Behind the Scenes: Sneak Preview of State of the Union Speech
EmailHoping to build up some excitement for the president’s speech – and provide TV networks and cable channels footage so irresistible its propaganda value is discounted – the White House today released a behind-the-scenes video showing President Obama working on his speech.
The video includes speechwriters Jon Favreau and Cody Keenan in the Oval Office talking with the president, and shows close-ups of the president’s handwritten edits on the page, and moments with Favreau, Keenan and assorted top White House aides. It offers an explanation by an assistant speechwriter of the Lenny Skutniks* in the gallery….
It’s very “West Wing” in a West Wing “West Wing” way.
-Jake Tapper
*In January 1982, Martin Leonard “Lenny” Skutnik III dove into the Potomac River to save the life of a passenger of Air Florida Flight 90, which had crashed. President Ronald Reagan mentioned Skutnik in the State of the Union address, and gave him a seat of honor in the gallery during the speech. From then on, those Americans picked for that honor have been called “Lenny Skutniks.” Last year, for example, the college student credited with helping to save the life of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, Daniel Hernandez, was one of President Obama’s Lenny Skutniks.
Best Commencement Speeches of 2012 
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With the state of the union as bad as it is, we will hear mostly lies about that, from Obama, and he will spend most of his time talking his political agenda.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | January 24, 2012, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm
there is a certain elitist group of Wall Street Bankers that demand the goverment bail them out
if the stockmarket falls or they need funding.
the Wall Street Bankers have gone from 5 trillion to 8 trillion
in assets from Federal Bailouts.
___________________________________________________
All good in theory except the Wall Street bail-out was initiated by the Bush administration – Bush and Paulson in particular. Supported by majorities in Congress as well – but initiated by President Bush and his economic advisers.
Posted by: James | January 24, 2012, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm
i always like to hear our straight A President brilliantly give another speech.He is by far the best orator our country has seen since JFK.it is good to see how he writes his own speeches, just what we would expect from a summa cum laude graduate of 2 Ivy League schools.He has turned our economy around-the State of the Union is sound under the Great Helmsman Barack Obama.Yes we can-yes we have!
Posted by: gobama | January 24, 2012, 3:10 pm 3:10 pm
The President is not going to get up there and tell us what a great economy we have. He’s going to say as he always has, it will take time and sacrifice. Is the economy better than it was when he took office, yes, but there is still a long way to go? There are no silver bullets.
The republicans seem to think giving more breaks and de-regulation for big business and investment firms is the answer. They fail to realize those policies created this recession in the first place.
The President is doing a pretty good job considering every program he has proposed to help this economy has been held up by a “do nothing” Congress The president can’t make law; it’s time Congress took some responsibility and do their jobs.
Posted by: tmferretti | January 24, 2012, 3:13 pm 3:13 pm
The policies that created this recession were the lax lending policies of the housing market driven almost single-handedly by ,Waters,Frank, Dodd and thelLeadership of the Democrat party. Their insane belief that everybody deserved a house whether they could afford it or not is the root cause of every other effect that has happened during this recession.Period.
Posted by: Nephron | January 24, 2012, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm
The policies that created this recession were the lax lending policies of the housing market driven almost single-handedly by ,Waters,Frank, Dodd and thelLeadership of the Democrat party. Posted by: Nephron
——————————–
I guess we all weren’t aware that even though the Republicans had solid majorities in all branches of government, it was Barney Frank who was actually running things.
Posted by: the buck stops over yonder | January 24, 2012, 3:44 pm 3:44 pm
Posted by: Nephron | January 24, 2012, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm
1) Bush homeownership plan aims at $5.5 million lift for minorities (2003)
President Bush announced an Administration effort to increase home ownership rates among African Americans and Hispanics by 5.5 million by 2010.
The plan would provide down payment assistance to 40,000 minority homebuyers each year . . .
Bush’s plan would be closely tied to some $440 million in minority loan programs offered by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. President Bush commended Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s efforts.
2) 2004: Under President Bush, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announces that it will require Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, also known as the Government-Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) “to increase their purchase of mortgages for low- and moderate-income families and underserved communities.”
In order to meet these new requirements, the GSEs begin purchasing mortgage-backed securities made up of subprime loans.
All the Democrats fault apparently – majority Republican congress and Republican presidency.
Posted by: James | January 24, 2012, 3:52 pm 3:52 pm
Will the crisis with the Strait of Hormuz and Monday’s EU embargo of Iranian oil be discussed?
Or will it be about “economic vision” rather than the realities of a precarious economy?
Not that that many are going to stay tuned.
Posted by: jane r. | January 24, 2012, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
I’ll bet Gobama (3:10 PM) has one of those hearts with a scroll ribboned tattoo that says Obama on his chest. Unusually high level of “fawning” even for this blog.
Posted by: newcountryman | January 24, 2012, 4:13 pm 4:13 pm
The Oval Office looks great in these pictures. The modest redecorating that was done holds up very well: classy – like the President.
Posted by: Jill | January 24, 2012, 8:42 pm 8:42 pm
“its propaganda value is discounted”
.
It is propaganda all right… its value? deeply discounted… to the point of being worthless.
Posted by: Michelle Shu Jas | January 24, 2012, 9:56 pm 9:56 pm
Obama’s speechwriters have less life experience than he does (I know, hard to imagine). This is why his speeches get an A from J school grads who like the soaring but empty rhetoric, and an F from regular people who find this stuff grandiose and patronizing.
Posted by: Martin | January 25, 2012, 12:10 am 12:10 am