In one of her less than astute moves, Hillary Clinton tried to dismiss
Barack Obama's gift for rhetoric as just words. I would have loved to see
her try that routine on Barbara Jordan; there wouldn't have been much of
Sen. Clinton left after that. She'd have been blown away by the sheer force
of Barbara Jordan's magnificent, inspiring, imperative words - and the
heights to which they took anyone with the heart and soul and mind to be
moved by them.
Never to have heard Barbara Jordan speak was to miss one of the great
American experiences - educational and spiritual - of the 20th century. May
her memory go beyond a politic invocation of her name. Here's hoping her
spirit will be born again.
Hillary Clinton's low point during Thursday night's was clear to all: when
she stuck with her silly charge of plagiarism against her opponent. It seems
Barack Obama had borrowed a rhetorical device from a friend, supporter, and
fellow governor (Deval Patrick in Massachusetts) to illustrate the power of
words after Sen. Clinton had denigrated their importance in politics.
The only thing Sen. Obama had to do to make his case was to recite some
familiar passages, like the Declaration of Independence. The power of those
words is evident. Plagiarism? This was more a natural response from anybody
with some polemical talent.
But poor Hillary Clinton kept trying to make a mountain out of her molehill.
It's her accusation, however unfounded, and she's sticking with it. The
audience didn't seem to buy it. There's something worse than fighting dirty
in a hard-fought campaign, and that's fighting dumb.
American eloquence may be in decline, but most Americans still recognize
that words have power, and the inspiration they provide shouldn't be
underestimated. That was Hillary Clinton's big mistake. In a way, it's been
the big mistake of her whole campaign. She seems to have no feel at all for
the poetry of politics.