NYT: William Safire Rips on Obama’s Convention Speech

Safire still comes out of retirement on occasion, when his blood hits a boil, to send his thoughts to the Op-Ed page.  I used to enjoy his writing when he was a regular contributor, but ever since the period shortly before his retirement, I feel he has lost his touch with the significance of events.

His criticism of Obama’s speech I feel largely suffers from the same poor focus.  As can be expected, Safire spends the brunt of the article focusing on diction and the allusions to political speeches past, and comes to the conclusion that the speech was bereft of substance.  And, as his choice of titles suggest (“The Audacity of Hype”?? That title must have been used a thousand times before by a thousand conversative blogs…), Safire feels that Obama’s convention speech was little more than an exercise in self-promotion (as opposed to policy-promotion).

And, as far as someone who did not watch the speech or any convention coverage can say, Safire is right.  But Safire actually looks at that as  some sort of disappointment.  I can understand if he feels it lacked oratory flourish (I have heard mostly overwhelmingly positive responses to Barack’s speech; certainly the crowds and accompanying energy could account for that), but to expect a bold policy outline or campaign focal point from Obama in the setting of the DNC party seems out-of-touch.  The greatest advantage Obama has over McCain is the one thing that CANNOT be missed even in mute when you watch Obama speak:  Enthusiasm.  People are not just going to vote for Barack Obama:  People are going to be naming their children Barack Obama. The last thing he needs to do is get specific and boring and make the DNC convention look like a John McCain rally.  Even if you don’t love Barack Obama, watching thousands in earnest adulation of him will shift your perspective a few degrees towards the left.

There are some other points that Safire made that warrant shorter comment, in no particular order:

• ““Don’t tell me that Democrats won’t keep us safe.” Who’s telling him that? By escalating criticism, he knocked down a straw man, the oldest speechifying trick in the book.”  I do not see how Safire could have missed at least 8 years of fearmongering by the Republican party, at all levels, suggesting that Democrats would make America more vulnerable to terrorists.  That is not a straw man, and it is extantly audacious and out-of-touch to suggest it is.
• “I don’t fit the typical pedigree.” He doesn’t.  And it does make people uncomfortable.  I would prefer if Obama elected not to mention it but I hope Safire isn’t suggesting the claim is illegitimate.  Safire was 19 years old when 30 states in the Union still technically held anti-miscegenation laws.  When young people think racism is long dead, I am mildly disappointed.  When someone who lived much of his adult life through a time of state-enforced racism claims racism is an artifact of some bygone era, I am outraged.  Let’s hope that wasn’t the case.
• McCain’s definition of middle-class as being those who make under $5,000,000/year… I absolutely agree with Safire.  This was a joke that those who are rooting for a Democractic victory in 2008 (Obama included, of course) have decided to take seriously.  Serious criticism could be made as to why McCain did not give a straight answer, but to act like John McCain thinks a departmental Vice President at Goldman Sachs, pulling perhaps $3m/year is “middle-class” is childish and lowers the level of discourse.  You can see a campaign manager salivating at the opportunity though.
• “Two Americas”:  this is where I feel Safire is most out-of-touch.  What is described by some as “class warfare” is not always a good political strategy, but in the current (declining) economic climate?  I think if it is utilized properly, it could guarantee Barack Obama the presidency.
• “Hubris”?  I think it’s fine to be a bit cocky if you want to be President.  Giving a televised address to millions of people is just as cocky whether you’re posing in front of a fake Grecian temple or a fucking Burger King.

… and the cow goes moo