Academic

Faculty Blogs: Obama's Word Choice: "Stand with"

President Obama recently chastised investment funds that would not compromise to keep Chrysler out of bankruptcy.  "I don't stand with them," he said. "I stand with Chrysler's employees and their families and communities. I stand with Chrysler's management, its dealers, and its suppliers. I stand with the millions of Americans who own and want to buy Chrysler cars."

            Obama's use of the phrase "stand with" was a little unusual, and some have suggested it was a careless misstatement -- that he really meant "stand for."   I think he meant exactly what he said.  If his purpose was to be firm but not polarizing, "I will not stand for" would sound too autocratic.  But with Obama's current popularity, many would respond well to the image of him standing with -- at the side of -- certain groups but not others. 

Full post as published by University of Louisville Law Faculty on May 01, 2009 (boomark / email).