I’m sitting here watching Pres. Bill Clinton speak at the Democratic Convention and one thing leaps out at me: he would be a masterful trial lawyer.
Why? Because he doesn’t just stand there and make assertions. Rather, he makes his assertions and then backs them up with facts. If you have the burden of proof, that is what you must do. I saw him speak once five years ago, and it was just the same. Everything backed by facts.
Most politicians, of course, don’t have that kind of mastery of facts. Or lack the confidence to use them. Or don’t trust the intelligence of their audience.
But Clinton does. Time and again returning to the theme of ‘Don’t take my word for it, this is what the actual facts are.’
If you want to convince people of something, you have to be prepared with your material and lay bare the facts, pure and simple. And no one does it better than Clinton.
Update: I’m obviously not the only one to come to this conclusion. Fox analyst Brit Hume said after the speech:
“I’ve always said if I were ever in trouble and if I were guilty, especially if I were guilty, I would want Bill Clinton there to defend me. Nobody does it better.”
Hat tip on the back-handed compliment from Hume to Kashmir Hill.
