Comments on: President Talks to Capital, Labor http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2009/09/president-talks-to-capital-labor.html The Law, the Universe, and Everything Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:29:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Lawrence Cunningham http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2009/09/president-talks-to-capital-labor.html/comment-page-1#comment-65546 Lawrence Cunningham Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:44:40 +0000 http://www.concurringopinions.com/?p=20393#comment-65546 There was an enthusastic ovation on Monday in New York at the end of the speech, and after the President was introduced. Just one interruption during it. My sense for why is the speech was pure policy, without punch lines that stimulated applause; in contrast, the Pittsburgh speech was studded with punch lines obviously designed to stimulate applause (and sometimes hooting). That is a reason I found the Pittsburgh speech both less persuasive and less helpful. I did not see the Chicago speech you mention so can't compare it to this New York speech, but my sense of the New York's audience response had nothing to do with probability of the President's reforms being adopted, but with how they enticed and warranted thoughtful consideration. There was an enthusastic ovation on Monday in New York at the end of the speech, and after the President was introduced. Just one interruption during it.

My sense for why is the speech was pure policy, without punch lines that stimulated applause; in contrast, the Pittsburgh speech was studded with punch lines obviously designed to stimulate applause (and sometimes hooting). That is a reason I found the Pittsburgh speech both less persuasive and less helpful.

I did not see the Chicago speech you mention so can’t compare it to this New York speech, but my sense of the New York’s audience response had nothing to do with probability of the President’s reforms being adopted, but with how they enticed and warranted thoughtful consideration.

]]> By: Mike Zimmer http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2009/09/president-talks-to-capital-labor.html/comment-page-1#comment-65544 Mike Zimmer Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:48:13 +0000 http://www.concurringopinions.com/?p=20393#comment-65544 Shortly after then-Senator Obama was elected, I heard him speak to a business group in Chicago. It may have been that the meeting was salted with every Democrat any of the members knew to invite, but he got a tremendous ovation by speaking seriosly in "the heart of the enemy." He was just as impressive at Wall Steet, so why no ovation? Is it that doing what he says needs to be done is more likely to happen when it is the President, and not a junior Senator, speaking? Shortly after then-Senator Obama was elected, I heard him speak to a business group in Chicago. It may have been that the meeting was salted with every Democrat any of the members knew to invite, but he got a tremendous ovation by speaking seriosly in “the heart of the enemy.” He was just as impressive at Wall Steet, so why no ovation? Is it that doing what he says needs to be done is more likely to happen when it is the President, and not a junior Senator, speaking?

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