why does the President need to be a polished speaker or a good debater,?

Question

in my perfect world the President will give serious thought to any decision he makes,,being able to debate and having the pat answer immediately to every problem is not important to me,,also being a polished speaker would be more beneficial to the televangelist than the President

Answer 1

A polished speaker shows the President can be coherent to his citizens. U.S. Citizens have more respect for a President who can speak well and bring forth leadership qualities. If the President is also a good debater, you know he has strong convictions in make his country strong by showing the difference in debating right and wrong.

But...it's like you said, it's "in my perfect world".

Answer 2

I don't see much real-world value in debates but being a polished speaker is relevant.

Debates are just a good way to find out where the candidates stand and how they act under pressure. That big red telephone in the oval office is only an arms reach away...

You can have great ideas, but you need to be able to communicate them. If you always have someone else speaking for you, you seem weak and ineffective.

Answer 3

The best presidents give serious thought to a matter and weigh a decision carefully before making it. Bush Sr. certainly did, shame his son doesn't. Impulsivity and grandiose schemes are bad traits in any president.

Our current president aside, this is a country where most voters don't have the time or the inclination to seriously study the issues. They just want simplistic soundbites that can be played on the news and talk radio.

Answer 4

Well, we've got one now who is almost completely a-lingual (without any spoken language), so I'm not sure why you say this.

It's important for a President to be able to speak clearly and articulately -- to tell us what's he's doing and why, to meet with foreign heads of state, to communicate with his Cabinet and Congress.

But "polished" seems less important to me; and being a good debator not a good thing, as debate isn't about rationality or quality of thought.

But usually, to get to be President (if you don't have people who can steal elections for you) requires that you impress the electorate in speeches and debates.

Answer 5

Its a politicians stock in trade to communicate effectively, that's how his ideas, plans and "vision" are evaluated and voted on by his constituents. Once he is in office, its his word that is our word in the world. His knowledge is important in that he will be asked questions in the world arena, and if he doesn't know enough, he will be looked down on and I status in the world will drop because they will wonder why the US couldn't produce a leader who knew what the capitol of the country he is in was. In an odd sort of way, televangelists and Presidents both must be convincing and polished speakers as they are both trying to get us to believe in unsubstantial ideas.
You can make up your own mind as to whether Bush is effective, to mine, I just don't get it.

Answer 6

It simply because the president needs to defend himself through his debator or speaker in order to emphatize his predicaments to his critics and to understand his side so that the president need to have a polished speaker.

Answer 7

It's important for him to be good at debate, because he has to be able to back up his beliefs with something concrete. He also needs to be a good speaker, because unfortunately we are a shallow world and take every appearance to heart. Also because people from other countries are watching, it's important for them to be able to understand what he is saying, and not misconstrue even one word. This could lead to a big misunderstanding.

Answer 8

Persuading the voters to support your candidacy is part of running for president. Making the most of public speaking opportunities is one way to get your message out there and convince people to vote for you.

I doubt most voters spend a lot of time engaging in independent research beyond reading a few pamphlets and watch in a bit of debate or a few sound bites.

Answer 9

If he is not a good debater or a polished speaker, he'll sound like a babbling idiot.

(Watch Letterman every night for "Great moments in Presidential Speeches")

Answer 10

it's called gravitas,, it's a good presidential quality that Bush lacks,, along with knowledge,, good morals and judgment,, he's well a moron,,,
Bill Clinton had gravitas,, and intelligence,,, he cheated on his wife,, but so did Newt Gingrich,, and at the same time he was pushing for Bill Clinton's impeachment,, he didn't admit to it under oath,, but he lied just the same,,,
hypocrisy is running rampant in the Bush White House,, corruption,,, incompetence,,, the spiritual council of Pastor Ted couldn't help this bunch,, or did it?