More evidence that Obama's speechwriter is too inexperienced for the job

I'm catching up on reading a few odds and ends that didn't appear in the Middletown Journal this month.

An article in Dec. 18 Washington Post adds to the mountain of unwelcome information we already have about President-elect Obama's speechwriter Jon Favreau, who I'm starting to suspect is trying to get himself fired, so he can avoid wasting the rest of his twenties splitting infinitives ad infinitum with White House policy creeps.

How else can we explain the fact that Favreau is publicly sweating out the writing of the inaugural address:

He listened to recordings of past inaugural addresses and met with Peggy Noonan, Ronald Reagan's speechwriter, to seek advice. One of Favreau's assistants interviewed historians such as David McCullough.

Still more daunting is the list of things Favreau can't think about as he writes the inaugural. He went for a run to the Lincoln Memorial last month and stopped in his tracks when he imagined the mall packed with 3 million people listening to some of his words. A few weeks later, Favreau winced when Obama spokesman Bill Burton reminded him: "Dude, what you're writing is going to be hung up in people's living rooms!"

"If you start thinking about what's at stake, it can get paralyzing," Favreau said.

So your solution is to tell the Washington Post and the world how much pressure you're under? Like, too much transparency, Dude!

Jon, I speak for all communicators over the age of 30 when I advise you: Add to your list of pre-speech preparatory activities: Don't give any interviews during the writing (and don't give any afterwards, either).

One wonders why Obama hasn't come down on the young man yet. Bigger fish to fry, I suppose. But you heard it at Writing Boots first: No matter what kind of inaugural address Favreau writes (and I hope it's a doozy), he won't be around this time next year. And it'll be for the best—for everyone involved.

Comments

[Diane]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the inauguration about the president and his vision, yadda, yadda, yadda, not a speechwriter trying to get his 15 minutes of fame?

[David Murray]

Yeah, Diane, that's what I'd have expected one of the president-elect's men to have told Favreau some weeks or even months ago.

[Rueben]

Maybe this is what happens when you go to Noonan for advice...Does he have a book deal yet?

[David Murray]

Good point, Reuben. Yes, the main source of trouble is ALL speechwriters to some extent have gotten guidance from Noonan the Ghost Windbag, and that genie won't go back in the bottle. But this Favreau kid is--inadvertently with his Clinton boob-grab and inconceivably with his declarations about the historical importance of the rough draft on his hard drive--is setting new records.

[David Murray]

And dear God, will you please tell me why I always spell it, "Reuben"?

[Alice]

Is this the same Jon Favreau shown drunkenly groping a cardboard cut-out of Senator Clinton? Is there any truth to the rumor that, to be fair in his tasteless denigrations, he also tried to force-feed a cardboard cut-out of former Senator Obama some watermelon?

[Ron Shewchuk]

Years ago I wrote a speech for a corporate executive and, as good speechwriters should do at least once in a while, I watched him deliver it.

Watched in cringing horror, that is, as, near the end of what was a pretty good speech, he made some offhand remark that began "as my speechwriter said the other day...."

I don't remember what he was referring to, but I do remember how deeply embarrassed I was for him, and for me. Speechwriters should always -- ALWAYS -- be anonymous, hidden, shrouded in mystery, for the sake of their speakers' credibility and for the sake of their own humility.

This guy will gone by March. Sadly, he will almost certainly write a behind-the-scenes book about Obama's run for the presidency and become a news network hack commentator of some kind.

Classic case of someone who read their own headlines and began to believe them.

[David Murray]

All very well said, Ron. Alas, that's why I blame his youth and not his character.

He hasn't yet suffered the devastating humiliations we come to call "experience."

[Ron Shewchuk]

Indeed. Sometimes being successful too early leads to obliviousness and the long-term mediocrity that comes with it..

[Aidan]

I think many Americans, if they ever hear of this guy, might first exclaim: Wow, the guy from Swingers writes Obama's speeches? I know I did a doubletake the first time I read about Favreau the Speechwriter. It was soon after I had seen Ironman which the OTHER Jon Favreau directed so I guess I had that one on the mind.

Anyway, I think you all may be right. This kid is going to be kicked to the curb once the big, soaring "beginning of term" speeches are delivered. Obama is going to have to talk about details at some point soon and I don't think that's quite Favreau's specialty.