'Yes We Will' Less Rhetorically Effective Than 'Yes We Can'
the art of subtlety
At a speech in Ohio, Hillary Clinton tried to get her supporters to cheer, "Yes we will."
"Yes we will" is actually more hopeful than "Yes we can." Will means it will happen, while can doesn't promise anything. In a sense, Hillary is running on a "will" campaign, while Barack Obama is running on a "can" one. And yet, "yes we will" is a sad slogan, especially when it seems like Hillary will not get the nomination.
Modern usage has never been more symbolic.
Scroll Posts
Jiblets « Next — Prev » Brit Hume: Cable News' Biggest Romantic?
Editorial Director
There's definitely an added level of sadness in stealing your opponent's slogan, too.
She is going about this all wrong. She needs to relentlessly and viciously attack Obama. She probably has a treasure trove of really nasty stuff on him. Bring it out. If Obama won't show us what's behind his flowery facade, Hillary needs to bring it to light. What is she waiting for, another lost primary?
Actually, she has been viciously attacking Obama as much as she possibly can, so no need to step up that game. The end result will be that all of her attacks will go beyond her defeat and will be used by the Republican party so that they know what is effective and what isn't. On top of that, when voters hear the negative attacks repeated again by the Republican party, it will help to enforce it in their minds what they have been hearing all along. Nicely done, Hillary. Make sure that if you don't win, that Obama doesn't either.