Visiting Professor of Rhetoric and Communication John Adams is the author of an op-ed published in the Syracuse, N.Y., Post-Standard (1/20/04) on the State of the Union address. Adams said this year's address will be different in that the president will not only report on the condition of the nation, but must defend himself against charges of deceiving the American people on Iraq.
Adams wrote: "Simultaneously addressing multiple, and possibly conflicted, audiences is a daunting task; especially in an election year—and even more when the President has been accused with deceiving the American people.
"Senator Edward Kennedy has charged President Bush with using unwarranted 'spin' and other tactics to frighten the American people into acceding to his desire to invade Iraq. Kennedy pulls no punches and will, I believe, put the President on the defensive—or offensive, depending on his strategy. He will not be able to successfully write off Kennedy's allegations as unpatriotic partisan political posturing. Kennedy's charges are serious. Given their timing, it will be difficult for the President to ignore them as he prepares his speech for delivery on January 20th."
