Three themes for Obama’s inauguration speech
A business reporter called me today. He’s interviewing communications executives, asking them one question:
What would you say to Barack Obama about his inauguration speech? What themes would you suggest to capture or transcend the mood of the times?
This is what I told him.
Mr. President, this is the most challenging time our nation has seen in 80 years. You were elected because America wanted – desperately needed – change. You offered vision and hope for a better today, a better tomorrow.
You must continue making people feel hopeful. Without hope, we become embroiled in doom and despair, and the downward cycle gets worse. You can break this spiral of negativity and put us on a new track that goes up the mountain.
But hope by itself isn’t enough.
Mr. President, it’s time to take concrete action to improve things. You need to give the American people a clear path. Tell us what’s most important, why, and when things need to happen.
And finally, continue to talk to the American people like you did throughout your campaign. You became President by empowering. You inspired people, yes, but you inspired because you reached out to them, included them, sought out their opinions and urged them to get involved. You made them feel important again and gave them a voice. You understood how a true democracy emanates from the bottom-up, at a grassroots level, not from a top-down autocracy.
It’s not about Barack Obama, it’s about what we, the American people, can do together to mobilize change. So please tell us what we need to do and how we can make a difference. Don’t shy away from telling us what we need to hear.
So Mr. President, three things:
1. Hope
2. Action
3. Together
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