Video of John McCain Speech - June 3, 2008
If this is the kind of speech John McCain intends to use to defeat Barack Obama, he has some serious problems. My 14 year old daughter said to me, “It sounds like he is trying to read a story but keeps making mistakes”. This speech was very difficult to watch. However, if you would like to see it, here it is…
What other bloggers are saying about this speech…
Did anybody else think it was jaw-dropping to hear John McCain, in Louisiana of all places, charge that Barack Obama subscribes to old thinking because he expects government to solve problems?
CARL CAMERON: John McCain has not been doing prime time speeches for the better part of two months. He’s been running solo and hasn’t had the national audience or taken the opportunity to reach it with any kind of speeches, so folks are going to be naturally comparing his style to Barack Obama, and he’s just not as glitzy. He’s working with a teleprompter, and often stumbles with it. Occasionally, you’ll sometimes see an awkward smile as he tries to connect with the audience but it sometimes feels a little bit off. He recognizes that, the campaign recognizes it, folks in the audience recognize it, and yet this is John McCain. He has always been this way. He’s not a particularly strong speaker. He believes that he communicate the core convictions .
This is worse than I thought. Barack Obama is going to win the general election’s first night and if McCain does not overhaul his entire operation, Obama will win in November as well. McCain’s political operation did not plan the speech properly, the candidate’s delivery is awful, and he does not seem to have a overarching philosophy to frame his ideas.
I’m listening to McCain speaking in New Orleans right now. I’m certainly not the most objective observer, but there’s something undeniably… gross about his tone and the jeering sounds coming from his audience.
The whole speech is one big, sarcastic cue for booing and mean-spirited laughter. This is today’s Republican Party, encapsulated perfectly. It’s downright ugly. So much for the happy-go-lucky “maverick” - the real John McCain is on full, hateful display tonight.
Is John McCain’s smile creepy?
I am trying to watch a McCain speech, but I can’t pay attention when he pauses and smiles. His smile is really creepy to me. Am I the only one?
This is meant to be a lightheated jab, and not a criticism of his politics (if I want to do that, I will post something more substantial!). This is not an endorsement of a Democratic candidate. It’s just an observation.
Also, someone in the crowd has a sign that says, “MAC ATTACK”. hmmm… is this from a supporter or a form of bad karma?
The only analyst that dared to speak the truth after the McCain speech was Jeffery Toobin…
Comments
Comment from Patricia
Time: June 4, 2008, 4:24 pm
I am asking myself right now, after obsessing all day long over that awful, awful speech, and that creepy delivery, why did it take me until now to seek validation in this type of venue?? My Obama voting friends did not bother to watch it. Are any McCain voters out there happy with this presentation? Maybe I really do not want the answer to that question …
Comment from Kelly
Time: June 4, 2008, 8:43 pm
Wow, sounded like a sit com where a prompter tells people when to clap and laugh. This is no comparison to either Obama’s or Clinton’s speeches. He lacks passion, mis-speaks, and is very dry. Too canned, and not spontaneous, not to mention it does not inspire me at all. What a joke.
Comment from Joe
Time: June 4, 2008, 9:19 pm
I’ve not decided yet on whom to support, but let’s give the guy a chance. It was a poor speech, but we need to listen more closely to the substance of what is being said than be influenced by how it is delivered. I would hazard a guess that many more great speakers turned out to be liars and tyrants than poor or modest speakers. The message is what is important.
Comment from Monika
Time: June 7, 2008, 8:33 pm
It is hard to focus on the substance of this speech because the delivery is so uncomfortable. As a disclaimer, I am a Democrat. However, I recognize that Ronald Reagan, for example, was an excellent orator. So was Bill Clinton, and so is Barack Obama. Unfortunately, John McCain is a painful orator. Even when he speaks in a less cagey and more casual context, he is still prone to inelegant delivery. George Bush has been hammered on his lack of this skill for the last 8 years. Call me old-fashioned, but I believe oration is an important skill for my president. It is how s/he presents him/herself to the media, and to leaders in other countries. I am not a McCain fan, but if he does get elected, I hope he actively works to improve this skill. I want America to look sharp to its citizens as well as those in other countries, and this type of oration is not conducive to this. If he plans a speech at the time Senator Obama does, he should be expected to be compared to him. Perhaps that itself was ill-advised.
Comment from Chris
Time: June 8, 2008, 7:02 pm
I guess this is why he is so much against diplomatic talks with our enemies. I certainly wouldn’t trust him to come out the winning party in such talks. I guess that’s why only combat seems like the way to end wars in his perspective.
Comment from John
Time: June 9, 2008, 2:05 pm
I don’t see McCain’s speech as just poorly prepared and very badly delivered. I see it as a sign of some kind of underlying personality disorder.
Comment from Will
Time: June 9, 2008, 4:44 pm
Man, he just looks and sounds like an old man.
Comment from Joseph
Time: June 4, 2008, 11:19 am
Thank you thank you thank you. I was watching last night in utter disbelief. It did confirm, however, one thing to me. I will NOT be voting for McCain in the general election. I saw too much of the same cocky arrogance of our current president except this time the guy looked like a villain of Batman.