Groucho Marx once said, "Before I speak, I have something important to say." Before you deliver a speech, something important is also said--your introduction. Yet frequently speakers, and their speechwriters, neglect or totally ignore the powerful role of the introduction. The proper introduction can establish credibility and focus the audience's attention on the issues you will be discussing. The proper introducer, one highly respected by the audience, lends validity to you and your message. Two examples of wise introductions from CPAC (see previous post): Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani. The two presidential hopefuls most
in need of dealing with
conservative doubts.
Romney had Grover Norquist do his intro. Norquist is a genuine icon of conservatism and his presence gave strong support to Romney's history of cutting taxes and reducing the size of government.
But Giuliani went one better. He was introduced by conservative columnist George Will, who turned the introduction into a nearly 9 minute speech. Click here to watch the speech. Notice how well Will positions Giuliani as a candidate conservatives can feel good about.
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