LFT... A literate, articulate President

A literate, articulate President – now there’s something to look forward to in 2009.  It’s amazing!  Obama opens his mouth and complete sentences just come rolling out!  Not only is the diction clear, but so is the content.  The English language is used to clearly and correctly express knowledge, understanding and ideas.

There is no pretense or “talking down.”  Just the opposite: Obama’s speech and demeanor express a man who is proud of his education and accomplishments.  Allow me a few moments to share my thumbnail analysis of the implicit messages in the contrasting speech patterns of Bush and Obama.

Bush:  I’m not too smart, not too eddicated.  I’m iggerant and foolish, just like you.  But crafty – heh, heh, heh.  I don’t truck with those interlectual elitist snobs, with their new-fangled ideas.  I’m just a good ole-fashioned (white, Christian) American like you.

Obama:  I’m educated, and proud of it.  I worked hard for it, and education is a good thing to aspire to.  I’m going to express myself as clearly as possible, and I trust that you will be smart enough to understand me, even when I express complicated ideas.  We may not always agree, but at least we can have an intelligent discussion of our differences. 

Not only does Obama speak articulately, and on occasion with eloquence, but it’s no secret that he also reads – a lot.  No big deal, just a normal thing that people do.  A normal expectation for the kind of educated citizens democracy requires.  Learn new things, be informed, encounter new ideas, expand your understanding of the larger world… make education is a lifelong endeavor.

I recently expressed to some friends that good grammar and articulate speech are about to make a comeback.  I don’t know if the Presidential speech patterns can really have that much influence, but I’m certainly looking forward to having a well-read, articulate President in the White House.