Obama’s inability to communicate fluently in English
by tdaxp ~ July 21st, 2008
One of the similarities between Bush II (George W.) and Bush III (Barack H.) is that neither show evidnece of being able to speak English extemporaneously.
The Weekly Standard
Obama is also shunning the foreign press, according to Christoph von Marschall, Washington bureau chief for Berlin’s Der Tagesspiegel. LGF’s Charles Johnson says that Obama’s “staff is desperately worried that the candidate will make a gaffe, as soon as he ventures into uncharted territory. Foreign reporters tend to ask questions about…you know…foreign stuff.” And Protein Wisdom’s Karl adds, “Mr. von Marschall should not be surprised, inasmuch as hubris and control-freakishness are increasingly hallmarks of the Obama campaign.”And on Sunday we learned that it might be to Obama’s advantage to avoid the press. Face the Nation aired Lara Logan’s interview with the candidate, in which he said that “the objective of this trip was to have substantive discussions with people like President Karzai or Prime Minister Maliki or President Sarkozy or others who I expect to be dealing with over the next eight to 10 years.” (Video at Hot Air.)
Of course, Obama’s inability to speak English doesn’t mean he’s relatively unintelligent for a national-level professional. There’s plenty of other evidence for that, already.
July 21st, 2008 at 12:28 pm
8 to 10. President-for-Life Obama? One man, one vote, one time?
He fails the Quayle Test every day, but never gets called on it.
July 21st, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Much of the religious right gave Bush a past because he spoke in coded language that evoked evangelical Christianity. The content of his words mattered less than the code the were delivered in.
A similar thing is true of Obama. Much of the progressive left gives him a pass, because he speaks in coded language that evokes multiculturalism. The content of the words matter less than the code they are delivered in.
Nice post on the Quayle Test [1], by the way.
[1] http://chicagoboyz.net/archives/5981.html
July 21st, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Thanks. The remarkable number of stoopid things Obama says really ought to catch up with him.
July 21st, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Obama isn’t dumb, any more than W is.
Both had jobs as community organizers (Bush III in Chicago, Bush II among the religious right) in political machines built by others. Both seem to have done their job acceptably well.
Obama’s difference — and this one is dangerous — is that he doubtless went through a long period of life where he was the smartest person in the room. This breeds arrogance.
I don’t think Bush was that unlucky very much.
July 21st, 2008 at 3:32 pm
For a guy who is not dumb, there is a lot of stuff he seems to not know about.
He is certainly arrogant, as you say.
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:29 am
It’s a liberal elite cultural thing - there are many subjects from that POV that are simply not important to know about in granular detail - like national security or foreign policy - except insofar as they can be used to achieve purely domestic political effects.
“Karl adds, “Mr. von Marschall should not be surprised, inasmuch as hubris and control-freakishness are increasingly hallmarks of the Obama campaign.”
David Axelrod hallmark. A very competent political consultant who runs a tight ship and tries to stay off the media radar except as an anonymous source for negative attacks on the opposition.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:54 am
Lexington,
Is this an example of failing the Quayle Test [1]?
zenpundit,
Fascinating!
[1] “It’s always a bad practice to say ‘always’ or ‘never’”-
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
[...] Obama’s inability to communicate fluently in English [...]
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:33 pm
He’s got a huge lead right now, why would he talk to the press in a situation where he could look bad?
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Steve’s point is insightful. Opening his mouth is risky for Obama, and Barack seems to be smart enough to realize this.
Consider his recent statements in Jerusalem, which even MSNBC was on the verge of calling arrogant. His verbal criticism of General Petreaus [1] was all the stranger because it seemed to imply that Obama still thought that Petreaus was head of MNF-Iraq, and not CENTCOM. [2]
[1] http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/president/25776219.html?location_refer=Politically%20Connected
[2] http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2008/0723/1216740956781.html
July 27th, 2008 at 8:11 am
This is perhaps the stupidest claim made yet in this election cycle, at least by anyone not on LGF or calling in to one of the big 3 wingnut talk shows. Obama can’t extemporize? Stop with the self-service colonoscopy already!