.
Thanks for the response.
Other than that, I see politicians as part of the entertainment industry.
Never forget: They have to win a popularity contest to hold office. If they can't be the Justin Biebers and Elvis' and Brittney Spears' of the world, they can't make a living and would have to actually use those fancy diplomas to work and spend their own money on vacations and private schools and security and housing and travel.
And they have to keep their popularity up if they're hoping to slip the ball with their left hand while grabbing money with their right.
Thanks for the response.@matersfish (6306)
• United States
13 Feb 13
This President only has that long to set up a speech, because he gives so damn many of them. 
They all know the SOTU is coming, though.
The loads of people getting behind them must see the issue as you see it.
I don't.
Maybe because I'm a writer, though. I've obviously never had a writing assignment to even rival speech-writing for a politician on even a local level, much less the Presidency. That'd be the pinnacle for a speechwriter. But I have ghostwrote a lot of material for online businesses looking to push their products. And the things that I'm saying about the brand to promote it are used as if the brand is saying them. But they're not saying them. They paid me to say them.
Their customers all believe they're genuine, but I know the truth. I've had the back-and-forth in email. I've had them say, "Well, this term seems to do better with the niche," and "Let's try to dismiss the competition without being nasty," and so on.
So they have some ideas. They're still in charge of the business. But they're only representing the thought. They didn't come up with it. And they're only willing to say what will boost their brand. Oftentimes that means you must outright lie or, at the very least, misrepresent your own stance and your competition.
I don't care if a speech can be picked apart. It's going to be regardless. I'd rather feel the heart and soul of a politician's words. As it stands, they come across like puppets.
If you or anyone else see Obama or any other political figure as genuine, I won't begrudge that. But when I hear the guy speak, all that goes through my mind is how great it would be to have the speechwriter as President and the President as an ex-President. (And that obviously goes for most politicians.)
They all know the SOTU is coming, though.
The loads of people getting behind them must see the issue as you see it.
I don't.
Maybe because I'm a writer, though. I've obviously never had a writing assignment to even rival speech-writing for a politician on even a local level, much less the Presidency. That'd be the pinnacle for a speechwriter. But I have ghostwrote a lot of material for online businesses looking to push their products. And the things that I'm saying about the brand to promote it are used as if the brand is saying them. But they're not saying them. They paid me to say them.
Their customers all believe they're genuine, but I know the truth. I've had the back-and-forth in email. I've had them say, "Well, this term seems to do better with the niche," and "Let's try to dismiss the competition without being nasty," and so on.
So they have some ideas. They're still in charge of the business. But they're only representing the thought. They didn't come up with it. And they're only willing to say what will boost their brand. Oftentimes that means you must outright lie or, at the very least, misrepresent your own stance and your competition.
I don't care if a speech can be picked apart. It's going to be regardless. I'd rather feel the heart and soul of a politician's words. As it stands, they come across like puppets.
If you or anyone else see Obama or any other political figure as genuine, I won't begrudge that. But when I hear the guy speak, all that goes through my mind is how great it would be to have the speechwriter as President and the President as an ex-President. (And that obviously goes for most politicians.)@Christoph56 (1504)
• Canada
13 Feb 13
Its not about saying which or that, its more like if he said, "I believe in freedom", or "Everyone should have their freedom". The first one is more self-centered, and it doesn't hold weight since it's just what he believes, but it shows he has a passion for it. The second one shows that he cares for the majority, and he wants to push for it, which could mean to the people that he wants the big corporations to have power. Every line can have a completely different meaning when it's changed around just a little, so every line of his speech has to be fully analyzed and perfected, and the president of one of the most powerful countries in the world just doesn't have time to go through every line of his speech.
Think of it like when a student has to go up for their final lecture about a project they've been working on for months to years, and then take questions from the committee. That kind of piece takes forever to set up perfectly, and it's the main focus of their entire project. The president has more like a day to a week to prepare his speech, which needs to have just as much to it, only the committee he's speaking to isn't a small group, it's every American citizen, and people around the world. It only makes sense that he gets a load of help for it.
And, they can't be so popular, if they don't have loads of people behind them to help them be more popular.
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
13 Feb 13
Nice trolling attempt. Read my response to Burrito88.
Thanks for the response.
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
13 Feb 13
Well you know I wasn't comparing them. It's a fact that George Strait has the world record for #1 hits. I only used him for an example of a popular singer that doesn't write his own material.
Now maybe Burrito can come back and I can chat there some more.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
13 Feb 13
I am at a loss why any person would believe a politician and why they think they write their own speeches. I can't believe they keep electing these clowns when they can clearly see that they don't keep their promises.
I can't believe that America has gotten this far when it's populated by such naive idiots that don't know how to use the brains God gave them. They might be brilliant financiers, doctors, or just good workers and family people but when it comes to politics they are brainless idiots. They don't care if a politician writes his own speeches--as long as he or she makes them feel warm and fuzzy they'll sacrifice their own dignity and their children's futures to get the jerk into office and keep him there.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
13 Feb 13
Yep, sometimes we get fixated on a certain statement or reference and that's all we can think about, especially if one of our favorites is "maligned". Sometimes it takes me a couple of reads to focus on the main point but I thought you were crystal clear about the point in this discussion. People just get distracted. 
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
13 Feb 13
I see I'm not alone in my disdain for this level of the Actors Guild that goes virtually untouched by this particular criticism!
I'm finding it harder and harder to see any politician in the mainstream as a genuine person. As I pay closer attention, everything about them just stands out as pure phoniness.
And I think you nailed it: People, by and large, just want to feel warm and fuzzy.
My suggestion would be to listen to George Strait for that feeling, or Elvis, OF COURSE, since two responders here are already under the impression that I said Elvis sucks. And thanks for not trolling in that regard. I was beginning to lose faith that people could actually read.
Thanks for the response.
And thanks for not trolling in that regard. I was beginning to lose faith that people could actually read.
Thanks for the response.1 person likes this
@burrito88 (2774)
• United States
13 Feb 13
Once a politician gives a speech its his words regardless of who wrong the speech.
George Strait had close 60 #1 hits on the country charts which is not the Billboard 100. Elvis has sold over 2.5 Billion records which is more than any group or solo artist.
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
13 Feb 13
And the Billboard charts aren't the country charts. What's your point in that particular regard? Not understanding it. A hit is a hit is a hit. There are also international charts and pop-specific charts and rock charts and gospel charts, etc.
Anyway, it's too early in the a.m. to get bogged down with confusion over quibbles.
As far as your point about words becoming someone else's -- okay.
Once a politician gives a speech its his words regardless of who wrong the speech.
Not exactly how I would have wrote that sentence, but now it's mine. I claim not only the words but also the thought behind it and I'll present these words around as if I thought them up and actually mean them.
Thank you very much. And thanks for the response.
@burrito88 (2774)
• United States
13 Feb 13
The country charts only cover a portion of the music industry. The Billboard 100 covers everything. Besides has George Strait sold 2.5 Billion records?
When Colin Powell spoke before the UN regarding Iraq having weapons of mass destruction, there were inaccuracies in the speech. At least Colin Powell admitted as such later.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
13 Feb 13
They (politicians) are all actors on a stage, telling us a story they hope we buy into, taking our money and waiting for the applause.
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
14 Feb 13
There's at least 51% of the people buying in all these stories from every one of them.
I can't tell which lines they really believe and which lines their staff members told the speechwriter polled well -- like, for instance, changing the word "spend" to "invest."
Thanks for the response.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
13 Feb 13
I am not a speech writer but I do write for a lot of people. I believe that politicians and their speechwriters have a good understanding and let's face it, they are part of the PR machine of the any politician. Remember that any speech made by a politicians is designed to be political and bias. If there was only objectivity in their speeches , many of them will not be elected the second time around.
I agree that many politicians don't mean what they say. But nonetheless, they have to speak and speak favorably for their side or their own interests. That's the reaosn why I don't tune in my country's SONA (the equivalent of your SOTU). The speechwriter is their make them look and good and make sure that every word that the politician utters is perfect because who wants to listen to a rambling guy?
You mentioned a singer (sorry not familiar with him) which writes his own songs and makes records in the music industry. However, it's difficult to compare a material written to express one's self and emotions and a material designed to appeal to a much larger audience with some political innuendos.
These people at are the political helm and yes, there are not exactly the most honest and objective people in society. But they are into selling their ideology and politics so it isn't really surprising.
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
13 Feb 13
Everything you said in the first two paragraphs is what I completely understand. I don't have a beef with it. It's just when a politician looks me--and you and all the people--in the eye and delivers a great line or really touches your heart with a speech, I see that in the same way I see....okay, wait. I'll use an actor example instead.
I get the same feeling from a politician's speech as I get from the wisdom Alfred drops in The Dark Knight Rises. At the end of the day, I understand it's an actor reading someone's lines.
The acting impresses me if it's good, but I don't believe Michael Caine is dropping that wisdom. I know it's a part he's playing coupled with the lines someone is writing.
It definitely isn't surprising. They all do it. I'm just wondering why more people aren't distrusting of words that aren't the politicians' words.
Thanks for the response.
