Obama’s Inauguration Speech Relies on the Rhetoric of Responsibility

I heard commentators on NPR argue that the inauguration rhetoric of President Barack Obama did not “soar.” I agree with that criticism, which is why it is unlikely that a single phrase will be quoted by our grandchildren. But political rhetoric should be judged not just on its inspirational eloquence, but also on its ability to move an audience, not just to tears, but to action. In this regard, to borrow a phrase from pastor Rick Warren, the new president delivered a purpose driven speech.

That purpose was to move Americans to think of themselves not as victims, but as citizens with the capacity to work out solutions for the common good.

The first hint of this was in the salutation: not “my fellow Americans,” but “my fellow citizens.”

The speech has its share of high-minded virtues described in metaphors and parallel constructions.  The words of the presidential oath, he says, “have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace.”

But a close reading of the text reveals a tone less of St. Crispin’s Day and more of Election Day, that is, less honor and glory and more get out there and do your duty. The language and imagery is relentless in its recognition of the serious problems faced by the country and the sobering steps needed to solve them. Here’s a sample:

No sign of that shining city on a hill.

The other surprise for me, and I imagine for many of his followers, was the martial language and imagery. One would expect some of this since “our nation is at war.” But Obama went on to evoke — in reverse chronological order — Vietnam, World War II, the Civil War, and the Revolutionary War. The references were to places like Concord, Gettysburg, Normandy, and Khe Sahn; to the blood of generations; to those who faced down fascism and communism; to the “fallen heroes who lie in Arlington” and who “whisper through the ages.” It is not hard to imagine a young president with no military experience who wants to, on his first day, establish himself as the Commander in Chief.

In addition to the men and women of the armed services, Obama canonized a group of working class role models with just enough specificity to make them seem real. There is no cheesy Joe the Plumber characterizations of the American worker, just a celebration of “the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.”

Technological triumphalists will be disappointed, I imagine, in the lonely inclusion of a desire to build digital lines and wield technology’s wonders. In most cases, the appeal is to a set of ancient values and principles, a work ethic that appeals more to what old school journalists would call shoeleather.

My least favorite line was: “Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off…” and I am truly grateful that he did not add the lyric “start all over again.”

This is much better: “We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.”

Mostly absent were moments of praise and celebration, a recognition of the historic achievement of electing the first African-American president, but this moment stood out: “This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.”

This was wonderful language and deserved better than less noble moments, as when members of the crowd began to sing the “Nah, nah, nah, nah, goodbye” song at the sight of President Bush, but a little partisan humor might have helped warm the crowd on a frigid day. “The Daily Show” will no doubt find targets in Hillary Clinton’s half-hearted smile, in the Chief Justice’s blunder on the oath of office, on Aretha Franklin’s headpiece, Rick Warren’s pronunciation of Sasha and much more. 

 

But the booby prize goes to MSNBC. At times, the self-congratulatory Chris Matthews sounded as if he had been sipping from Paula Abdul’s Coke cup. His lame comments included the comparison of the crowd on the mall to a Chia pet and the observation that old folks like to go South in cold weather. The performance was so beneath the occasion that a crowd of us watching at Poynter rose up and demanded that we turn to another network.