Kennedy's "Catholic" speech and Obama's speech today were very similar ......

[Stinky The Clown]

Neither was a 'great speech'. Both were necessary for damage control and as a way to rescue a presidential campaign from a potentially fatal problem. Both were full of what they needed to be full of ... apologia for the candidate and the issue plaguing him.

Kennedy's speech became historic when he won the presidency as the first (and so far, the only) Catholic. Obama's will likely become so if he wins the presidency.

I understand all the cheering. In the moment, Obama's speech could be seen as stirring. In the eyes of hopeful supporters, it can be seen as great.

But only history will say for sure.

I think both his speech and Kennedy's will be seen by history the same way ........ necessary speeches to keep a political campaign on track. Nothing more and nothing less.

************************************************************

No ..... I am not a Clinton supporter. That should be pretty well common knowledge by now. That said, this disclaimer is always a good thing to ward off screech monkeys.

[CatholicEdHead]

1. Kennedy's speech is still brought up today

Of course, inside the Church, it is what not to do. :( Remember, toe the Catholic line or get out is the current mantra. :(

[garthranzz]

2. I agree in part

One would have to go back and see where Kennedy's candidacy was at the time. Obama is in the lead, even if narrowly, for the nomination. The issue had to come up some time, so i suspect that Obama, like Kennedy, had been planning for such a speech, preparing it, or at least the outline and structure, for a while.

They can both be seen as damage control. But if the speeches were no more than an apologia, they would not have had, or have, much of an impact. The forthrightness and bluntness, the rhetorical sophistication and the acknowledgment yet unraveling of the complex, give them rhetorical power.

See, if you will, my post analyzing the first two paragraphs, where some parallels with Lincoln are also noted.

(I'm not sure of your definition of "great," but would not agree both were significant and transitional?)

[FreakinDJ]

3. I felt 75-80% was from the heart

Pretty BOLD move for any presidential candidate

Kinda shows the guts for TRUE leadership

[suston96]

4. Kennedy's Catholicism and Obama's racist pastor? Yeah, I see the connection. nt

[Stinky The Clown]

6. Oh stop it

You're being purposefully obtuse.

[suston96]

11. Obtuse? Not really. Both speeches were, uh - connected by religion.

You know, if Obama was not a presidential candidate, as a US Senator he would be in big trouble having been connected to that church with that pastor who utters those inflammatory messages.

[mac2]

5. Smoke screens to what Dems leadership should really be

doing and talking about. A short statement would have been good enough.

[boppers]

7. Why do you hate screech monkeys? eom

[annie1]

8. romney too.

[Stinky The Clown]

9. Well, yes and no ..... his was also a necessary speech. but he still got shot down

So only the most minute detail in historical annals will ever make note of it.

Romney's total plasticity will be more noteworthy.

[thevoiceofreason]

10. I love your commentary.

But you suck as a cynic.

[Stinky The Clown]

12. You suck as a commentator on cynics

Your move ..........