I wrote last time about how I felt Obama needed to find something special for his conference speech – something that would transcend the actual the actual speech itself. I have to confess that when I wrote this I’d actually forgotten that the speech would be given on the anniversary of Martin Luther Kings “I have a dream“. Well, that says it all, doesn’t it, about what I mean… the fact that I can refer to the speech by that one simple phrase and you know what I mean.
Obama himself quoted such a moment of romantic transcendence when he started to recite “We hold these truths to be self evident; that all men were created equal”.
But did he find his own?
It’s too early to say because – by definition – such a phrase has to stand the test of time but there are a couple of ‘early contenders’ as it were (and it’s interesting to note the intro music, U2’s City of Blinding Lights!)
“We are a better country…”
“eight is enough!”
“he just doesn’t get it”
“Now is the time….”
“It’s about you”
“America, we can not turn back!”
My personal opinion is that none of these will quite make it – it’s a great speech, I’ve watched it through – but there’s not the one key killer phrase I was looking for. Maybe I’ve just missed it. Maybe he won’t need it.
Of course, I’m not suggesting that his speech – or any speech for that matter – should be a simple string of sound-bites (and I don’t think Obama’s speech was that!) but to help pass the message quickly and effectively a moment of romantic transcendence will certainly help! :)
