Obama's success tied to his eloquence (Leonard Pitts Jr.)

[Harry Monroe]

Obama's success tied to his eloquence

By LEONARD PITTS JR.
[e-mail]

A few words in defense of words.

This, in light of the latest knock on Sen. Barack Obama, which is that, while he's good with words, words are all he's got. He is eloquent and inspiring, this analysis goes, but eloquence and inspiration do not a president make.

It's a line of criticism that has been argued by pundits (David Brooks in The New York Times used the word ''vaporous''), by the presumptive GOP nominee for president (``eloquent but empty,'' said Sen. John McCain) and by Obama's rival for the Democratic nod (''Speeches don't put food on the table,'' said Sen. Hillary Clinton).

That last worthy must feel not unlike Wile E. Coyote did in trying to tag the Road Runner -- or like congressional Republicans did in trying to tag her husband. Nothing she throws sticks. Indeed, one senses a flailing desperation in Clinton's scramble to find the rock, broken bottle or brickbat that will knock Obama offstride.

She accused him of being afraid to debate her and never mind that there have been, like, 57 debates already.

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http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/leonard_pitts/story/429279.html

[bemildred]

1. "eloquent and inspiring" looks pretty good after 8 years of "incoherent and drunk".

These guys have a lot of chutzpah to criticize anyone else for lack of substance.