President’s Libya Speech No Crowd Pleaser

The President’s speech to the nation on Monday night marked a week of ceaseless bombing of the Libyan coastline. Within the historical context of both Afghanistan and Iraq you might have thought that Americans would have showed more interest in his speech. But bizarrely, the viewer numbers for the President’s Libya speech were slender.

His audience on Monday night was 25.6 million—the smallest audience for any of his evening broadcasts.

Size Isn’t Everything For The President’s Speech On Libya

His annual State of the Union address and other special addresses to the joint Houses of Congress typically draw much larger television and online audiences.

Military speeches typically draw an audience. His Afghanistan speech on 1st December 2009 drew an audience of 41 million viewers. And his 31st August 2010 speech about the ending of combat operations in Iraq attracted an audience of 29 million.

But environmental speeches also do well with the American people. His speech on June 15th 2010 realised an audience of 32 million viewers.

National tragedies also attract an audience. The President’s Tucson speech in January 2011 achieved an audience of 31 million viewers.

So, what’s going on? Is there general inertia or do people not really know a great deal about Libya? It’s worth a thought.

But the answer is probably more prosaic. The President’s Libya speech began at 1930. And that’s well before the prime-time TV scheduling. It’s very probable that many of his potential audience hadn’t yet settled in for the show so early in the evening.

A Workable Libya Speech From The President

How was his Libya speech? It wasn’t a classic. The autocue worked but it was clear that the President hadn’t rehearsed this speech that much. There were stumbles with the phrase, “let that happen” and the word “refugees.” And he couldn’t decipher between the words “wanted” and “waited.” When you choose to use a speech prompter, it’s always good to note that autocue practice is needed.

He took a story-telling formula for much of his half hour, autocued Libya speech with the odd turn of metaphorical allusion:

we must stand alongside those who believe in the same core principles that have guided us through many storms

and,

And as I’ve said before, our strength abroad is anchored in our strength here at home. That must always be our North Star

Jargon In The President’s Libya Speech

We also heard the awful language of many politicians:

Tonight, let us give thanks for the Americans who are serving through these trying times, and the coalition that is carrying our effort forward.

Give thanks. Yes, agreed, But a thanks for carrying our effort forward? A nonsensical phrase, Mr. President. But, unfortunately, there’s a lot of it about—as we found with this Ford Taurus presentation.

So, an earnest Presidential Libya speech. Cold and clinical and absolutely on message about the action being taken.