One of the most direct ways to become informed on each of the remaining two (major) candidates’ views, is to listen to their own words. This is fairly easy as most of their important speeches (and some not so important ones!) are covered live. When one of the candidates gives an especially poignant speech that is well received by the public and the media, they are roundly praised. Herein lies my question- should we be showering the candidates with praise, or their speechwriters?

I can of course completely understand the need for the candidates to have speechwriters. They are just far too busy to write the many speeches they are required to give, especially when running for office. And naturally they have some amount of input into what goes into a speech, as well as (hopefully) getting the opportunity to review the speech before they give it. Nonetheless, it strikes me as being a little odd that we give so much credit for a great speech to the candidate, when in fact an individual or individuals that we never get to hear are the authors of the speech.

Even a master orator, like Barack Obama, has a team of speechwriters. I have heard him speak live, and I will say that he is indeed an incredible speaker. But in some ways, should I be calling him an incredible speaker, or an incredible actor? I have similarly heard John McCain speak live, and should I be calling him an incredible speaker, or an incredible actor?

Actors give great performances, or at least at times they do. Are John McCain and Barack Obama delivering performances as well?

I don’t want to take anything away from either candidate. I simply want to question who it is that should be recognized when a candidate delivers (performs?!) a great speech. Aren’t the candidates themselves the first ones to criticize the phrasing of a speech when they encounter a negative reaction to something they have said? We certainly don’t hear them praise their speechwriters when they encounter a positive reaction to something they have said. A funny breed, those politicians, huh?