Posted on 08/01/2009 12:15:04 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
Pop quiz: When President Obama uses the phrase “let me be clear,” it means:
a) Pencils up: This is the takeaway.
b) What I’ve said doesn’t mean what you might fear it means – or what my opponents will tell you it means.
c) I am not going to get rolled on this one.
d) All of the above, and then some.
“Let me be clear.”
In the first six months of Obama’s presidency, this simple sentence has gone from political pet phrase to full-on rhetorical signature, appearing (along with its variants “let’s be clear” and “I want to be clear”) scores of times in the commander in chief’s pre-written and extemporaneous remarks – sometimes more than once in a given speech.
But what does he mean when he says it? And why does the president who made “transparency” a national buzzword use it so often?
It depends on whom you ask.
“All speakers have verbal tics – habits they repeat, usually without even consciousness,” says former George W. Bush speechwriter David Frum, who believes the president’s repeated use of the phrase is just that – a verbal twitch.
But the phrase is not simply an overbred “um” – it serves a function. At its most basic level, says Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania , “It’s a pointing phrase. It’s a phrase that says, ‘What I’m about to tell you is important.’” And not coincidentally, notes Jamieson, when the president says it, “What’s your natural response if you’re a reporter? Sound bite.”
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Scientologist?
“There are those who say...”
“Let me be clear” = “OK, now I’m going to dumb this down from my lofty understanding and explanation to your low level, serfs.” It’s sign #1,497,023 of his utter arrogance...
The phrase is meant to create the impression that he’s being forthright, blunt, and honest (quite unlike a typical politician) when everything that follows his pronouncement (you know, all that complex fiddly policy stuff) clearly indicates putting up a smoke screen or just lying his head off. Obama shares V. Putin’s talent of creating the impression of moderation, honesty, decency, and even “empathy”, all to hide the fact that he’s little more than a ruthless, dedicated power broker and a thug.
“I inherited this ___________.”
My current favorite “verbal tic” is,
“You know what?”
“...in the commander in chief’s pre-written and extemporaneous remarks...”
There’ve been extemporaneous remarks?
Nah.
ex·tem·po·ra·ne·ous (k-stmp-rn-s)
adj.
1. Carried out or performed with little or no preparation; impromptu: an extemporaneous piano recital.
2. Prepared in advance but delivered without notes or text: an extemporaneous speech.
3. Skilled at or given to unrehearsed speech or performance: an accomplished extemporaneous speaker.
4. Provided, made, or adapted as an expedient; makeshift: an extemporaneous policy decision.
“Let me be clear” means that I am now going to contradict whatever I have said previously on this issue.
“let me be clear,” is the preface to a lie.
“The fact of the matter” drives me up a wall.
Translation: “Listen to my voice, not my words. Judge me on the color of my inflection, not the content of my consonants.”
Yes, this is part of his attempt to cover up what he’s really saying, satisfying the Conscious mind to perform his mass-hypnosis.
Another favorite of President Soetoro is ‘the notion that...’
Obama says “let me be clear” as he peeks out from under his cloak of transparency.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.