Politics / Barack Obama Eloquence Can, in Fact, Be Presidential Those dismissing Obama's speaking skills miss a key point of the role of a president By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff Posted May 16, 2008 4:17 PM CDT Copied Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., looks downward as he is introduced at a campaign event at Thorngate Ltd., in Cape Girardeau, Mo., Tuesday, May 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) It’s a bit weird to defend something like eloquence, but that’s just the task to which the primary season has inspired Calvin Trillin, writing in the Los Angeles Times. Rivals and pundits alike dismiss Barack Obama’s eloquence as some kind of liability, whereas Trillin sees in the Democrat's ability a key component of the role of president. story continues belowShoe CEO Drops Business Sneakers Taking The NFL By Storm Finally, A Comfortable Shoe Thats Fit For The Office. With Comfort, Luxury, & Versatility Engineered Into Every Step, Wolf & Shepherd Shoes Are Specifically Designed For Those Who Want To Lead The Pack.Wolf & ShepherdShop NowUndoAverage IQ is 100. What's Yours? Answer 20 multiple choice questions to find out.Avg IQ is 100. Find our your score in less than 10 minutes! Taken by over 1M users so far. 76,162 users tested today.Free IQ TestClick HereUndoRelax In StyleBreezy chambray, intricate embroidery, and luxurious silk come together in our latest resort arrivals, perfect for sun-filled escapes and dreamy getaways.Johnny WasShop NowUndo Hillary Clinton often trots out Mario Cuomo's nugget “You campaign in poetry and govern in prose.” But, Trillin writes of the president, "It's part of his job to comfort the American people in times of distress or inspire them to sacrifice for the greater good"—and this ability can yield as much political capital as Eisenhower's war heroism or JFK's charm. (More Barack Obama stories.) Report an error