McCain Tries His Hand at Celebrity Speech Writing

So far Barack Obama has been giving the most souring speeches and heartfelt metaphors, and for that, he has built himself a messianic following that has supported him enthusiastically enough that McCain’s campaign has been calling him the “biggest celebrity in the world.”

Just this week, Obama fired back, calling McCain “Washington’s biggest celebrity.”

Maybe he was on to something, because McCain’s recent speech on the conflict in Georgia certainly has over-the-top celebrity aspects to it. The specific quote I am referring to is, “I speak for all Americans when I say, today, we are all Georgians.”

Really, McCain? Are you also a “citizen of the world?”

Surprisingly, McCain’s outreach to liberals who like good speeches hasn’t worked. Andrew Sullivan gave it a dismissive “Really?”, and the Daily Kos’ response was Koserific as usual.

Most of the conservative blogs have stood their ground against unabashed grandiose, though. Hot Air said, “Not true, as a tour around the blogosphere will quickly reveal, but the fact that he’s wrong doesn’t detract from the nobility of the sentiment,” then a lot of other blogs just ignored it.

A segment of his speech is available here on CNN.com. On that site specifically, Obama is running a negative ad right before the speech and also to the side of the video. He is also getting farmer supporters in Ohio to paint their barns in support. He has tried to run ads on Gas Station TV, the channel that runs on gas pumps at some stations. He has certainly been aggressive with his recent advertising campaigns.

McCain published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal today (what, couldn’t make the N.Y. Times?), titled “We are all Georgians” expressing his views on the situation.

I’m just warning you McCain, if you keep giving speeches like that, your supporters might move towards another candidate who has a more stable position against glowing speeches.