Many of you may not remember the old E.F. Hutton commercials of the 70’s and 80’s. The punch line was “when E.F. Hutton talks, people listen”. E.F. Hutton The firm was a strong brand in the era. Founded in 1904, the brokerage firm was the second largest for several decades. In the 80’s, the firm was found guilty of check kiting, money laundering, fraud, and more. Mergers and acquisitions eliminated the brand. Someone recently bought the rights to the brand and they are planning a comeback.
In 2008, a young politician emerged. He was considered a great orator. When Obama spoke, people listened. In 2014 that same politician gave a State of the Union Message. Only 33.2 million Americans listened. The lowest number since Bill Clinton’s last State of the Union Address.
Today, we can say,” When Barack Obama talks, almost no one listens.” What happened?
To be listened to, one must say something of value. Style is great when trying to gain the ears of an audience, but content must follow. In Obama’s case, it’s all style and no content. No one wants to hear the message. It’s tired, trite, nettlesome, and egotistical.
In five years there’s only one phrase that will be remembered from the millions of words that have passed this president’s lips in that time, “If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor, period.” That’s it, I defy you to come up with one other. For a man who enjoys hearing himself talk more than any politician in my memory, he says nothing. Like E.F. Hutton, his brand is on the wane for some of the same reasons. The public lost its trust in E. F. Hutton and the public has lost its trust in Barack Obama. It cost E.F. Hutton the company to engage in bad behavior, and it has cost Obama the presidency. His value over the next three years is basically nil.
This will just cause him to talk more, not less, and say even less.
Mr. President, the public has spoken. We are no longer interested in your words. Save them for the mirror.
