Obama’s former speechwriter on the secrets he learned from his boss

[babylonsister]

Obama’s former speechwriter on the secrets he learned from his boss
Sarah Muller, @digimuller
6:35 AM on 04/12/2013


Daily remarks go something like this: the speechwriter cranks out the first draft, sends it over for tweaks and wait for edits. The major speeches involve taking notes, sit-down meetings with a team of advisers, researchers, transcribing copy, rewrites and usually some sleepless nights. When they didn’t get any notes back, they knew they were “in trouble” with their boss–the president of the United States.

Jon Favreau told MSNBC.com he misses his former job as President Obama’s chief speechwriter, though not the late hours. He began the job in 2005, becoming the second youngest head speechwriter in the White House’s history.

In February, Favreau left the post not long after Obama’s second inaugural address to pursue TV screenwriting; he also opened a consulting business in Washington. “I do miss the creative process with him, because that’s an experience that you just can’t replicate,” said the Massachusetts native.

When Favreau left, President Obama said, “He has become a friend and a collaborator on virtually every major speech I’ve given in the Senate, on the campaign trail and in the White House.”

Favreau called Obama the “best boss” he’s ever had. In spite of the constant pressures of the Oval Office, the president “never raised his voice, he never got frustrated, he never yelled at us,” he said. He also credited the president with making him a “better storyteller.”

That doesn’t mean they always saw eye-to-eye. “The president is very open to advice, which is why he’s so great to work with. And so if you want to change something, if you believe one of the president’s edits isn’t quite right, he’s more than happy to listen to any of his speechwriters and sometimes he’ll say ‘That’s a great point, let’s change that’ and sometimes he’ll say ‘No, I had it right the first time.’”

more...

http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/04/12/obamas-former-speechwriter-on-the-secrets-he-learned-from-his-boss/

[lunatica]

1. President Obama isn't a slogan slinger

Most Democrats aren't. But the GOP do little more than parrot soundbites. At the end of the day you've heard the same soundbite 100 times as they saturate the airwaves.

[pinto]

2. Yep, often verbatim.

Boggles me sometimes how transparent they are. Yet, it works with their constituency apparently. Go figure.

[hopemountain]

3. it is a form of

verbal/aural masturbation. saying the same thing people want to hear over and over again to make them happy.