Synopses & Reviews
Barack Obama, junior senator from Illinois, first captured Americas attention with his keynote address to the Democratic National Convention in 2004. Now, as presumptive Democratic candidate for President, Obamas superb and captivating oratory style has earned him comparisons to John F. Kennedy and even Martin Luther King and on the campaign trail Obama has achieved near rock-star status. Obama speaks on themes of race, identity, community, and above all, his hoped-for vision of a New America. His legions of supporters gravitate towards his unblemished idealism. Still, as David Olive writes, even the most ardent supporters of Barack Obama ... might wonder at times if the mesmerizing orator is more style than substance.” Here, interspersed with the entire text of Obamas key speeches, Olive explores the controversies: Obama shedding his American flag lapel pin, Reverend Wright, his anti-war stance, his strong Christian faith, and his often racially charged remarks and the victories: passage for more than 280 bills in his last two years in the Illinois state senate, his actions towards social justice, and his remarkable rise from underdog to potential future president of the United States. Bookended with Obamas 04 keynote at the Democratic National Convention and A More Perfect Union” called the only historic speech of this 2008 campaign An American Story exposes politicos, voters, and fans of Obama to the speeches that gave rise to the current phenomenon.
Synopsis
Barack Obamas superb and captivating oratory style has earned him comparisons to John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, and this collection of his complete speechespresented for the first time in their entiretyexposes politicos, voters, and fans of Obama to the words that have catapulted his remarkable rise from underdog to future U.S. president. First capturing Americas attention with his keynote address to the Democratic National Convention in 2004, all of Obamas key speeches are presented as he discusses themes of race, identity, community, and above all, his hoped-for vision of a new America. Interspersed throughout the collection, political columnist David Olive reveals lesser-known stories and facts about Obama, his career, and the campaign trail, while also exploring the controversiesfrom his shedding of his American flag lapel pin and the remarks made by Reverend Wright to his anti-war stance, his strong Christian faith, and his often racially charged remarks. This book is truly a primer for readers who want to examine the substance of his thought and reflect on the inspiring words of a gifted orator.
About the Author
David Olive is the author of 10 previous books, including More Political Babble: The Dumbest Things Politicians Ever Said, and an award-winning journalist whose business articles, news reporting, and reviews have been published widely. Currently a business columnist at the Toronto Star, he has been the editor-in-chief of Report on Business Magazine, as well as a senior writer at the Financial Post and the National Post. He is a frequent speaker on business topics, notably corporate leadership, economics, and business ethics, and a lecturer in journalism. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.