Amess’ speech at Obama debate dubbed ‘insane’
By Rachel Charman
Southend West Conservative MP David Amess gave a speech at the Oxford Union last week on the topic of Barack Obama’s presidency.
Mr Amess was part of a debate at the union on 25th February, which was entitled, ‘this house believes that Obama has failed to live up to expectations.’
Mr Amess was part of the proposition team, meaning that he argued in agreement with the above statement.
Conservative leader David Cameron has done much to integrate himself with the US president.
The two men met in April 2009, after which Mr Cameron described President Obama as “incredibly impressive”.
Mr Amess has expressed less enthusiasm for the US’ first black president.
According to Cherwell, the Oxford University’s online newspaper, Mr Amess feels that President Obama’s leadership has been disappointing.
Cherwell’s Jacob Donovan wrote:
“The odd feature [of the debate] was just how insane [the proposition] became.
“Nirj Deva, a Conservative MEP who no one I spoke to had heard of, and David Amess, a Conservative MP who I found out at drinks was only famous for a particularly idiotic appearance on Brasseye, were terrible.
“Truly awful speakers. Illogical, incredibly angry for no apparent reason and at times just plain rude, this was the old Tory party at its worst.
“Quite why they cared so much about Obama wasn’t clear but their anger seemed especially directed at anything to do with change.
“Whoever crafted the new Conservative election slogan clearly did not have these two in mind.”
Mr Amess’ website provides a summary of his arguments. The article reads as follows:
“Mr Amess said that the 44th American President has failed to live up to the hype that surrounded his inauguration thirteen months ago and that, more than a year into Obama’s presidency, hopes for ‘change’ are dissipating.
“The US economy remains in the doldrums, unemployment is at almost 10%, healthcare reform is stumbling, more and more troops are being delpoyed to Afghanistan and an opportunity to combat climate change was missed at last year’s Copenhagen summit.
“Obama’s approval ratings domestically have seen some of the largest declines in Gallup polling history as the President’s honeymoon with the American public comes to an end.
“Over a year into the Obama administration, chants of ‘yes we can’ seem as hollow now as that other famous electoral slogan: ‘things can only get better’.”
Other participants in the debate included Anatole Kaletsky, principal economic commentator for The Times, and Dr Thomas Grant, chairman of Republicans Abroad.
