Government

Presidential Historian: Obama State of the Union Bears ‘Uncanny’ Resemblance to Teddy Roosevelt’s 1906 Address

Barack Obamas SOTU Compares to Theodore Roosevelts, Also Scored 8th Grade Reading Level on Flesch Kincaid Test

There have been a number of critiques of President Obama’s 2012 State of the Union address — from misquoting Abraham Lincoln to repeating content from his past two speeches and using language that a Flesch-Kincaid readability test placed at an 8th grade comprehension level. Presidential historian Rick Shenkman, however, made one additional noteworthy observation: Obama‘s speech mirrored progressive president Theodore Roosevelt’s address from 1906.

Speaking to The Wall Street Journal’s Jerry Seib and Kelly Evans, Shenkman described how Teddy Roosevelt‘s State of the Union compares with Obama’s.

In a few short words: “It’s uncanny,” the historian said.

The big difference, according to Shenkman, was that in 1906 the economy was doing well, whereas today it is not. He added that the themes Obama attacked during his speech were dead ringers for the progressive Roosevelt’s. He also observed that both presidents painted themselves as the “reasonable bipartisan populist.”

“Both tried to do that business with education,” he added, saying that the Fed can only set a “good example” in the education system through the D.C. schools which it controls, but otherwise “can’t do much.”

Shenkman also pointed out the two president’s similar wish lists in terms of “training” people to be skilled workers and even good farmers.

When asked if one of former President Bill Clinton‘s State of the Unions was also intended to be similar to Roosevelt’s, Shenkman reminded that then-Clinton strategist Dick Morris tore up the president’s existing speech just days before the address and rewrote a new one in about “48 hours.” The content of the revised Morris-Clinton speech focused on doing away with big government, according to the historian.

Clearly, “there is no Dick Morris in the Obama Administration,” Shenkman quipped.

Shenkman’s interview follows below. A full transcript of Roosevelt’s 1906 address can be read here.

Still, despite invoking Roosevelt and being dubbed by supporters a sophisticated orator, Obama’s 2012 State of the Union address in fact rated at an 8th grade comprehension level based on analysis conducted by The University of Minnesota’s Smart Politics. According to the data, Obama’s address garnered the third lowest score of any State of the Union since 1934. Of the last 70 State of the Unions, the research found that the president’s three addresses have the lowest grade average of any modern president.

“Obama’s average grade-level score of 8.4 is more than two grades lower than the 10.7 grade average for the other 67 addresses written by his 12 predecessors,” the study concludes.

“The Flesch-Kincaid test is designed to assess the readability level of written text, with a formula that translates the score to a U.S. grade level. Longer sentences and sentences utilizing words with more syllables produce higher scores. Shorter sentences and sentences incorporating more monosyllabic words yield lower scores,” the University of Minnesota’s Eric Ostermeier explained.

It seems worth noting that, although media and even political leaders often favor plain-speak to ensure reaching the widest audience, supporters have lauded Obama’s oratory skills among the greatest of any president in the modern era. Thus, critics might note that delivering a speech garnering the lowest possible score on reading comprehension does not fit that glowing narrative.

 

Comments (97)

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  • JDF10487
    Posted on January 26, 2012 at 2:02am

    Obama Put in His Place- Eligibility Hearing is ON for Thursday in Atlanta!

    http://obamaballotchallenge.com/obama-put-in-his-place-eligibility-hearing-is-on-for-thursday

    Report Post »  
  • BurntHills
    Posted on January 26, 2012 at 2:00am

    sounded like obama’s speechwriters are plagarizing old progressive presidential speeches?! talk about unoriginal AND still getting that communist agenda out there!
    we followed the sotu with disgust and it came off as one huge campaign speech with obama bashing every American who opposes him.
    no doubts as soon as the filthy animal declares himself Fuhrer he will try to hunt us all down to kill us.

    Report Post » BurntHills  
    • GETLIFE
      Posted on January 26, 2012 at 4:29am

      “Both tried to do that business with education,” he added, saying that the Fed can only set a “good example” in the education system through the D.C. schools which it controls, but otherwise “can’t do much.”

      Sounds like an effort at sounding bipartisan to me. Very clever tactic.
      Congress! Take him up on it! Let’s see if he means it.

      Report Post » GETLIFE  
    • Stuck_in_CA
      Posted on January 26, 2012 at 6:58am

      I like this TR quote:
      Theodore Roosevelt
      Immigration – Being American
      “… It is our boast that we admit the immigrant to full fellowship and equality with the native-born. In return we demand that he shall share our undivided allegiance to the one flag which floats over all of us.”
      “In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American . . . There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have no room for but one flag, the American Flag . . . We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language . . . and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”

      Report Post » Stuck_in_CA  
    • goofyfoot2001
      Posted on January 26, 2012 at 7:27am

      I will NEVER understand why people think this guy is a great speaker. I don’t get it. I’ve thought from the first time I heard him that he sucked as a speaker. That was one thing that stuck out with me. I just don’t get it.

      That nbeing said, FIX THE DAMN COMMENT SORTING

      Report Post »  
    • 666Sucks
      Posted on January 26, 2012 at 8:52am

      There was an enhanced speech version on the blaze offering the op to see the making of the speech. They specifically noted that Obumer was very hands on with that speech. Hense my orrigional quote: “If you lock a MENSA child in a room with comic books for 20 years, you get an intelligent idiot!” 666sucks. Such is the communist puppy mill called Harvard, I believe Obama “claims” to have gone there, like Bill O’Rielly, neither of which are the sharpest knives in the drawer!

      Report Post » 666Sucks  
    • Tom K
      Posted on January 26, 2012 at 11:11am

      Who has time to write an original speach or go to your court appearance in Georgia ? There’s golf to play and a great country to drag down. Come on !

      Report Post »  
    • turkey13
      Posted on January 26, 2012 at 11:15am

      “A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.” Thomas Jefferson

      Report Post »  
    • its_time_to_arrest_our_government
      Posted on January 26, 2012 at 12:22pm

      let him try to hunt us down all he’ll get is a bunch of very dead hunters he will run out of idiots to hunt us long before we run out of bullets. bring it on Obama try and stand toe to toe with us real American patriots. we know what you are its just who you are that we haven’t been told the truth about. and frankly we don’t care who you are. its what you are that we dont like, commie!

      Report Post »  
    • carbonyes
      Posted on January 26, 2012 at 1:52pm

      STUCK_IN_CA, looks like Obammy wouldn‘t be reading that part of Teddy Roosevelt’s speech, would he? Obama wants nothing to do with being an American first and only, and loyalty to America only. Nor does the Bamster want English to be the only language. Why? Obama is a Muslim first and he is fluent in Arabic for a key purpose. When he establishes a Caliphate here, he will be communicating with the rest of the Muslim Brotherhood nations with great ease and they will be bowing to him. Wonder if he has his crown picked out yet. Humorous? Damn scary is more like it!

      Report Post »  
  • Teaple
    Posted on January 26, 2012 at 1:35am

    His regular speechwriter joined the Paul campaign

    Report Post » Teaple  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on January 26, 2012 at 6:57am

      Just once I would like to see a president-any president-just get up there and talk honestly. Trouble is, they can’t talk honestly. They are all a bunch of bought and paid for traitors that have sold us out. I mean just look at them. Smiling, laughing, joking around, pointing at others that they know etc. They make me sick. Every stinking one of them.

      Report Post »  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on January 26, 2012 at 1:22am

    It also bears an uncanny resembalence to his last three state of the union crap…. Blah blah blah blah blah blah……..

    Report Post »  
  • Ghandi was a Republican
    Posted on January 26, 2012 at 1:14am

    Yah well- One was a rough hewn soldier — And the other one is OBAMA.

    Report Post » Ghandi was a Republican  
  • UBETHECHANGE
    Posted on January 26, 2012 at 12:41am

    The full transcript and video of interview Glenn had with Newt: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/beck-doesnt-hold-back-in-gingrich-interview-tough-questions-on-mandates-big-govt-and-global-warming/

    Report Post »  
    • 4stmichael
      Posted on January 26, 2012 at 2:35am

      I want a three hour Lincoln/Douglas with Newt and Glenn. I don’t want a time crunch. I want free conversation.
      If it can’t be televised, that’s ok. Just want Glenn to sit down with Newt and hammer it out.
      I would love Santorum. But Romney has the better ground forces and cash. We would end up with RINO Romney for the republicans. Uggghhh
      Talk me out of this. Can Santorum take the nomination away from Romney. Can Santorum debate with the most deceitful Well Trained Alinsky Method user I have ever seen?
      Just look at how Paul Ryan was treated after all that hard work he was asked to do on health care Feb’10. He was ridiculed by obam. John McCain was ridiculed too. It is sickening.

      Report Post » 4stmichael  
    • UBETHECHANGE
      Posted on January 26, 2012 at 9:15am

      Just because I watch Glenn does not mean I support Santorum. Newt cannot stand on his progressive record, action, and words, he will get annihilated by the Dems and Obama.

      Report Post »  
  • UBETHECHANGE
    Posted on January 26, 2012 at 12:39am

    Newt’s interview with Glenn Beck Dec 2011:

    GINGRICH: I’m doing well. How are you?

    GLENN: I’m very good. Let’s start with ‑‑ let’s start with a piece of audio here where you were talking about healthcare and you went down the progressive road with Theodore Roosevelt.

    GINGRICH: And for government to not leave guarantees that you don’t have the ability to change, no private corporation has the purchasing power or the ability to reshape the health system, and in this sense I guess I’m a Theodore Roosevelt Republican. In fact, if I were going to characterize my ‑‑ on health where I come from, I’m a Theodore Roosevelt Republican and I believe government can lean in the regulatory leaning is okay.

    Report Post »  
  • DividedWeFail
    Posted on January 26, 2012 at 12:37am

    If you thought you were the only one who thought Fox was going to the LEFT with Ellis and a whole slew of left nuts from NBC/CNN, you are not alone. Read the below article and about some people trying to bring Beck back.

    http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/44164
    Tell Fox News to stop selling out to Soros:
    The ‘Anti-Spooky Dude Posse’ attracts Glenn’s attention to ‘Bring Back Beck’
    - Judi McLeod Wednesday, January 25, 2012

    ________________________________________
    The ‘Anti-Spooky Dude’ posse behind a new website called Sorosfiles.com, a project of America’s Survival, Inc. (ASI) has launched the ‘Bring Back Beck’ campaign: “Tell Fox News to stop selling out to Soros.”

    Report Post »  
  • PAINESMAN
    Posted on January 26, 2012 at 12:33am

    So msnbcs rachel Madcow is reporting this evening that “the campaign speech ” had like a 95 percent approval rating. So I guess I’m supposed to believe like only maybe 10% of independants and republicans didnt like it . Isnt it considered illegal to make up facts and report them as gospel to the listening public when you’re supposed to be a news channel. Or are they more like a saturday night live show or maybe jon stewart show. I know I tune in once in a while, to have a good laugh myself.

    Report Post »  
    • scuba13
      Posted on January 26, 2012 at 2:10pm

      So 95 of the 100 people who actualy watch her/his show approved of the speech, that sounds about right, because 95 of the 100 are ididots.

      Report Post » scuba13  
  • DividedWeFail
    Posted on January 26, 2012 at 12:18am

    http://theobamahustle.wordpress.com/

    I was randomly reading blogs around the internet (Already read though the aprox 20 or so blogs I read everyday like Drudge) and ran into THIS.

    It wasn’t the words, IT WAS THE PICTURE (scroll down to see it). Then I read the article. It made me feel like I used to feel watching one of Beck’s shows when he was exposing some Obama horror. Beck researches his stuff. I don’t know this writer. BUT, what he wrote will make you THINK.

    Report Post »  
  • Salamander
    Posted on January 26, 2012 at 12:15am

    Plagiarized! What did you expect? Seems like the poster child for Community Organizing is modeling himself after the 1st Progressive! How droll.

    Report Post »  
  • KangarooJack
    Posted on January 26, 2012 at 12:10am

    Teddy was raised as an invalid child. He had breathing problems (probably asthma). His mom doted upon him….kinda like Obama’s white grandma did (PLEASE, WAIT-not a racist statement…give me time). So, lil Obama grew up. He grew up in many places actually. Mom did love him. She loved him as a product of ‘that man’. Yet, actually, raising him…well, she just didn’t have time. So, white grams & gramps did what they could, but here’s this poor kid, in the middle of whiteville who isn’t white. What is he to do? He’s smart. He has to be. He’s a scrawny half black kid in the middle of whiteville…damn, I actually feel sorry for Obama (the kid).
    He’s not just smart…he’s DAMN SMART! Now this Nation is gonna pay. It’s NOT race. It really isn’t. It’s more along the lines of intellect.
    As our Nation declines and this dictator comes into full blossom-know who I hold responsible? His twit Mom who couldn’t make up her mind on WHICH person would piss her Dad off the most.

    Report Post » KangarooJack  
    • DividedWeFail
      Posted on January 26, 2012 at 12:19am

      He was also fat as a child at least in Indonesia which is where he was from around age 3 to age 10 going to mosque and praying 5 times a day. .

      Report Post »  
  • nelsonknew
    Posted on January 26, 2012 at 12:03am

    I know so many are utterly afraid to mention Obama and Adolf Hitler in the same sentence BUT this speech resembled Hitler’s March 23, 1933 “Enabling Act Speech”…. much to closely!

    Report Post » nelsonknew  
    • lketchum
      Posted on January 26, 2012 at 12:29am

      it sure did – and Obama’s crony capitalism policies most closely resemble Fascist economic policy.

      There is nothing remotely interesting or unique about this man. His an amalgamation of many personalities – Hitler, Mao, Ho Chi Min, Chavez, Alinsky and above all an odd mix of Nietzsche and Marx.

      Report Post » lketchum  
  • cuinsong
    Posted on January 25, 2012 at 11:59pm

    Theodore Roosevelt? No! I keep thinking this guy sounds like Cliff from Cheers? Yes that’s it, he is Cliff as president. What a nightmare! Then I remembered a song that I recorded about 8 years ago that fit him perfectly. I dedicate this to Obama. A song written by my brother. I arranged it & did all music, vocals with the exception of crowd voices which my wife helped me create. It’s called Don’t get him started http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_11916731

    Report Post » cuinsong  
  • One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew
    Posted on January 25, 2012 at 11:43pm

    ““Obama’s average grade-level score of 8.4 is more than two grades lower than the 10.7 grade average for the other 67 addresses written by his 12 predecessors,” the study concludes.”

    The dumbing down of the Oblamo Cabal continues full speed ahead.

    Report Post » One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew  
    • Salamander
      Posted on January 26, 2012 at 12:16am

      Butch didit!

      Report Post »  
    • Winedude
      Posted on January 26, 2012 at 1:42am

      He has to dumb it down…otherwise most of the people usually on this site won‘t understand what he’s talking about. The venomous hatred…scary! BTW, I don’t plan on voting for him either.

      Report Post »  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on January 25, 2012 at 11:26pm

    .
    Funny I thought it sounded like the last speech he gave, and the one before that, and the one before that, and the one before that, and the one before that, and the one before that, and the one before that……………….

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • NOT A CRAZY
      Posted on January 25, 2012 at 11:40pm

      Funny, I didn’t bother to listen to his plagiarized teleprompter lies.

      Report Post » NOT A CRAZY  
    • Thatsitivehadenough
      Posted on January 25, 2012 at 11:40pm

      Otherwise known as indoctrination or brainwashing.

      Report Post » Thatsitivehadenough  
    • netmail
      Posted on January 26, 2012 at 12:14am

      So, to be totally respectful to the office here, I think we can honestly say that Obama is the most CONSISTENT president in American history. Stuck on stupid every damn day.

      Report Post »  
  • kblink45
    Posted on January 25, 2012 at 11:23pm

    Appropriate. Progressivism is the recasting of humanity‘s transcendent problems in terms of a child’s fantasy novel. One of TR‘s own advisors referred to him as ’really just a child.”

    Report Post » kblink45  
  • vavaeon
    Posted on January 25, 2012 at 11:16pm

    I call Bullsht – If this were accurate then ol’ George W. would have ranked somewhere in the neighborhood of mental retardation…

    Report Post »  
    • NOT A CRAZY
      Posted on January 25, 2012 at 11:45pm

      I cannot understand what you are talking about. Whatever it is, at least Bush43 didn’t need to read everything he said off of a teleprompter. Spilled Milk…haha…ha…………ha…………………….why isn’t anyone laughing?

      Report Post » NOT A CRAZY  
    • Psychosis
      Posted on January 25, 2012 at 11:48pm

      hello ……………….troll

      this comment rated at a third grade level so YOU can comprehend ( understand )

      Report Post » Psychosis  
    • READRIGHTHERE
      Posted on January 25, 2012 at 11:54pm

      Yours is a poor assumption based on bigotry regarding a southern drawl and occasional pronunciation mistakes. “Subliminably” you are probably compensating for your own fears of deficiency by highlighting widely held misconceptions regarding W, which you absorbed through over exposure to the MSM/LSM, in an effort to appear superior in comparison. (That was a long sentence, by the way, that requires a higher grade level to read and understand, but I digress.) Need I remind you that these were the same pundits and commentators who were absolutely certain that Kerry represented the most intelligent choice in 2004 regardless of the fact that Bush’s GPA out shined the political hack that changed his middle name to have the same initials as Kennedy. Stupid is as stupid does. Obama is not a great orator, he just reads well (at an 8th grade level.) But don’t tell him this to his face or he is likely to go nucular on you like he did Governor Brewer.

      Report Post »  
  • Chris.underhill
    Posted on January 25, 2012 at 11:14pm

    wounder, fast forward 1 year. You think newt is mad that he is unable to use this one?

    Report Post »  
  • COFemale
    Posted on January 25, 2012 at 11:10pm

    As an Instructor of Computer Literacy, which teaches MS Word as well as other computer topics, I can say with certainty the AVERAGE adult writes at an 8th grade level, so the inference to the Flesch-Kincaid readability test as bad is misleading. Even some college age students and even some instructors write at this level. Understand this test tells you at what grade level you need to be to understand and comprehend the contents.

    If the speech was written at 12th grade or at college level, then 3/4 of America would be saying, “Huh”.

    Report Post » COFemale  
    • Psychosis
      Posted on January 25, 2012 at 11:50pm

      hurrah for government controlled education

      90 % of current college graduates would fail the 1800′s 8th grade final exam

      Report Post » Psychosis  
    • The Scarecrow
      Posted on January 26, 2012 at 12:13am

      Results of “No child left behind”.

      Report Post »  
    • POdVet
      Posted on January 26, 2012 at 12:49am

      If the speech was written at a 12th grade reading level, Obama would have needed someone to read the teleprompter to him! It wasn’t “dumbed” down so average Americans could understand him. It was done so he could TRY to avoid anymore obvious examples of his stupidity IE: corpse man!

      Report Post »  
    • READRIGHTHERE
      Posted on January 26, 2012 at 12:52am

      This must be why true conservative principles are largely misunderstood, and George Bush for that matter, who as it turns out, graded higher. Imagine that! And we thought Obama was obviously of genius level intellect. Boy were we duped. Tsk. Tsk.

      Report Post »  
    • tonydanibradbury
      Posted on January 26, 2012 at 9:10am

      I’m glad you pointed this out. I remember being told in my fourth grade English class that most newspapers are written on a fourth to fifth grade reading level.

      Report Post »  
  • BO_Bill
    Posted on January 25, 2012 at 11:04pm

    Yes, and the only other difference between the two is that Theodore Roosevelt was a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient for leading a charge uphill, while Barack Obama hates cops and cannot properly read the word ‘corpsman’ despite his access to the world’s most powerful teleprompters.

    Report Post » BO_Bill  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on January 25, 2012 at 11:00pm

    Dem o crats, got at least a 6th grade edjamacation. He was just talking to his base, besides, he had to dumb it down so Joe Biden would pay attention and not fall asleep.

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
    • what4
      Posted on January 25, 2012 at 11:11pm

      Yep he is making his turds into little balls and eating them too….Damn fool thinks he can hoodwink Americans twice…Dont bother to wake up Barry….just keep making your little turd-balls!

      Report Post »  
    • TXPilot
      Posted on January 25, 2012 at 11:18pm

      Apparently, Obama doesn’t even feel compelled to make up all his own lies now, so he is plagiarizing another famous liar and thief.

      Report Post » TXPilot  
    • KangarooJack
      Posted on January 25, 2012 at 11:24pm

      Completely off the topic, but the other day I watched the movie ‘Contagion’. Watching Joe during the SOTU Address…yeah, he’s not gonna make it. Touches his face way too much.

      Report Post » KangarooJack  
    • NOT A CRAZY
      Posted on January 25, 2012 at 11:48pm

      @What4, LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post » NOT A CRAZY  
  • LB
    Posted on January 25, 2012 at 10:59pm

    Surprise!!!!

    Report Post » LB  
  • Sirfoldallot
    Posted on January 25, 2012 at 10:59pm

    A recall should go for the presidant too .

    Report Post » Sirfoldallot  
    • MEANS2RESIST
      Posted on January 25, 2012 at 11:53pm

      He/they can’t even come up with their own original content. Remove him by way of the 25th ammendment section 4. But again, we would get Biden… :-(

      Report Post » MEANS2RESIST  
  • whatthecrazy
    Posted on January 25, 2012 at 10:57pm

    8th grade level? Well he did have to make sure his base could understand him ,right?

    Report Post »  
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