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The Obama Watch
Barack O’Gobbledygook
A President who can’t be bothered with basic grammar (or mere coherence).
Some of us live in the past. Others — if you go by one of Barack Obama’s remarks in a speech last week — have been living most of their adult lives in the future. At a fund-raising event in Philadelphia, he said:
There’s (sic) still too many people who are out of work, too many homes underwater, and middle-class families that still don’t have the confidence that the future for their kids and grandkids are (sic) going to be brighter than their futures have been (sic).
This president gets the right agreement between noun and verb only half the time. For the sake of consistency it might be better if he got it wrong all the time. He would then say: There’s still too many people who’s out of work, too many homes that’s underwater, etc. And then there is the howler about the past-tense futures, which is another kind of solecism.
Earlier in the day, Obama spoke, and misspoke, to graduating students at the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia. Among other things, he said:
So my expectation is that somebody in this auditorium is going to figure out new sources of energy that help not only make us more energy independent, but also deals (sic) with problems like (sic) climate change.
Again, there is the lack of agreement between a plural subject and a singular verb. Another recurring feature of Obama speeches is the loose use of the word like (meaning similar to) as an inappropriate substitute for some variation of the unambiguous and definitive such as. Here the problem in sound and usage could have easily been avoided by saying: but also deal with climate change and other problems.
But the more deep-seated problem on the part of Obama and his handlers at the White House is a disregard for substance — a disregard, that is, for meaning, or truth. Take this passage in the same speech to graduating high school students:
So the bottom line is, we’re proud of you. You are going to succeed. You’re well on your way. The last thing I’d ask of you, even as you focus on your chosen field and you are moving forward, is to make sure that you also give back, that for a lot of you in your neighborhoods there may not be as many kids who are interested in math and science. And you need to make sure that where you have the opportunity, you’re mentoring and serving as a good role model for the next generation coming up behind you.
There are so many problems with that passage — the leadenness of prose, the banality of sentiment, and the incoherence of thought and expression — that is difficult to know where to begin. I will just point out that the president was addressing a group of 18-year-olds. For people of this age, the next generation, as it is usually understood, is yet to be born — coming 20-to-25 years after their own arrival on earth. So how are they supposed to set out that day and begin mentoring and serving as good role models to the next generation of youths coming up behind them? Beyond that, how is a graduating high school senior supposed to serve as a mentor and a good role model not just for a younger person, but for a whole generation?
Amazingly, www.Whitehouse.gov is happy to record all of these grammatical mistakes and verbal infelicities. These aren’t the errors of someone speaking off the cuff. Day in and day out, Obama and his speechwriters bake all kinds of slovenly language into the text of speeches that the president will read from his teleprompter. The White House website provides an ongoing record of speeches that abound in dangling participles, fractured syntax, and obvious grammatical errors. You read for instance about all the “good paying jobs” that our government has created or saved.
No doubt the president’s minders are toeing a fine line. On the one hand, they don’t want to write fini to the risible idea that the president is the world’s greatest orator and the smartest man ever to sit in the White House. On the other, they do want to play up the sympathy that he feels for the pitiable “99%.” Surely, it must be reassuring for this wide assortment of dumbed-down losers and victims to know that the president of the United States is like them in at least one regard: He doesn’t give a damn about the esoteric grammatical difference between jobs that pay good and jobs that pay well.
Grammar provides the framework of good writing. It facilitates clarity, or ease of understanding for the listener or reader. It shows a healthy respect for the reader’s time and intelligence. The writer does not put the reader to unnecessary trouble (having, for instance, to puzzle out the connection between the subject and the verb). Nor does he make the snide assumption that the reader won’t be able to comprehend complex ideas that are expressed in clear language.
But perhaps there is method to Obama’s grammatical sloppiness. A job that pays good does sound like the kind of job that our president goes out of his way to support: the kind that would never exist without some combination of union blackmail and government subsidies. And that does differentiate it from the job that pays well: a job with a genuine connection between the value of the work performed and the compensation provided.
Slovenly grammar begets logical inconsistencies — and it may also betray contempt for logic itself. Obama began his presidency by promising that we would “spend our way out of this recession.” And spend he did — with trillion-dollar annual deficits that have caused total federal indebtedness to balloon from $10.6 trillion to $15.7 trillion over the past four years. Now he has the effrontery to claim that he has been the thriftiest president since Dwight Eisenhower.
Will Obama succeed in winning a second term?
About the Author
Andrew B. Wilson, a frequent contributor to The American Spectator, writes from St. Louis.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (58) | Leave a comment
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MelvinNC| 6.18.12 @ 7:05AM
For Obama and his handlers, we need to look at it this way, Draw a line and at one end put, "Idiot," and at the other end of the line put, "Jackass." Obama and his handlers fall somewhere in between.
Appleby| 6.18.12 @ 7:10AM
I believe Obama now insists on writing his own speeches -- having convinced himself he can do everythning better than those who write his press releases no doubt; he honestly believes that the nonsense he is spouting is Reaganesque prose that is inspiring the masses just as Reagan's did.
Reagan, of course, was a trained actor who had been thoroughly taught in the proper manner of delivering lines and, having grown up in Middle America, he knew how the lines he delivered were going to sound to the audience. Obama is so thoroughly fixated on his own wonderfulness that he cannot spare any time for the masses sitting before him.
If I were a teacher, I would hand out copies of Obama's speeches, just as he gave them, and require them to correct his choice of words, his grammar, his punctuation, and to tighten up and pull together his paragraps. I would also ask them to isolate the main point of his speech, and explain why it should have been included in his first paragraph, developed through his net three paragraphs, echoed in his closing paragraph, and be easily remembered when Mom asks "What did the President say?" In Bible College I was taught how to present a sermon in this way, and also that it should never last longer than 15 minutes, should contain only one central point, should be based on a text that is articulated at the beginning, middle and end of the sermon, and be repeated right before the Amen. It works pretty well when you're giving any kind of a speech.
Petronius| 6.18.12 @ 12:11PM
I'd like to see students, (?) who can't spell, diagram a sentence, punctuate, and have low accurate vocabularies or aptitude for composition try that for 5 minutes. 40 years ago the teachers who are now coasting to retirement were heard by me using phrases like, "had already Did that page." And the announcers on the largest media outlets in this city believe the combination, "whole 'nother," is catchy and appropriate. Come back Edwin Newman. All is forgiven. Beyond ill regard for linguistic usage, remember that Obama has taken one cue from another whose oratory motivated the populace to devote themselves to him and his guidance to the utter ruin of their once great country. That personage was Corporal Hitler. And his remark to his compatriots that, "we are fortunate the people do not think," is redolent of the contempt of both of them for all the "rest of us." Obama's street talk, though he does avoid the gutter vulgate of "the hood", is a component of his hauteur.
Occam's Tool| 6.18.12 @ 12:43PM
Tell them what you are going to say, say it, and then tell them what you said. That's what they taught me to do as a speaker for Big Pharma, and I did it well enough to pay for my kids' adoption costs.
CJW| 6.18.12 @ 12:58PM
Reagan was much more than an "actor." He wrote the speeches he gave for GE, and had a clear idea of what he wanted to say because he had clear ideas.
Obama is lying to confuse voters about his true ideas, and that is one reason for all the "ahs" and "but, but.." I am sure he can clearly say what is on his mind but he cannot say it and win, except for the hard core lefties. He has no probem expressing his real beliefs when he thinks it is a private talk, such as the "bitter clingers" speech to his fundraisers and telling the Russians to wait till after the election.
Don't make the mistake that Obama is stupid and can't speak well. He is smart and deceptive.
Pecos Pete| 6.18.12 @ 7:12AM
So many voters with so little education. King O knows his audience.
JimH| 6.18.12 @ 7:34AM
Do we blame O or the guy who feeds the teleprompter?
Doctor_X| 6.18.12 @ 7:42AM
Maybe the problem is he isn't reading the teleprompter!
Doctor_X| 6.18.12 @ 7:41AM
It is true the President Obama is not a grammarian, however picking on his grammar makes you look like a bigger ass than William Sapphire. Falling back on personal attacks is not a valid method for arguing against his failed policies or his faulty premises.
I hope that you are right in that Obama is speaking in this manner as a way to pander to his base, but maybe he is doing it out of arrogance. Obama really believes that he is above everyone and that he has to dumb-down everything he says so the poor masses can understand it. One thing is true, he will certainly say whatever he has to in whatever way is needed on order to stay in office.
Shadow| 6.18.12 @ 9:34AM
No! We have been bombarded with the mantra that Obama is the most intelligent and articulate POTUS ever. The media adoration for this poser is sickening and the pedestal they put him on is built of lies.
Trinacria| 6.18.12 @ 2:14PM
Spot on, Shadow. The good doctor has rather missed the point; if an individual bills himself as one thing and all available evidence refutes his claim, it is neither petty nor personal to demonstrate the inconsistency.
But there's a bigger point that nobody seems willing to articulate (presumably out of fear that someone like old doc will spring forth with the claim of racism): given the abject absence of ANY supporting evidence (and indeed a sizable body of contrary evidence), the telling irony in the media's characterization of Emperor Obama as highly intelligent and articulate is that it betrays the fundamental racism of low expectations that serves as the foundation for "progressive" ideology. For what they assuredly meant by this statement was "highly intelligent and articulate...for a black guy."
Skippy| 6.18.12 @ 3:43PM
"highly intelligent and articulate...for a black guy."
That's exactly what Biden said and meant in 2008.
The Boy President said "a year ago he would have been getting us our coffee."
Let's give him the opportunity to do so come January.
beebop2| 6.18.12 @ 7:18PM
Of course not. One cannot critique The One, draw attention to any short comings, or in fact look him directly in the eye. For a guy whose old man hated the British royal family, Zero sure likes to fancy himself American royalty ....
Stormzeye| 6.18.12 @ 8:20AM
King O's "sorry constituency of class warfare victims" have been around for years. They also followed Hitler, Jim Jones, Louis Farrakhan, Al Sharpton and countless other panderers, liars and frauds into a bottomless pit of never ending failure, resentment and death.
Von Mises Jr| 6.18.12 @ 8:32AM
For a dictatorial regime that does not believe in the "Rule of Law," why be concerned about the rules of grammar?
Do not Barbarians purposely act like Barbarians to make sure the villagers realize that they are Barbarians?
Albert Constantine Jr.| 6.18.12 @ 9:04AM
"Do not Barbarians purposely act like Barbarians to make sure the villagers realize that they are Barbarians?"
For confirmation, see the 2010 video remarks of a former EPA regional director regarding crucifixion.
Al Adab| 6.18.12 @ 11:21AM
This symptom is simply another manifestation of his underlying mental disorder. He perceives himself (and the leftist elite he represents) as so far superior to the rest of the plebs that he cannot be bothered making himself understood. We are simply to defer to his superiority and follow where he chooses to lead, like it or not. If any of us poor troglodytes knew what was best for us we would worship at his feet. This is a 25th amendment issue.
Von Mises Jr| 6.18.12 @ 7:45PM
Good point Albert. Take the first five villagers and crucify them for no reason. I hate to say it, but if he is re-elected he will probably do it on the first day of the second term.
Sir Mark| 6.18.12 @ 9:10AM
Yes, you cannot expect proper English from a man who has a law degree from Harvard. That is asking too much.
MK48| 6.18.12 @ 10:24AM
Johnny Depp said the definition of a LIBERAL "is a communist with a college education thinking negro thoughts".
Who would that be...................?
Albert Constantine Jr.| 6.18.12 @ 11:31AM
SubVet has returned (and isn't a Mk48 a torpedo?).
Drunken Sailor| 6.18.12 @ 11:53AM
Yes it is, and he is running straight, hot, and true!
MK48| 6.18.12 @ 4:55PM
AC Jr........ yes and yes to your answer "Hot Straight and Normal".
"They" thought I was a threat I guess, had to change my name....must of been the casson comment.
KyMouse| 6.18.12 @ 9:58AM
Long ago, in the course of writing a publication for a private school, I heard a speech by a former alumnus. He began his comment with this jaw-dropper:
"Me and my brother went to Yale..."
Smelling salts all 'round, quickly!
Appleby| 6.19.12 @ 7:08AM
Yes, he should have said "Myself and my brother..."
I worked for a lawyer who could not turn loose of the habit of using the reflexive in place of the objective no matter how many times I quietly corrected him.
rjh| 6.18.12 @ 10:03AM
More proof that the guy is just not that bright.
mrmvino| 6.18.12 @ 10:10AM
Great article. Good sentences and well pronounced.
Cobalt| 6.18.12 @ 2:37PM
Yeah, article be gooder'n hell.
PCC| 6.18.12 @ 10:14AM
An AmSpec contributor who "can't be bothered" to correct his subtitle ("can't bothered") is not one who should be giving lessons on grammar.
Bob Grant| 6.18.12 @ 12:04PM
If he's guilty a second time you might have a point. The author is referring to The One's recurring grammatical errors.
KyMouse| 6.18.12 @ 5:55PM
In my experience, the author of an article may suggest headlines, subheads and so on, but the editorial staff has the final say. They may use the writer's suggestions, or start from scratch, and the author might not see what has been chosen until the article is in print (or online).
fdcampbell| 6.18.12 @ 11:56AM
Unfortunately, poor grammar has become the norm.
In my case, find that I do not even notice these grammatical breaches.
Thanks for the lesson.
Bob Grant| 6.18.12 @ 11:57AM
All of this can be remedied by using "folks" and "the notion that" more often.
Dave Williams| 6.18.12 @ 12:20PM
It's not just Oblahblah...have you ever noticed how many times our esteemed Secretary of State, "the smartest woman in the world," drops mindless, annoying "you know"s into her speech? Orwell had it right -- linguistic corruption leads to political corruption as surely as the night follows the day. Sad.
dnha14| 6.18.12 @ 12:31PM
As my father of blessed memory used to say sardonically, "He don't do English too good, do he?"
Occam's Tool| 6.18.12 @ 12:41PM
The man is a blithering idiot, and his speeches are semantic nulls. Every time I read about his speeches, I am reminded of the Foundation Trilogy, and the voluble diplomat who speaks much but says nothing of meaning.
The difference is that the diplomat was profoundly skilled at his job, and Barack is just a moron.
Bob Grant| 6.18.12 @ 12:52PM
I think of Obummer as a chatty Chauncey Gardiner.
MK48| 6.18.12 @ 5:06PM
TOOL.........my dad used to tell me a man who speaks much but says nothing of meaning is ........you talk like a man with a paper assho*e.
I wish I had a nickel everytime my dad told me that growing up. It's amazing how smart HE got the older I got.
The boy king didn't have a real father to guide him in his early years, just a bunch of commies.
Obadiah Plainman| 6.18.12 @ 1:15PM
I sure wish William F. Buckley Jr. were still alive to witness the grammatical butchery by Obama. I'm sure he'd have some masterful turns of phrase as he denounced Obama's abortive usage of the language.
Cobalt| 6.18.12 @ 2:47PM
....and James J. Kilpatrick, who knew a bit about grammar.
Petronius| 6.18.12 @ 1:40PM
Ditto H. L. Mencken.
Drunken Sailor| 6.18.12 @ 2:22PM
Obama is writing and speaking to his youth vote. Have to appear hip and "Down" with it. He is speaking to a generation that uses text lingo because it is easier and faster. Not to mention the citizens that want to turn Ebonics into a recognized language because they are to lazy to learn proper English or are afraid it makes them "Too White".
Are any of you really suprised?
FlaJim| 6.18.12 @ 3:25PM
The answer is very simple: English is not his first language and he picked it up along the way.
masterfundi| 6.18.12 @ 3:51PM
Thanks, Andrew, for exposing Prez Goobledygook. I have long felt that members of Toastmasters, Intl. (among others) are chuckling quietly whenever he is referred to as a superb orator.
Dixon| 6.18.12 @ 4:47PM
Last week, obamanation blamed TOTUS (teleprompter of the US) for making him read words that he probably should not have said...something about a crude gay joke about Moochelle's push up contest with Ellen D and her refusal to "go all the way down". That inappropriate, disgusting, unfunny teleprompter...how dare it make the empty suit read things!
Me think me in bizarro world.
Joellen| 6.18.12 @ 5:23PM
Defination of Distraction: The CLOWNS distracted the children, divert, entertain, amuse; draw awy the attention of. Or in a mere four words (if Biden isnt counting), OBAMA & The Democrats.
Gr0w1er601| 6.18.12 @ 7:49PM
It doesn't matter if Barry uses proper grammar or not. His sycophantic army of Oblamazombies will lap up every word like houseflies on a steaming fresh turd.
Purp| 6.18.12 @ 7:53PM
Seriously? This is the best article you could find? Grammar police? Ever listen to Richie Romney trip over his tongue? What a joke of a topic.
Bob Grant| 6.18.12 @ 9:26PM
Perp,
What's a joke is selling O'blahbhah as the most rhetorically gifted leader the Wold has ever known.
In THAT context, it's laughable.
Teeheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. LOLLOLOLOL!!!!
scotchieguy| 6.18.12 @ 10:05PM
"There's (sic) still too many people out of work..." As much as I rip this guy, this is a huge problem in America overall. I notice this constantly, whether in casual talk or from newsreporters, everyone says "There's alot..." or "there's so many problems..."
Bob Grant| 6.18.12 @ 11:35PM
So you're saying there's alot of people out there butchering the English language?
Controse| 6.19.12 @ 2:08AM
Hey Wilsontonian what's with what you got against homey street jive bro? Get down with the brother and his message or be gone.
Appleby| 6.19.12 @ 7:12AM
"alot" is not a word. "Many" is the word you are seeking.
Petronius| 6.19.12 @ 3:07PM
Consult the OED on that.
olainfree| 6.19.12 @ 9:24AM
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Obama makes these blatant blunders not only when he is attempting to sound folksy but even in formal speeches.