>>
>>There were definitely affirmative action admissions in the 80s. Maybe less so than now, I wouldn't know.
>>
>>That said, I don't think there is any question about Obama's intelligence. You don't have to listen to him talk very long to know he is bright. Not just his speeches but unscripted ad hoc remarks.
>
>Mike,
>
>I disagree. I rate Obama’s ability to talk “on his feet” very mediocre (kind of on the par with McCain <g>). Obama does have a good delivery when reading from teleprompters speeches written by his staff. And if one were to judge intelligence by ability to speak, Hilary runs circles around Obama. (And I am no fan of Hilary by any means).

FWIW, I've heard that Obama writes a lot of his own speeches. As for on his feet, I agree that he's not terribly fluid then, but what he does say shows intelligence, in my view.

Tamar