Obama’s Use of Complete Sentences Stirs Controversy

Family Guy · 11-30-08, 05:44 PM

We're in trouble now! Circle the wagons we have to stop this blatant attempt by Obama to "dumb up" America!

Quote:

Obama’s Use of Complete Sentences Stirs Controversy
Truthdig - Reports - Obama’s Use of Complete Sentences Stirs Controversy
Posted on Nov 24, 2008

By Andy Borowitz

In the first two weeks after the election, President-elect Barack Obama has broken with a tradition established over the last eight years through his controversial use of complete sentences, political observers say.

Millions of Americans who watched Mr. Obama’s appearance on CBS’s “Sixty Minutes” last Sunday witnessed the president-elect’s unorthodox verbal tic, which had Mr. Obama employing grammatically correct sentences virtually every time he opened his mouth.

But Mr. Obama’s decision to use complete sentences in his public pronouncements carries with it certain risks, since after the last eight years many Americans may find his odd speaking style jarring.

According to presidential historian Davis Logsdon of the University of Minnesota, some Americans might find it “alienating” to have a president who speaks English as if it were his first language.

“Every time Obama opens his mouth, his subjects and verbs are in agreement,” says Mr. Logsdon. “If he keeps it up, he is running the risk of sounding like an elitist.”

The historian said that if Mr. Obama insists on using complete sentences in his speeches, the public may find itself saying, “OK, subject, predicate, subject, predicate—we get it, stop showing off.”

The president-elect’s stubborn insistence on using complete sentences has already attracted a rebuke from one of his harshest critics, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska.

“Talking with complete sentences there and also too talking in a way that ordinary Americans like Joe the Plumber and Tito the Builder can’t really do there, I think needing to do that isn’t tapping into what Americans are needing also,” she said.

Truthdig - Obama’s Use of Complete Sentences Stirs Controversy

American · 11-30-08, 05:56 PM

I think we need to check with new era to make sure this source is good.

Family Guy · 11-30-08, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by American

I think we need to check with new era to make sure this source is good.

Whose not going to miss the good old days of broken English a la Bush?

Quips:
""We look forward to analyzing and working with legislation that will make--it would hope--put a free press's mind at ease that you're not being denied information you shouldn't see." --G.W. Bush, Washington, D.C., April 14, 2005

"I want to thank you for the importance that you've shown for education and literacy." --G.W. Bush, Washington, D.C., April 13, 2005

"We got a problem. And it is plain to see. It is such a problem that in the year 2042, the system is going to be broke."

"Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB/GYN's aren't able to practice their love with women all across the country." --George W. Bush, Sept. 6, 2004, Poplar Bluff, Mo.

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we," he said. "They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." Washington, D.C. 08.05.04

Rick · 11-30-08, 06:37 PM

Complete sentences unless the teleprompter goes out, in which case we get

"uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh ......."

Family Guy · 11-30-08, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Complete sentences unless the teleprompter goes out, in which case we get

"uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh ......."

As if....jealous are you that the Democrats again have another truly articulate and intelligent President versus George W. Bush?

Rick · 11-30-08, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Family Guy

As if....jealous are you that the Democrats again have another truly articulate and intelligent President versus George W. Bush?

Obama appears articulate only to the simple-minded and the frenzied obamabot. He uses glittering generalities and evasive answers - not that the lib media ever tried to nail him down. He turns into a quivering speechless mess when his teleprompter goes down. The "intelligent" is pure blather that has been repeated forever but has absolutely no basis in fact. The election is over - spare everyone the warmed-over election campaign crapola, OK?

American · 11-30-08, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Family Guy

As if....jealous are you that the Democrats again have another truly articulate and intelligent President versus George W. Bush?

We'll see what kind of president he is. You've already got him at god level before the oath of office. It's highly likely we'll be making you eat your words and your votes, but I'll wait.

Family Guy · 11-30-08, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Obama appears articulate only to the simple-minded and the frenzied obamabot. He uses glittering generalities and evasive answers - not that the lib media ever tried to nail him down. He turns into a quivering speechless mess when his teleprompter goes down. The "intelligent" is pure blather that has been repeated forever but has absolutely no basis in fact. The election is over - spare everyone the warmed-over election campaign crapola, OK?

Would you please post links to where President Obama turned into "a quivering speechless mess"?

How would you define a sore loser in this past Presidential election?

Family Guy · 11-30-08, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by American

We'll see what kind of president he is. You've already got him at god level before the oath of office. It's highly likely we'll be making you eat your words and your votes, but I'll wait.

God level? Nope, just INTELLIGENT. While I understand that a mere mortal with an above average intelligence level seems god-like compared to still President Bush it is you making that assertion.

Soon to be President Obama hasn't started yet you're predicting a giant fall. What is that based on other than your dislike for Obama and Democrats?

SWM · 11-30-08, 08:35 PM

Heh, I got a few genuine chuckles out of that. A part of me will miss Bush's panicky fumblings in his early office years. He's actually improved substantially (relatively speaking) since he's settled into his second term. The man is not nearly as funny anymore.

11-30-08, 05:56 PM	#2
American Constitutionalist Join Date: Mar 2006 Last Seen: Yesterday 05:33 AM Location: VA Posts: 14,794 Thanks: 2,994 Thanked 2,959 Times in 2,053 Posts Lean: Conservative Gender:	Re: Obama’s Use of Complete Sentences Stirs Controversy I think we need to check with new era to make sure this source is good.
	__________________ "Laws are made for men of ordinary understanding and should, therefore, be construed by the ordinary rules of common sense. Their meaning is not to be sought for in metaphysical subtleties which may make anything mean everything or nothing at pleasure." -- Thomas Jefferson יהוה

11-30-08, 06:37 PM	#4
Rick Educator Join Date: Jul 2007 Last Seen: 12-13-08 02:27 AM Posts: 948 Thanks: 1 Thanked 89 Times in 73 Posts Lean: Conservative Gender:	Re: Obama’s Use of Complete Sentences Stirs Controversy Complete sentences unless the teleprompter goes out, in which case we get "uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh ......."

11-30-08, 08:35 PM	#10
SWM Advisor Join Date: Nov 2008 Last Seen: 01-20-10 06:44 PM Location: If love was cow blood, I'd be a slaugterhouse. Posts: 310 Thanks: 110 Thanked 103 Times in 73 Posts Lean: Slightly Liberal Gender:	Re: Obama’s Use of Complete Sentences Stirs Controversy Heh, I got a few genuine chuckles out of that. A part of me will miss Bush's panicky fumblings in his early office years. He's actually improved substantially (relatively speaking) since he's settled into his second term. The man is not nearly as funny anymore.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

LinkBacks (?) LinkBack to this Thread: http://www.debatepolitics.com/archives/40618-obama-s-use-complete-sentences-stirs-controversy.html
Posted By	For	Type	Date
WASALive ! Obama opens	This thread	Refback	12-03-08 12:34 PM
presidential campaign speech \| Digg hot tags	This thread	Pingback	12-02-08 11:12 AM