By Doug FirbyThe stunning oratorical performance by the tainted, yet immensely talented, Bill Clinton at the Democratic convention in the U.S. drove home a painful truth for us long-sufferers north of the 49th parallel. Say what you will about the Americans and theyre high-octane political posturing, they still can put on a show.We poor Canadians, by comparison, are suffering through a dreadful oratorical drought, where speeches that would barely win a high school competition are being foisted upon us as examples of acceptable parliamentary leadership. In reality, they sound about as authentic as a WWF play-by-play commentator.I know what youre thinking. You think Im a closet Democrat. Im not, and thats not what this column is about.This is about the ability to use words to inspire, convince and motivate. Its about the ability to think on ones feet, and not fall back on pat pre-scripted pablum. Its about being able to rebut without appearing contrived.Separate the politics from the performance for a minute. Look at Clintons performance not from a political bias, but from the perspective of salesmanship. Here is a man whose second presidential term ended in scandal and embarrassment; a man who behaved so badly we assume Hillary only stays with him as a matter of convenience. And yet there he was, stepping out the bullpen to try and save the game for incumbent president Barack Obama, a man who disappointed the electorate in a different way by failing to deliver on a vision many now believe was fiction in the first place.Clinton faced that restive crowd, grabbed them by the throats and put on a 48-minute performance filled with power, insight, humour and conviction that left his audience crying for more. His timing, word selection, cadence and body language were masterful.OK, Clinton has always been an exceptional speaker, so it may be unfair to draw comparisons between him and, oh, lets say Stephen Harper. But the comparison doesnt have to be with Harper; it could be former Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff (think of his embarrassing rise up campaign rant), or the Conservatives John Baird or the NDPs Thomas Mulcair. Not one of them could talk their way out of a traffic ticket, let alone ignite a nation.It was not always this way. Our first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, was reputed to be a gifted orator, although the written records of his speeches tell only half the story. More recently, former Ontario NDP leader Stephen Lewis was famous for his passion and elocution. And, of course, the mercurial and divisive Pierre Trudeau could use his powerful intellect to eviscerate his opponents.There have been many more. In his book Great Canadian Speeches, author Dennis Gruending cites such familiar names as Joseph Howe, Thomas DArcy McGee, Wilfrid Laurier, Arthur Meighen, Tommy Douglas, Jean Chretien and Louis Riel.But that was then. It most certainly is not now. These days, the rhetoric echoing through those halls is tiresome and predictable.Writing for Macleans magazine in 2010, Adrian Wild observed: The ability to speak freely, as opposed to merely stand and read, is still what defines the Houses best orators. To be able to ask a question, listen to the response and react appropriately is, within the ornate walls of this House of Commons, a rare gift.Who has that talent these days? Wild puts his vote with Liberal interim leader Bob Rae, who is pretty clever with his rejoinders. Facing heckling in the House one day a couple of years ago, Rae quipped, I did not know 250 knuckles grazing the floor could make so much noise.Thats a clever line, all right, but Id argue it does not even begin to approach great oratory. The ability to put the other guy down forcefully is really just the price of admission to Parliament; what does it have to do with building a national vision and consensus? If anything, the art of the putdown often has a perverse effect.The right speaker finds the right words for a nation in need. Churchill found the words to inspire Great Britain during the darkest days of the Second World War when defeat appeared imminent. Abraham Lincoln famously needed just two minutes to put the American Civil War into context for a divided nation during his Gettysburg address.When in our lifetimes have we seen a Canadian leader stand up and galvanize the nation? I would argue that we are still waiting for our modern oratorical messiah. Will he or she ever come? Doug Firby is editor-in-chief of Troy Media (troymedia.com) and national affairs columnist.Copyright Troy Media.
