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Posts Tagged President obama
Obama’s Report Card For Last Night’s Jobs Speech
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, Communications, Crisis Communications, Debate Central, Government & Politics on September 9, 2011
President Obama’s speech last night earned a lot of buzz before and after he made his case for a one-year $450 billion jobs bill he wants passed. So how did the president do from a presentation perspective in making his case before the American public, press and his political peers? The answer:
Style: A+. Obama is still the coolest cat in the room and he walks and talks with great confidence.
Passion: A+. Obama spoke more forcefully and with greater passion than he has in a long time.
Platform skills: A+. Obama is still the master of the TelePrompTer. He is smooth and makes fewer flubs in a year of speeches than George. W. Bush did in the first 60 seconds of most of his speeches.
Civility and warmth: A+. Obama likes everyone and doesn’t have a hateful bone in his body. He is darn likeable and it shows in his speech.
So far, so good.
Policy Impact: F-. This president is either unwilling or unable to package his ideas within a greater narrative, story or philosophy. He didn’t explain his vision of how we got into this financial mess and he didn’t explain why his approach is different or better than the Republicans. Read the rest of this entry »
Michelle Obama Claims Her Husband Doesn’t Dye His Hair
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, Communications, Government & Politics, media relations on February 10, 2011
President Obama doesn’t dye his hair; this is obvious to anyone who isn’t a complete knucklehead. Sure, in some photos his hair looks darker than in others. In some photos, I look like I have dark hair too. But in most photos (and in real life) my hair looks 80% grey.
Interestingly, in the First Lady’s Today show interview, she mentions that her husband would have needed to start dying his hair 10 years ago, before he realized he would be president. The savvy first lady correctly realizes that if you are a public figure, you can’t make an abrupt change to your image without that change erupting into an image problem.
President Barack Obama Quit Smoking for past year, First Lady Michelle Obama Reveals in Sound Bite Blunder
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, Communications, Government & Politics, Video on February 9, 2011
McCain says a ‘much more centrist’ Obama ‘much’ easier to work with -media training
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, Communications, Crisis Communications, Government & Politics, Media, Media Training, Video, Voice, Workplace on February 4, 2011
http://www.tjwalker.com media training, presentation training
The president has become more centrist, which makes him easier to work with, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Thursday.
Full Text of The State of the Union
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, Communications, Government & Politics, News, speech writing on January 26, 2011
If you love speeches and speech writing, you owe it to yourself to not only watch a speech, but to read it as well. Here is the full transcript of the President’s State of the Union.
The White House
State of the Union 2011- VIDEO analysis
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, Authors Corner, Best Speaker of the Day, blogging, Body Language, celebrities, CEOs/Financial, Communications, Crisis Communications, Government & Politics, Politics, Video, Voice, Workplace on January 25, 2011
http://www.tjwalker.com media training, presentation training
Moments after the State of the Union Address finished TJ Walker looks at the highs and lows of the speech and grades President Obama’s performance.
John McCain Suggestion: Stop Standing and Applauding the State of the Union Speeches
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, Communications, Government & Politics, Media, Politics, Public Speaking Skills on January 24, 2011
Yesterday on Face the Nation, Senator John McCain made a great point: State of the Union speeches are long and boring because politicians on either side of the aisle feel the need to stand and applaud every two seconds. I agree. Yes, it’s nice for any speaker to get crowd reaction, but it does become quite tedious when a president can’t get through a sentence without having to wait 2 minutes for everyone to sit down and quite themselves. This is why State of the Union addresses that can be read out loud in 15 minutes actually takes an hour and 15 minutes to deliver to Congress. More at Mediaite.com
Obama is Promoting, Previewing and Packaging His State of the Union Address
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, Communications, Government & Politics, Keynote Speaking, media relations, News on January 24, 2011
The White House is spending a lot of time letting people know what Obama is going to be speaking about in the State of the Union Address. They have even sent out a video in advance of Obama talking about what he will talk about in the speech.
Is this smart?
Will President Obama Talk Gay Marriage, DOMA Repeal at State of the Union?
Posted by TJ Walker in advertising, Analysis, Audio/Video Technology, Authors Corner, Best Speaker of the Day, blogging, Body Language, celebrities, CEOs/Financial on January 19, 2011
What should President Obama speak about during his State of the Union Address?
What should he put in and what should he leave out? We would love to hear your feedback. Leave your messages here.
Obama to Name Former Commerce Secretary William Daley as Chief of Staff
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, Body Language, CEOs/Financial, Communications, Crisis Communications, Government & Politics, Politics, Voice, Workplace, Worst Speaker of the Day on January 6, 2011
President Obama went back to his Chicago roots to name a new chief of staff, hiring William Daley. What he also did was open up a can of political worms that the conservative pundits and bloggers can run with.
Conservatives will now have a new target to hurl charges of cronyism at, bring up Chicago corruption issues and make claims of political payback.
Obama Retreats From the Public Eye During Vacation
Posted by TJ Walker in Communications, Media, media relations, public relations, reputation management on December 26, 2010
President Obama, like President Reagan, seems to be psychologically secure enough that he’s comfortable not being in the limelight all the time. Some Presidents feel that have to provide a photo-op 365 days a year. Obama seems to genuinely crave down time. It might take him out of a news cycle or two, but it should help his image long term if the relaxation keeps him rested and centered.
Obama in Afghanistan – Thanks Troops for Sacrifice
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, Communications, Government & Politics, media relations, News, public relations, Video on December 3, 2010
President Obama makes a surprise visit to troops in Afghanistan. A good PR move of course, but what other implications does this have?
Cheap Shot of the day – Fox News: “Obama Praises Indian Chief Who Killed U.S. General.”
Posted by TJ Walker in Communications, Media, News on November 16, 2010
See for yourself at Gawker
President Obama will hold a press conference Wednesday at 1:00 PM
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, Communications, Crisis Communications, Government & Politics, Media, Politics, public relations, Public Speaking Skills, reputation management, Uncategorized on November 2, 2010
What will/should the President say?
The President will try to establish a tone that is positive and upbeat to contrast with those who will say his presidency is finished and that Obama should be suicidal. He must seem mildly chastened, but still seem powerful, in control and filled with historical perspective. Expect to hear references to Clinton and his mid-term losses in 1994 and Reagan’s losses in 1982.
Obama apologizes for using word “Enemies.” Wishes he had said “opponents”
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, Crisis Communications, Government & Politics, Media, Politics, Presentation Skills Training, Public Speaking Skills on November 2, 2010
One again, President Obama is playing right into the hands of his, pardon the expression, enemies. By apologizing for using the word “enemy” he comes across as prissy, sissy, effete and elite. These are the exact points made by his political enemies. Obama still seems stuck in 2008 when he was the new kid everyone loved. Wake up Mr. President! You have real enemies. They want to destroy you! And once they gain control of a branch of Congress they will focus on impeaching you first and looking for legal grounds later. The President needs to use firmer, tougher, harsher rhetoric when destining his opponents, or whatever he wants to cal them. More at the Washington Post.
Obama Speaks to Half-Empty Coliseum in Ohio
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, Audio/Video Technology, Communications, Great Lectures, Keynote Speaking, media relations, Politics, public relations, reputation management on November 1, 2010
That headline is and should be the worry of every speaker and conference organizer. It’s far better to have a small room and have stand room only or to expect 200 people and only put out 150 chairs and then add chairs when you need them. There is a crowd psychology that is in play for your audience and the news media. If you deliver 200 people for a room that holds 150, you will be described as wildly charismatic. However, if you deliver 50,000 people it a stadium that holds 100,000 then you will be considered a boring failure. If you are a coordinating a venue for a political speaker or any other speaker, you must factor in the expectations game into every decision you make.
President Obama calls for Kindler, Gentler Washington???
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, Crisis Communications, Government & Politics, Media, media relations, Politics, Presentation Skills Training, reputation management on October 30, 2010
President Obama, in his weekly radio address today, spoke of a post-election desire for compromise and rhetorical cooling down between Republicans and Democrats. Huh? Obama appears to be more and more isolated in the White House. His passionless rhetoric is demoralizing his liberal base. Meanwhile, conservatives are flexing their muscles in DC and can’t wait to begin de facto or even actual impeachment hearings for Obama, Who seems clueless to what is happening. Read more at the Washington Post
President Obama appears on the Daily show with Jon Stewart
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, celebrities, Communications, Government & Politics, Media, Media Training on October 28, 2010
So how did Obama do? I don’t agree with those who claim it’s below a President to go on a comedy show. The bridge was crossed in ’92 when Clinton went on Arsenio Hall’s show. I give Obama a B- for his appearance. He made a strong, positive defense for why his health care initiative was a major accomplishment that helps 30 million people. But he was weak at defending his specific economic actions. Finally, he just isn’t tough or mean enough at defining his opponents in a negative light. Reagan was able to do it, and still appear to be a gentleman. You can watch the Daily Show here and judge for yourself.
Sound bites of the day- August 15, 2010 TJ Walker
Posted by TJ Walker in Analysis, Body Language, Communications, Crisis Communications, Government & Politics, Media on August 15, 2010
President Obama finally spoke out in favor of the right of Muslims to build a mosque near Ground zero. How will this play as a communications tool in campaigns? Obama will be portrayed as endorsing a Muslim plan to build a Mosque on top of ground zero. Which is sort of like saying anyone who endorsees the right of free speech is encouraging people to run around using the N-word.
Presidential boy language alert: the president when tot the Gulf of Mexico and made a point of swimming in it with his daughter. The white House even released a photo of the president in the Ocean. But, the white House was careful not to show the president shirtless. For a president, being photographed shirtless is a non-win situation. If the photo makes the president look good, then he is a vain, shameless exhibitionist. If the photo makes the president look soft, fat or droopy, then he becomes an object of pathetic humiliation. This time, it looks like the Administration played out all the angles correctly.
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