http://www.snellcom.com/
In this latest edition of his continuing series of Media Minutes, Speech Coach David Snell uses excerpts from President Obama's second prime time news conference to illustrate one approach to the hypothetical question reporters like to ask. The President talked around it, but Snell suggests another approach is to say "I won't answer a hypothetical question, but I can say..." and bridge to what you want to talk about.
Obama campaigned in Massachusetts against Scott Brown; he's now a senator. He campaigned in New Jersey against Chris Christie; he’s now the governor. He campaigned in Virginia against Bob McDonnell; he’s now governor. He spoke for the health care plan; it became less popular. He campaigned in 2010 for the Democrats, they were shellacked. He flew to Copenhagen to get Chicago the Olympics; it was the first city eliminated. There is no evidence that he has the rhetorical powers he is relying on.
hookalakah 5 months ago