What is there in speeches?

A speech, when carefully structured and delivered to its listeners, can stir an emotion that is strong enough to move a nation. This may be an exaggerated statement but Obama did so in his speech in the Democratic Convention – America 2004. Though he is unknown to many parts of the United States, Obama, through his speech was able to deliver a common thought, encourage unity, and raise hope among the Americans.

His speech was so powerful that it contributed to winning his candidacy in 2008. This speech along with the power of the internet, social media, and other hosted websites such as redswitches.com dedicated servers, these factors helped raise awareness to the nation. That there is this man who is average just like you and me but courageous enough to stand for fellow Americans like you and me.

Barrack Obama in 2004 was totally unknown. Many people were saying, “I don’t know who this guy is. Wonder why they picked him?” He has this reputation as an upstart young rising figure in the party. But no one knew who this guy was! The speech in 2004 was his chance to introduce himself to the people. This speech gave him the chance to show his charisma and confidence, his chance to show the nation that he is a dynamic young individual who can make a difference in building the nation.

The Speech that Made Obama President

What makes a great political speech? 

What makes a great political speech is if you can somehow fold your story into this larger American story. The next thing he says is his mother’s family, his grandfather fought in World War 2. He used the GI bill, they settled in Kansas so white people could say, “huh, oh? He is just like us.”

Finding Common Ground

Going into the speech, we’ve had four years of George Bush and we felt as a country like we’ve grown further apart. ’04 was very much a divisive partisan race. Obama’s speeches in some ways add an antidote to that. He gives a speech that pre stages his entire political message of 2008 which is to serve post partisan argument.

Obama’s Technique

Obama was born with two great gifts. That one is his mind and the other is the other is his ability to speak to large groups of people. There are three things that Obama does that really make that speech effective. He wants concrete detail, he likes story, and he loves antithesis. The use of repetition in structure to show contrast – “There is not a liberal America or a conservative America, there is one America….”

The way he used his hands, he actually points a lot and in doing so he gives off his sense of energy – I am new. I am someone who is dynamic! He doesn’t give so much of these hand movements anymore. He is a little more solemn and reserved when he gives speeches today. I think it is more reflective of his office.

An Appeal To Hope

His appearance at that convention was the best speech of the convention, better than John Kerry’s. It was electrifying and without it, he wouldn’t be President. I think sincerity means a lot. There are people when they speak, they speak truth as they see it and they are very effective doing that.