The essential exchange of the New Hampshire Democrats' debate
by James Fallows

Then, after an appeal by John Edwards to the Teddy Roosevelt tradition of head-on trust-busting, this response from Obama: Look, I think it's easier to be cynical and just say, "You know what, it can't be done because Washington's designed to resist change." But in fact there have been periods of time in our history where a president inspired the American people to do better, and I think we're in one of those moments right now. I think the American people are hungry for something different and can be mobilized around big changes -- not incremental changes, not small changes.... [T]he truth is actually words do inspire. Words do help people get involved. Words do help members of Congress get into power so that they can be part of a coalition to deliver health care reform, to deliver a bold energy policy. Don't discount that power, because when the American people are determined that something is going to happen, then it happens. And if they are disaffected and cynical and fearful and told that it can't be done, then it doesn't. I'm running for president because I want to tell them, yes, we can. And that's why I think they're responding in such large numbers. Of course each of them was right. Each expressed part of the job of a president, or any leader. Words and deeds. Talk and action. Poetry and prose. Presidents obviously do best when they can do both. But only Obama captured what is unique about a president's role. A President's actions matter -- Lyndon Johnson with his legislation, Richard Nixon with his opening to China -- but lots of other people can help shape policies. A President's words often matter more, and only he -- or she -- can express them. Grant led the Union Army, but Abraham Lincoln, in addition to selecting Grant, wrote and delivered his inaugural and Gettysburg addresses. Long before Franklin Roosevelt actually did anything about the Great Depression, his first inaugural address ("the only thing we have to fear...") was important in itself. The same was true of Winston Churchill just after he succeeded Neville Chamberlain. It would be years before the Nazi advance would be contained, but Churchill's words and bearing were indispensable to Britain's recovery.

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  thanks to Bad Attitudes

Fallows and Obama are right. Words do matter. Roosevelt was before my time but his "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." must have electrified the country at the height of the depression. I know it affects me now. I do remember John Kennedy's "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." I was a Senior in High School. It was an inspiration to a whole generation. Yes, now we know what a terrible womanizer he was, that he was very ill, and probably headed for a failed Presidency; had he not been shot. But those words still hold true and still raise metaphorical goosebumps. We are in sore need for words and change. Edwards is my choice but we could do a lot worse, and are, than Obama, who knows how to rally people behind him. Bring on the words! It's been so long, so long.