Equal Time Speech Critique: Conason Says Kerry is Longwinded, Muddled

[BurtWorm]

Just so we don't think Dean was the only one whose speechifying got panned yesterday:


http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2004/01/20/iowa/print.html


Suffering from laryngitis, with a concise three-page speech in hand, the victorious Senator nevertheless rambled on for 28 minutes, according to the New York Times. (I can report only that his remarks seemed endless, a feeling evidently shared by his wife, who stood next to him looking bored.) There was nothing wrong with what he said, but it took him far too long to say it. Why didn't Kerry realize that this was his first big chance to present himself to the national audience watching the dramatic Iowa returns, and behave accordingly?

The longer he maunders on, the more he muddles his message. He won Iowans over to his campaign by speaking briefly and taking lots of questions. He needs that kind of discipline if he wants to win.

And if he wants to see a superb victory speech, somebody should show him the videotape of John Edwards, whose remarks were both shorter and more inspiring. Kerry said he had learned much about campaigning in Iowa. He has more to learn. If his momentum carries him through New Hampshire, he will be heading south -- where they don't want to listen to any longwinded Yankee who won't get to the point.

[wtmusic]

1. Edwards' speech was awesome

Everyone in this campaign could take some lessons from him.

[JI7]

2. conason is usually right about these things

this may not be an issue in more liberal leaning areas, but as he says, it will be in the south. i liked his speech though. i liked his long answers. and his wife looked like that because she has always been campaigning hard for kerry and was just as tired. his wife also gives long answers to questions.

[Loren645]

3. Senator Kerry needs to learn the concept of leave them wanting more.

I was trying to listen to his whole speech, but all the networks
kept giving up on an end, and I kept switching channels, and finally
everyone had given up.

I know he was psyched though. Hey.

But tonight's muddled non-answers to Jenning's questions;
not good.

[cindyw]

4. Kerry's speech was awesome. The Kerry is longwinded meme

is just another sign of lazy journalism. And if I'm wrong, I don't care. I'll ride that wordiness all the way to the white house. Compare with Bush who still reads Dick and jane books.

[Name removed]

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[Loren645]

7. Savvy? He lost all of the media before he finished rambling.

Gotta agree w Conason here:

"Why didn't Kerry realize that this was his first big chance to present himself to the national audience watching the dramatic Iowa returns, and behave accordingly?

...He needs that kind of discipline if he wants to win.

And if he wants to see a superb victory speech, somebody should show him the videotape of John Edwards, whose remarks were both shorter and more inspiring. Kerry said he had learned much about campaigning in Iowa. He has more to learn. If his momentum carries him through New Hampshire, he will be heading south -- where they don't want to listen to any longwinded Yankee who won't get to the point."

http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2004/01/20/iowa/print.html

[fabius]

6. Kerry's speech one of his best yet.

Honestly he's improving. But he needs to drop some of the Senate floor style and get the stump speech style, and brevity is a virtue.

He's improved a lot IMO.

Whatever stuff he had in Iowa, I hope he's got a plentiful store in reserve if he gets the nomination.