In His Candidate’s Voice
Together they had just three weeks to work on Obama's game-changing speech at the Jefferson-Jackson dinner in Iowa and even less time to work on Obama's victory speech last week. Weaving together lines from previous speeches—and even Obama's books—the team now knows the themes and language that reflect the candidate's voice.
"Even if we had finished third, we would go on to New Hampshire," says Favreau of the victory speech plan. "I had a winning and a keep-fighting speech, but in the end they weren't that different. The message out of Iowa was one of unity and reaching out across party lines. We knew we were going to do well with independents, young people and first-time voters. We knew the message was similar to what he said at the 2004 convention."
The result was a speech with a light touch on the most striking point about Obama's victory: the historic nature of a black candidate's win in the almost entirely white state of Iowa. "The first line was simply, 'They said this day would never come'," says Favreau. "Even when we do speeches to African-American crowds, it's hinted at and it's understood. It's not hammered over the head."
So how hard is it to write for someone who has written his own books and speeches to critical acclaim? "People say that, but it's actually a dream come true," says Favreau. "You always hope that the person can match the lofty moment that the writer dreams up. To have someone who can do that makes it a joy to work with him."
Sensing the hype, Favreau catches himself quickly. "I looked at the Edwards people in 2004 and thought they were such Kool-Aid drinkers. Now I'm one of them myself."
© 2008
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Member Comments
Posted By: SurfVt @ 02/27/2008 1:28:54 PM
Comment: Barack is our national statesman. He can make every citizen understand that it is his adminstration which will draw the best minds of the world together to bring world peace through diplomacy. When he makes a few honest promises which can be kept , on schedule, he will see victory, not for himself, but for our nation. Returning veterans can be rewarded with jobs and educational opportunities created by economic development invigorated by his administration's commitment to rebuild our infrastructure first. Every man and woman in the world wants the same basic things at the end of the day. Obama has the stamina and the diplomatic intellect to begin to undo the mistakes of the last 16 years which I'm certain will take 20 years or more.
Posted By: Adelle @ 02/12/2008 3:25:50 PM
Comment: It's great that JohnTexas is so familiar with people on welfare. How many welfare recipients does he personally know? How many has he had discussions with? Has he asked anyone why s/he was receiving welfare?
Does JohnTexas have the same vitriol for corporate welfare? Growing up in South Texas, did he learn that the U.S. spends over $92 billion per year on subsidies? Does he know what subsidies are?
It's wonderful that JohnTexas is so enlightened about welfare recipients and that he has been so competent as to have never needed monetary assistance. Certainly, there are individuals who abuse the system, who are lazy, parasitic people who should immediately be cut off from receiving aid.
Nonetheless, assuming 99% of "people are welfare" are lazy, baby-popping, high school dropouts would be similar to assuming 99% South Texans are moronic, arrogant idiots.
And that would be incorrect, wouldn't it?
Posted By: JohnTexas @ 02/07/2008 3:14:05 PM
Comment: This guy needs to get a real job and work in the real world.
What in the world does defending the right of welfare recipients mean.
I grew up in South Texas and 99% of people are welfare because they are too lazy to work or they drop out of high school and start having kids that they can???t support so they rely on the rest of us.
A safety net welfare system for US citizens is fine for a few months until the person gets a job and even some continuing support if the job
does not pay enough for a single person. But if you are struggling to eat don???t have kids one after the other and except handouts.