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Statement grade
The average of Signal, Relevance and Clarity is 52. The grade is held to 30, 30 above Relevance. 30 / 100, held down by Relevance
Signal
55 / 100
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Relevance
0 / 100
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Respect
–
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Clarity
100 / 100
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A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.
Procedure 9% Positioning 35% Claims 31% The ask 24%
Structure · 6 steps
Claims · 1
This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.
Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 9 words I yield myself such time as I may consume. Procedure Positioning · 34 words If there were people watching these proceedings and listening to my Republican friends, they may conclude that they sound a little defensive because they are, and they should be, especially on these veterans issues. Positioning Claims · 30 words The bottom line is that the VFW, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, strongly opposes the disability benefit cuts that are included in the proposed Take Care of America’s Veterans Act.1 Off point Mr. Speaker, The ask · 23 words I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record the entire statement of the VFW and their strong, strong opposition to these cuts. Off point
At a glance
Lost points for Off point ×4 Positioning ×2 Procedure Off topic None of this speech addressed the bill under debate and what it would change.
Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.
What the tags mean →
Signal · 55
3 of 7 deductions are Signal
Signal checks whether every part makes a point, gives a reason, or asks for action. A low score means the speaker filled time with fluff, pleasantries, or attacks.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “I yield myself such time as I may consume.” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “If there were people watching these proceedings and listening to my Republican friends, they may conclude that they sound a little defensive because they are,” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “and they should be, especially on these veterans issues.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Relevance · 0
4 of 7 deductions are Relevance
Relevance checks whether the speaker stays on topic and answers the question asked. A low score means the speaker dodged the issue. Measured against the bill under debate.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “If there were people watching these proceedings and listening to my Republican friends, they may conclude that they sound a little defensive because they are,” Mocks the other side’s defensiveness rather than addressing the bill under debate.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “and they should be, especially on these veterans issues.” Continues the political jab about veterans issues instead of the bill under debate.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “The bottom line is that the VFW, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, strongly opposes the disability benefit cuts that are included in the proposed Take Care of America’s Veterans Act.” Discusses the VFW’s opposition to cuts in a different bill, not the Sunshine Protection Act.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record the entire statement of the VFW and their strong, strong opposition to these cuts.” Seeks to insert material about the other bill’s veterans cuts, not the measure under debate.
Respect · no score
Not checked: graded before this measurement existed. Excluded from the average.
Respect checks whether the speaker argued with people’s positions and records rather than attacking the people: insults, mockery, or bad motives assigned to them. Criticism of what someone did, however strong, is not marked.
Clarity · 100
0 of 7 deductions are Clarity
Clarity checks for plain speaking, clear ownership of actions, and honest limits on certainty. A low score means vague promises or evasive language.
Nothing lost points.
Claims · 1
This list shows the factual statements you can check for yourself: the words as said, and the claim restated to stand on its own.
1 “the VFW, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, strongly opposes the disability benefit cuts that are included in the proposed Take Care of America’s Veterans Act” The Veterans of Foreign Wars strongly opposes the disability benefit cuts included in the proposed Take Care of America’s Veterans Act. search
