Hillary's supporters have been increasing their accusations that Obama's speeches lack substance. They say, in spite of his detailed plans, impressive Senate record, and clarity of judgment that he's an empty suit. They seem to think it's a sign of shallowness that he's so inspiring, that he can communicate his vision for America so clearly that people actually don't get bored. When he speaks of policy, he's inspiring. When he paints a vision in clear, broad strokes, he's even more inspiring.
They say it must be too good to be true. Anyone known for inspiring a people must be an empty suit. Perhaps they're right. Just look at these vapid, feel-good platitudes, and see below for the empty suits who spoke them:
A.
"Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth."
B.
"One man with courage is a majority."
C.
"Things do not happen. Things are made to happen."
D.
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
E.
"We are the change that we seek."
F.
"My job is not to represent Washington to you, but to represent you to Washington."
G.
"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock."
H.
"Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war."
I.
"Do or do not... there is no try."
J.
"Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom."
K.
"I don't oppose all wars. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war."
L.
"Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future."
M.
"My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of earth."
N.
"Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among the people."
O.
"That is the true genius of America, a faith in the simple dreams of its people, the insistence on small miracles. That we can say what we think, write what we think, without hearing a sudden knock on the door."
P.
"If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich."
Q.
"We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard."
R.
"There is not a liberal America and a conservative America - there is the United States of America. There is not a black America and a white America and Latino America and Asian America - there's the United States of America."
S.
"It's not just enough to change the players. We've gotta change the game."
T.
"A house divided against itself cannot stand."
U.
"A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on."
V.
"If the people cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists - to protect them and to promote their common welfare - all else is lost."
W.
"Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light."
X.
"There is no such thing as false hope. There is only hope."
Y.
"And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
Z.
"Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate."
A. George Washington
B. Thomas Jefferson
C. John F. Kennedy
D. Franklin D. Roosevelt
E. Barack Obama
F. Barack Obama
G. Thomas Jefferson
H. John Adams
I. Yoda
J. Thomas Jefferson
K. Barack Obama
L. John F. Kennedy
M. Abraham Lincoln
N. John Adams
O. Barack Obama
P. John F. Kennedy
Q. John F. Kennedy
R. Barack Obama
S. Barack Obama
T. Abraham Lincoln
U. John F. Kennedy
V. Barack Obama
W. George Washington
X. Barack Obama
Y. John F. Kennedy
Z. John F. Kennedy
Of course, there's nothing really empty about any of these, nor is there anything empty about Obama's speeches. For those who doubt the utility of inspiration, I can quote Abraham Lincoln:
"With public sentiment, nothing can fail. Without it, nothing can succeed."
And to those who doubt the utility of unity, Lincoln asks:
"Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?"
Another empty suit has something to add to that point:
Let Thomas Jefferson cut straight to the point:
"Every generation needs a new revolution."