NationStates Jolt Archive

I remember back in the good old days when Colin Powell considered running for office and he appeared on several political based programs and most of the hosts said something along the lines of "he speaks so well!". The person who first brought this to my attention was Chris Rock during one of his standup routines. Most people thought this was an insult directed towards Colin for his race, while others thought it was a perfectly normal compliment. Would you consider "he speaks so well" to be a compliment or a racial slur? Also, would you vote for him if he ran? If so, why and if not, why not?

In the words of Chris Rock:

"He speaks so well? He's a fucking educated man, what the fuck do you think he's supposed to sound like? "I'm gon drop me a bomb tuh-day, I be Pres-o-Dent!""

"Speaks so well is not a compliment! Speaks so well is something you say about retarded people who can talk!"

It's a compliment unless you are looking for an insult. Bush is white and and a terrible speaker, something that almost everyone acknowledges.

It's a compliment unless you are looking for an insult. Bush is white and and a terrible speaker, something that almost everyone acknowledges.

I would definately agree with ya there.

I can see Chris Rocks point. Bush talking like he has a concussion is odd for a president, it sticks out. Someone in Colin Powells position SHOULD talk well, its part of his job description. So acting suprised when he does speak well comes off a little condescending.

I'm a programmer... lets say someone knows I'm a programmer, and I go to their house and show them how to change their wallpaper on their computer or how to use a search engine or something else real simple. And they say, 'Wow! You really DO know about computers!', in a totally serious, not screwing around kinda way. I wouldn't get upset about it, but inside I'd be kinda like, wtf?

I love that 'compliment':) It's so patronising! They make fun of it repeatedly in the movie, "Undercover Brother"...and on blackpeopleloveme.com.

In the words of Chris Rock:

"He speaks so well? He's a fucking educated man, what the fuck do you think he's supposed to sound like? "I'm gon drop me a bomb tuh-day, I be Pres-o-Dent!"
lol, it's like that Simpsons with the time machine and that redneck Cletus was President. If anyone remembers. :(

If you are making the comment because you are surprised, for whatever reason, it is condescending. But one can take it as a compliment anyways.

I had a woman ask me once where I grew up while I was working in a store in Savannah, GA. She guessed that I had grown up further north and then moved to GA. I told her, truthfully, that I had grown up around the area. Her reply was, "But you speak so well!"

Obviously, she did not expect someone who had grown up in the South to be able to speak properly, thus she was insulting all Southern people and being rather condescending to me.

I chose to take it as a compliment anyways though.

I wouldn't say it's a given that someone in a position like that would be a great speaker. Neither Bush or Rumsfeld is a great speaker. Neither was Ford, Nixon, and doubtless a dozen other presidents.

If someone is being condescending, then that's insulting. However, the only time that I've heard of that is when people like Chris Rock say it. Being a good speaker is hardly a given and should be taken as a compliment unless there is some reason to think otherwise. Thankfully, I don't think that Powell has that big of a chip on his shoulder.

I see nothing insulting in it. I see it as a compliment to him being a good speaker.

It depends on the context.

If they meant that he is a good orator; then it was a compliment. That would mean the comment regarded his choice of words to emphasize his point while remaining diplomatic.

If they meant that he pronounced his word correctly and clearly; then it was an insult, as it works off of the misconception that his "speaking so well" is an uncommon ability for someone of his race..... or possibly even that the chosen fashion in which people of his race speak; is wrong.

I would venture a guess they meant the first. Chris Rock is merely not as educated as the man he defends and has misconceptions about what was meant in the first place.

I don't think it's automatic to assume that the head of the joint chiefs of staff is necessarily a good speaker. I think he would be expected to be a good administrator. When discussing him as a candidate, being a good speaker would be a trait that might be looked for, so I can certainly see why that would be brought up.

im with chris rock on this one. i cant recall any other head of the joint chiefs of staff being complimented on the way he talks. no one said that of norman shwartzkoff when he spoke during the first iraq war. i can only think of one reason why anyone would be surprised over it and it isnt "for a republican"

Sometimes it's a compliment, sometimes it's a smartass remark. Either way,I really don't care anymore.

People said Clinton spoke very well, so I don't see it as an insult for Powell; both Clinton and Powell are well educated so it isn't implying stupidity or racism, just that they are eloquent speakers. Not everyone who is intelligent or educated speaks well.

im with chris rock on this one. i cant recall any other head of the joint chiefs of staff being complimented on the way he talks. no one said that of norman shwartzkoff when he spoke during the first iraq war. i can only think of one reason why anyone would be surprised over it and it isnt "for a republican"
Norman Schwartzkopf wasn't really that great of a speaker, so that wasn't one of his issues.

People talk all the time about what a great speaker John Kennedy was. Is that condescending?

Anyway, does anyone know who said stuff like this, or are we all basing our arguments on something said by a comedian.

no one said that of norman shwartzkoff when he spoke during the first iraq war.

Ermmmm, have you ever heard Stormin Norman talk? Well he doesn't speak so well, certainly not aswell as Colin Powell.

Actually your now being positively racist for assuming that just because Stormin is white, that he can speak with eloquence.

Ermmmm, have you ever heard Stormin Norman talk? Well he doesn't speak so well, certainly not aswell as Colin Powell.

Actually your now being positively racist for assuming that just because Stormin is white, that he can speak with eloquence.
perhaps its that, being a redneck, i find his speech to be just fine.

i listened to him every day during iraq1 and i thought he spoke well.

perhaps its that, being a redneck, i find his speech to be just fine.

i listened to him every day during iraq1 and i thought he spoke well.

But I don't think we are talking about people speaking adequately, but eloquently.