The Politics of Poetry (Ronald Goldfarb)

Poets rejoice! There is a politician who reigns in the politics of poetry. As every sentient observer has seen, candidate Hillary Clinton has criticized her chief political opponent, Barack Obama, for being more poetry than prose. John McCain has said the same, and can be expected to make it a theme in the likely three presidential debates. By that distinction, they intimate that prose is substantial (it is synonymous, in the political context, with solutions). Poetry, in contrast, is arguably rhetorical; it sounds good but is insubstantial. So far, that argument has failed to match the public’s reactions.

The distinction has been made — by Wordsworth, I believe — that while prose is the perfect word in the perfect place (sound like Sen. Clinton?), poetry is the most perfect word in the most perfect place. The idea behind this apt distinction certainly characterizes the three candidates’ styles of argument. Many perceptive observers have noted that, all the huffing and puffing aside, there are minor, nuanced distinctions between the two Democratic candidates’ substantive platforms. That being so, the success of the nominating process has been to winnow down, among several appealing candidates’ claims, the one who generates the enthusiasm of the voters to carry out those messages.

When Obama runs against McCain, as I believe is inevitable, the contrast will be stark. Whatever one thinks about the positions of the senator from Arizona, it’s hard not to recognize his speaking style as wooden and prosaic in the most pedestrian sense.

Sen. Obama’s poetry, his rhythm and pace and delivery, charges his message and engages his audience. This oratorical power can make the difference between empty rhetoric and motivational pleas. Best example: his extraordinary speech in Philadelphia on race, a rare and intelligent exegesis, all the more remarkable because it was written in the middle of a stressful and exhausting campaign, by the man himself, and has impressed people of all ages, parties and dispositions. Those who underestimate the power of poetry to lift people’s minds and souls, even those of cynical political listeners, agree that his words were historic.

Poets of the world, unite. Your time has come!
_____________________________________

Ronald Goldfarb is a Washington, D.C., attorney and author. He is a supporter of Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Ill.) campaign.

Archived under: Presidential Campaign
Permalink TrackBack  Email This Post


Share this post
      What's This