What's in a word? The convention speeches

It's all over. Two weeks of speeches from Republicans and Democrats. Two weeks of barnstorming messages, scathing critiques and a whole new interest in the phrase 'hockey mom.'

One way to sort through the messages is by a numerical breakdown of the candidate's words. The New York Times presents us with a nice graphic on the subject.

Among the takeaway points:

• Obama mentioned McCain 21 times in his speech. McCain referenced him on just 9 occasions.
• Obama brought up Bush 8 times. McCain just once - and then he was talking about Laura.
• Change scored high as a talking point on both agendas - 16 times for Obama, 9 for McCain.

And here are some Comment Central comparisons.

• Obama hits hard on America/Americans using it 54 times to McCain's 31.
• Obama also draws out 'promise' (32 times to McCain's 2).
• But McCain gets into the 'fight'ing spirit. The word crops up 25 times in his speech. Obama used it just twice.

Comments

[Guido Fawkes]

Bush was mentioned (not by name) in an early section of the speech when he was referring in warm terms to the President.

[Jez W]

'Washington's Got Talent.'

It's not the candidates who write these speeches is it though?

They'll have as much imput on speech content as Leona Lewis has in writing her own songs.

One side you've got NeoCon war hero and an Alaskan hot VPILF.

On the other side you've got 'right on brudda' fist clenched dude and er, Hilary (?)

Hey, it's looking strong for the NeoCon Clique and not the Liberal Conservative Clique all of a sudden.

Go Democracy, Yeah!

[Ray]

Obama mainly writes his own speeches, he does get some help.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/84756/page/1

[Tony C]

Obama speaks very well his education is at the highest level but he lacks experience an the thought about him raising taxes in various area's like healthcare is not what this country needs. McCain is breaking away from the Bush ways an most hard headed Dem don't see this but rather comment the same thing as Bush. McCain is the only person I want because looking back at 911 is a very scary thought and McCain is the only one who has the guts to defend our nation.

[Mordred]

I think people should vote first, who gives them the most freedom. Second, which candidate would be best for the country. Meaning, who would do their best to make America right.
After seeing everyone speak at their conventions, I think its clear who's most qualified for the job.

[Joe]

Right now the choice is pretty clear:

You have one man who has been tested in the harshest of circumstances and passed with an A and you have a man who is still sitting in the classroom taking the test.

the choice is pretty clear to me.

[Raza Rizvi]

If there was one columnist that has deeply incensed me, its the article by Gerard Baker, poking fun at Obama by claiming him to be something of a messiah and yet here he is worshipping Sarah Palin!! How much were the Republicans paying you when you wrote that article Mr Baker!! Oh wait, don't the Republicans have a strong affiliation with Fox News who.... hang on a second aren't the Times the parent company of that channel? You Mr Gerard Baker should be ashamed of yourself, have you no ounce of decency man!!!!!!!!!

[Shahzad Khokhar]

Everyones talking about Obama and his lack of experience but, think of all the experience he has had working in his home town with all the factory workers.
I don't get McCain when he stayed in the prison for four more years after they offered him to leave. It's like giving him a chance to make the world a better place and him going 'no thanks' and making no difference for four years.
And also why are the Reps criticizing Obama's education, to quote 'fancy schools' they should look at their own lack of education before they speak, Palin's only education is communications journalism. She only has experience in being on camera and saying words to make a 'monster' out of a mole-hill.

[Clay]

This is not the time for on the job training and "what if" scenarios in the white house. Obama does not have time to "feel it out" in the office. He needs some kind of exprience (which he does not have) and some knowledge of all areas including military (which he does not have). This is the thought that wakes me up in the middle of the night, worrying about my kids future and my own. Get McCain in there and let's not make this a "what should I do now" white house when all hell breaks loose.

[Poet]

"Hey, it's looking strong for the NeoCon Clique and not the Liberal Conservative Clique all of a sudden."

I'm sure you're prone to hyperbole, but just shift both candidates to the left a bit.

In the Yank parlance, there is nothing conservative about Obama, and McCain is, outside of his war record, barely right of center.

[JOHN CHUCKMAN, TORONTO]

I predict the most effective ad of the campaign season will be a Democratic one just showing excerpts from McCain's speech.

Possibly, a few frightening lines from Palin, at her most dangerously earnest.

End cut, a soaring line from Obama's speech.

[i-tard]

Obama has less experience than Palin. But you'll never hear that over here in the "drive-by" media. HE HASN'T EVEN COMPLETED ONE US SENATE TERM! But somehow he's ready? REALLY? The media over is busy comparing/contrasting his experience to Palin's? REALLY? What does that tell you? Comparing McCain to Obama is a slam dunk, Obama has no clue. Mcain wipes more experience from his afternoon dump than Obama's entire foreign policy perspective.

[Ian Thorpe]

Well maybe Obama was reluctand to make a big thing of the fact that its an American election becasuse he knew a lawsuit was about to be filed accusing him of being inelegible to run due to his not being American.

http://www.americasright.com/2008/09/berg-v-obama-update-friday-september-5.html

[m. hossain]

America needs a president like Obama not McCain. McCain is experienced in old politics, policies and the agenda most republican presidents have been enduring, which is causing America its name, fame, leadership and superiority. On the other hand, Obama has a fresh heart and will likely bring back the ideas of a superior America. Obama will bring peace in home and abroad.

[lebaron]

McCain supporter more then ever palin wrapped it up.

[Kazuki]

Who cares about a SMALLER relative level of experience? Obama is a genius. He also writes his own speeches, which is undisputed by McSame.

[Anthony Sanders Sr.]

They both are playing the Game, say what your party wants to hear,I have NO confidents in either one, my help is in the NAME OF THE LORD!

[Anthony Sanders Sr.]

My confidents is in THE NAME OF THE LORD.

[The3rdColumn]

John McCain has always been a prisoner of war -- he still is!

[The3rdColumn]

Did you count how many times he reminisced about his being held captive in Hotel Hilton?

Geez!

[Jez W]

"I think people should vote first, who gives them the most freedom. Second, which candidate would be best for the country. Meaning, who would do their best to make America right.
After seeing everyone speak at their conventions, I think its clear who's most qualified for the job."

Posted by: Mordred

Come one Mordred!

It's alright saying all that stuff- but everyone knows Ron Paul isn't running anymore.

It's gotta’ be Mcain or Obama unfortunately- take your pick.

[elixelx]

"Obama mainly writes his own speeches..."

You've been looking over his shoulder as he was doing it, everytime he's done it, right Ray?

I have discovered, in my 60+ years, that the old adage "when you point a finger three fingers point back at you" is generally borne out by time.

Thus, when Obama's first acid reaction to a truly authentic tour de force, in which speech and speaker were as hand in glove, was "it was written for her.." I have to question the honesty of his, and your, contention that he writes his own speeches.

He was pointing his finger alright, and pointedly accusing himself!

[Adam Shire]

The most disappointing thing with McCain was that for four days the Republicans such as Rudy "a noun, verb & 9/11" Guiliani threw red but rotten meat to GOP zealots and then 4 minutes about economy. The most embarassing was distancing himself from a failed administration he has supported 90% of the time.

McCain claims GOP will win this election, but for independents, whose vote will decide winners & losers, were shocked by McCain's wasted opportunity to present new ideas. I'm afraid Obama was right: McCain just doesn't get it.

[memie Harper of Decatur]

Come on people. Let's not be fooled by this Sarah Palin. The Standards that we hold for Presidents and Vice Presidents' Families reflects America. Sarah Palin's family does not add up. In addition she is under investigation. If that was Senator Obama under investigation, he would be encouraged to resign from the presidential race. Everyone knows this.

If I had to choose Obama or McCain to talk diplomacy in a foreign country I would choose Obama. McCain seems to war hungry. I want someone who will represent the United States as a power with diplomacy not as the bully looking for a place to fight. I believe war should be the last resort after diplomacy has failed. Yes the United States has a powerful military but I believe it is better if we have someone in office that respects that power.

[debby]

i listened to both of the speeches,
the way Obama speaks, let his passion for what he believes in shine through. McCain speech seems fake and forced. i went to both of their websites in the beginning, and read how they felt about the issues that are important to me. i like Obama, he was straight forward & had a plan about each one and how he wanted to accomp. each one.
McCain couldn't really give a straight answer on a lot of the issues, except the infamous "we plan to have a committee look into that. he also sided with bush, in a lot of issues. but the more I look up McCain's site, the more it changes. it bothers me he seems to be changing his thoughts every time i go on and read it. it really scares me, that he seems to have no plans on how he is going to get the job done.he is starting to remind me of a puppet more and more.
the choice he made for VP, is even more scary! he talked to this woman once. and she considers herself a maverick also, sorry but we need a calm person in the white house.
not a person that runs off at the mouth before thinking. and to top it off....there is no way i want a person in the white house that is about to go through menopause!going to be great having leaders that go through menopause and senility. NO THANK YOU!

[Elisa Long]

I think they should go for Obama.

[CG]

Ray, go back and read the article again. It clearly says Obama's speeches are written by someone else. No candidate for high office has time to write his own speeches, but if Jez thinks they don't determine the final content, Jez is just silly.

Obama may be able to speak with words someone else writes if they are displayed on a teleprompter, but he falls apart when required to improvise and speak on his own.

The idea of Obama as president is nothing short of horrifying. His economic policies would throw the country into depression, and nationalizing our health care would, as Britain and Canada show, be a disaster.

[Marcy Bagon]

Sen. McCain has proven his ultimate love for his country. He only asks that Americans recognize it, for God's sake!

[Shoaib Khaleeli]

Doesn't it seem odd to you that McCain's speech drew on the war and the fact that we are under attack. the fact is he wont change the way USA deals with its neighbors. In fact he would go further than bush. Create a league of democracies and alienate the whole planet.

As much as I admire the mans courage and what hes gone through, it doesn't warrant him to be president.

[jamison]

I wonder just what kind of experience Obama lacks. I mean—there's experience and there's experience. McCain's former beauty queen is an experienced hockey mom. Some people are experienced bank robbers. Others are experienced cricket players. Would years of robbing banks or playing cricket qualify anybody for anything else? Thought not.

The US doesn't need a barracuda or a pit bull to govern it (in the possibility that Sen. McCain's health fails). It needs an intelligent person who governs by listening and thinking before taking a bite out of the first thing that moves. Mrs. Palin is experienced at insulting and belittling those with whom she doesn't agree. Maybe that's the Alaskan way, but it isn't the American way. Pit bull diplomacy is the last thing we need.

[layton paul]

definately clear to me just who is the better candidate. having voted 14 times against a hike in minimum wage, having the senates absolute worst record on vterans affairs, having refused to vote on the new GI bill, not having shown up at all to do the job voters put him in office to do, choosing a VP candidate whom he only met once for 15 minutes, having lied time and time again, being one of the Keating 5, voting to deregulate the mortgage industry which led to the housing collapse, having authored the bill that included the Enron Loophole that sent speculators assessments of oil prices through the roof, having said he will have nothing to do with lobbyist but yet has lobbyist run his campaign- i can go on and on and on why McPOW is not fit to be president. but the thought of Failin' Palin and her theocratic superiority complex even possibly taking over as president made me change from "r" to "d" real fast. we cannot afford 4 more years of ggrowing debt, growing deficit, growing government, declining wages, declining dollar, declining respect as a country. he has to go and he needs to take his bff Bu$h with him when he does.

[Michael Charton]

I put this on my blog. I call it McCain vs. Obama, the Tale of the Tape as though it were a boxing match.
Who know where the U.S. is going on this one.

[Eric, Ottawa, Canada]

IF Obama "writes all his own speeches" and the words he confidently utters are totally his, then why, when he's not in front of a teleprompter, does he stumble; surely he could simply bring those words he so eloquently 'wrote' to the forefront?

Or not.

[Voter]

-- There are three senators running. Each, Barack, John, and Joe, has the job TODAY of implementing changes for the benefit of our country. It is, by definition,"within their pay grade" to legislate already.
-- Obama has a solid party line voting record...if he were really about change, it would already be evident. With him you will get more of the same.
-- McCain has a more variable record and might shake things up (though congressional obstructionism has prevailed for long), and to his credit he has put his life on the line in military service.
-- Biden would prefer to pick and choose from the Bill of Rights. Nuff said.
-- Palin, with some history of government reform (i.e. reducing general fund spending by 124,000,000, sale of fancy state jet, 7,000,000,000 education and transportation savings plan...) = a refreshing vp candidate