Thursday, February 03, 2005
Grand Theater - Canny Politics
President Bush's State of the Union address had many excellent moments, and overall I give it a thumbs up. But there was a particular moment that will be remembered: that was when W introduced the parents of the fallen Marine, Sergeant Byron Norwood, of Pflugerville, Texas.
Bush had earlier introduced a woman from Iraq, Safia Taleb al-Suhail, whose father had been assassinated by Sadaam, and who had just voted in the Iraqi election. Yes, she was flown in for this, no doubt; and seated beside the first lady. But stow your cynical riposte, oh Bush hating lefty, for it will not withstand what was to follow. He then introduced the parents of the Marine, Mr. & Mrs. Norwood, whose son had given his life in Fallujah, and who were seated immediately behind Ms. al-Suhail and Mrs. Bush.
The parents received grateful applause from all present. But while they fought back the tears, Ms. al-Suhail, at this moment standing and clapping directly in front of them, turned and embraced Mrs. Norwood. Faucets everywhere surely opened. The camera then switched to a kind of profile shot of W, who was looking up into the gallery at this scene. Bush has seldom looked so resolute and so human as at that moment. I think even he was getting a little moist; and there couldn't have been a dry eye in the rest of the house, either side of the aisle; there sure wasn't in mine.
Surely Bush's speechwriting team intended that the link be drawn between the parents' sacrifice and the Iraqi woman's new-found vote, which was a piece of very artful political messaging. But I don't think even the most calculating pol could have scripted this for more impact. There was a kind of naturalness to the two women's embrace that is beyond mere production. The scene continued for some time, but it never felt staged or like they were just milking it. This was grand theater, its players beyond mere acting.
Bush had earlier introduced a woman from Iraq, Safia Taleb al-Suhail, whose father had been assassinated by Sadaam, and who had just voted in the Iraqi election. Yes, she was flown in for this, no doubt; and seated beside the first lady. But stow your cynical riposte, oh Bush hating lefty, for it will not withstand what was to follow. He then introduced the parents of the Marine, Mr. & Mrs. Norwood, whose son had given his life in Fallujah, and who were seated immediately behind Ms. al-Suhail and Mrs. Bush.
The parents received grateful applause from all present. But while they fought back the tears, Ms. al-Suhail, at this moment standing and clapping directly in front of them, turned and embraced Mrs. Norwood. Faucets everywhere surely opened. The camera then switched to a kind of profile shot of W, who was looking up into the gallery at this scene. Bush has seldom looked so resolute and so human as at that moment. I think even he was getting a little moist; and there couldn't have been a dry eye in the rest of the house, either side of the aisle; there sure wasn't in mine.
Surely Bush's speechwriting team intended that the link be drawn between the parents' sacrifice and the Iraqi woman's new-found vote, which was a piece of very artful political messaging. But I don't think even the most calculating pol could have scripted this for more impact. There was a kind of naturalness to the two women's embrace that is beyond mere production. The scene continued for some time, but it never felt staged or like they were just milking it. This was grand theater, its players beyond mere acting.
# posted by mds : 2:54 PM
